Newly Aquired WWII Sword

[CM1972]

Hello everyone,  I have a newly aquired WWII katana, it is in rough shape to say the least.  It is unsigned and had no marking that I can find. 

 

There is no saya.  I have no clue how long it has been without one.

 

At some point someone took a grinder to the blade and left deep gouges in it.

 

The Tsuka is wrapped in a long single cord, no same can be seen.  the wood is a very loose fit.

 

I had hope of having this restored, but would it be worth the cost?  Especially due to the grinder damage?

 

Thank you,

 

Chris M.

[rematron]

Welcome Chris.  If your blade is Nihonto and worth restoration, polishers charge around $100.00 an inch.  I've seen nice polished koto (old) blades in fine military mounts for sale on this forum for about the price it would cost to restore your sword.  That said, I can't judge the actual value of what you've got but someone will chime in at some point I'm sure.

[CM1972]

Thank you for your reply.  I will keep an eye out for those!!

[Guest Simon R]

Hi Chris, 

 

In these photos I can't see the grinding gouges you speak of. Is it perhaps the horizontal file marks on the nakago (tang) you mean?

Quite often, war period swords have very prominent, deep or rough file marks in various directions and have nothing to do with grinding.

 

All the best and welcome!

 

Simon

[CM1972]

 

Simon,

 

My apologizies, here are some clearer images for the grinder marks.

 

Chris

[Franco D]

Hello,

 

6 hours ago, CM1972 said:

I had hope of having this restored

 

I would not recommend having this sword polished/restored. 

 

While there are definitely exceptions, suggest using the NBTHK shinsa standards for Tokubetsu Hozon level swords as a guide to decide if a sword is worth the cost restoration. 

http://nihontocraft.com/2015_NBTHK_Nionto_Tosogu_Shinsa_Standards.html

 

 

Regards,

[CM1972]

Thank you for this link.  I guess I will leave it as is and just enjoy looking at it!

 

Thanks again

[Bruce Pennington]

You may know this already, but the leather seppa with the broken snap strap means this was originally mounted in the combat saya, or wooden scabbard with leather cover.  The fuchi, or collar where the handle meets the handguard, is also seen on those kind of mounts.

[John C]

Chris:

Not entirely sure, however the parts look very late war if they are real. Notice the rough casting of the tsuba and the tabutogane and sarute. In addition, the tsuka throat collar appears to be a late war Rinji (type 3) dust type. The piece may have been assembled on the field very late in the war.

John C.

[Tensho]

6 hours ago, vajo said:

Looks like a normal fuchi for me, John.

 

The parts look indeed assambled to fit with the sword. The tsuka was never a gunto tsuka. Look at the hole under the barrel.

 

Seriously? The hole under the barrel screw is for tying the tsuka ito knot and securing the kabutogane down.

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, Tensho said:

The hole under the barrel screw is for tying the tsuka ito knot and securing the kabutogane down

Oh dang!  That makes sense!

[DoTanuki yokai]

Wow looks like someone tried to polish the blade with a Dremel