Rust/ staining on sword.

[Mick taylor]

I received this sword from America.It was in British customs for about a month. When I unpacked the sword this is what I found on the blade. Would this much rust/ staining be due to the time it spent in customs.regards Mick Taylor.

[Mick taylor]

Please remember the sword was in customs about a month.regards .

[BjornLundin]

Cant answer much about the rust, but if it was active shouldnt it be a bit more "red" than blackish?

 

I would be more concerned if it is a real nihonto? Looks a bit like a Chinese fake to me?

 

 

[Lewis B]

Was it shipped with a layer of protective oil? What did the blade look like before it shipped? If it was pristine then you have your answer. 

[Mick taylor]

The pictures of the sword were from a distance,so it was not possible to tell the proper condition of the blade.
 

 

[Mick taylor]

I have been told from the guy.I bought  it from some of the marks on the blade were due to the time it was in British customs.Ive collected ww2 Japanese swords for quite a few years and I’ve never seen that much rust/ staining build up in a month.Yes it a genuine Japanese sword.regards .

 

[John C]

Mick:

Yes. Steel can rust that quickly in a damp environment. Kind of like leaving a tool outside - in a couple of days there will be a layer of red rust. But in this case, the rust looks older to me. It is darker, not splotchy, not spider-like. I think at least some of that was there before. 

 

John C.

[Brendan campbell]

Hi Mick, I’ve had a sword stuck in Border control since 8th November last year. The last 2 times I have chased it .On both occasions over the phone I have been told .i have submitted all the correct information and it should not have been held over. You will get it back I’m told it’s just in the system and it’s when it your turn . When dealing with antiques, you would think some body with more than 1 brain cell  would be involved and not just a jobs worth . Mine has been perchased out of polish . It is just a blade , so a full project in hand. 

[ROKUJURO]

The blade is out of polish, was obviously sanded (although with fine sandpaper), and has no YOKOTE. So the condition was not good before, and now it is perhaps worse, but I think that a complete (traditional) polish will remove all corrosion.

[Robert S]

Brendan:  That's crazy.  What's going on with Border Control?  Shortage of staff/funding?  I brought a sword into Canada from Japan recently, and it took less than a day to make it through customs... and they declined to charge me duty or tax... although I suspect that may be an error, so I'm not mentioning it :-)

[John C]

My wife recently bought me a 4" miniature sword keychain as a gag gift. It too was held up in customs for a month.

 

John C.

[Bugyotsuji]

The rust looks much older than a month in customs, as if someone had already tried to remove some of it even beforehand. I can understand why the seller might want to claim that it must have happened in transit.

 

No use crying over spilt milk though, and no way to prove anything. Suspicions will rot you from the inside, so just bite the bullet and move forward. Thus we grow!  

(And learn for next time, hopefully...)

[Mick taylor]

It bits abit when people try it on.But as you say just go forward. But don’t forget. I’ve a few friends who collect swords .It only took a few words  in there shell like and they are a lot wiser about some people .Thanks for the response people. Regards.