Anywhere in the UK to get a sword validated? This is the sword.

[dez]

I have been told to take my wakasashi to a shinsha. I looked on a website and it says it won't pass if it has a chip and mine has 1 or 2 tiny chips. So I was wondering if there's anywhere in the UK that could validate it? Here are some pics and anymore info on the sword would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Geraint]

Good morning James.

 

The short and specific answer is no.  There are a number of Japanese organisations and they sometimes run shinsa in the US.  However if you were to join the Token Society and get to one of their gatherings then you could get the best opinions that you are likely to find on your sword and I am sure that some of us will be having a look for you.  All this will confirm your own study of the sword, (or not) and will probably be adequate as we are not talking a big name here.  Not having a shinsa paper will narrow your market somewhat when you come to sell but I don't think that will be a problem in any case and, who knows, you might be in this for the long haul.  If you are in the South West then be in touch.

 

(Edit to add, you might find better material if you research Echizen ju Hyuga no Kami Sadatsugu.)

 

All the best.

[Alex A]

Hello James.

 

Being honest, you really will need to get that tsuka sorted out, whoever wrapped the tsuka did one hell of a shoddy job.

 

It ruins the appearance of your sword

 

 

[kissakai]

Agreed the wrap is very poor

Tsuka wrap. Maybe Bal?

 

[Surfson]

The written information you have is mostly correct, though the lordship is in Hyuga, not Hinata (just noticed that Geraint pointed this out already).  There is an example in Fujishiro (p380 of my copy) that seems to indicate that this one might be second generation and chujosaku.

[Brendan campbell]

Yes Bal  Singh , in Birmingham will do a first rate job . He’s a perfectionist. 

[Brendan campbell]

Dez, send your details , to Bill Tagg. He trades as Liverpool Military. If you check out JC Military. You will see Bill sorts out the details of their swords . This would be a first move . Brendan 

[Kanenaga]

TTBOMK, chips do not disqualify a sword from shinsa evaluation, unless one of them penetrates the full thickness of the hamon -- in which case the sword is considered fatally flawed.