Hagire ... good for practice cutting?

[JamesH]

Hi everyone,

 

I am a long time reader and follower of this forum, but only signed up today.

 

I thought I may share with you something absurd I found on greedBay:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NICE-OLD-JAPANES ... 2a0775661e

 

... Apparently, a sword with "small hagire" makes the blade a "very nice candidate for practice cutting"

 

And here I thought that cutting is something you should not do to a nihonto, especially one in such need of TLC.

 

Its is hard to see from the photos where the hagire are, but do you think the blade could survive as a wakizashi?

 

I appreciate your thoughts.

 

 

James

[watsonmil]

Dear James,

The depth of the rust spots have exposed the core steel. There are also to major cracks extending from the ha thru the hamon. It is beyond repair, ... and not even a candidate for shortening to wakizashi. It is best left alone. ....... Ron watson

[Basho12]

I'm no expert, but I don't see how you could do anything to the blade other than give it an honorable retirement. You can just see the (2) hagire in one of the longer shots, which I think puts them in the last third of the blade. Even without the deep rust pits, you'd be lucky to get a tanto out of it, imo.

[raaay]

Hi james

 

Do yourself a big favour and pass on this one.

 

have a good look, the Hagire are nearly through the hamon, they are not hard to find look at the last couple of pics.

 

regards

ray

[sanjuro]

Without being too overtly critical, this seller is not what you may call a high end dealer by any stretch of the imagination. The sword IMHO is rubbish anyway, and not worth the cost of a polish . Polishing will remove the rust and virtually all the skin steel. The kissaki has a rust patch almost as bad as the one near the habaki. Cutting it down to a wakizashi would be plain useless, so it doesnt really matter what you do to it, you will be throwing money away.

I would leave it in the obviously enthusiastic care of its current owner.

 

But you can bet some damn fool will buy it.

[Grey Doffin]

If the sword is used for cutting it is likely to shatter at the ha-gire, and the broken tip becomes a very dangerous flying object. Never use a damaged sword for cutting.

Grey

[Mark Green]

Pcay.................get a return promis from him, or do not buy a thing.

 

At least he pointed out the flaws on this one. Yes, lets cut some good stiff bamboo with this puppy. With lots of children, and grandma standing around. GEEEEZZEEEE Pcay!!!!

 

8 or so years ago I won a ebay battle with him. He sells lots of swords, and knows exactly what is going on with them. Has not always been so open with the flaws. Buyer beware!

[David Flynn]

Welcome James, I also concur with the others.

[Ted Tenold]

As far as I'm concerned....

 

[JamesH]

Thank you everyone, you have confirmed my thoughts exactly.

 

The part about practice cutting reminded me of this video, just reiterating the danger of an amateur and a sword not fit for functional use:

 

In terms of restoration, I think you are quite right - it most likely cannot be saved. For me personally, it is quite sad to see yet another nihonto bite the dust, as there are only a limited number of them, and that number keeps dropping every year, whether it be to time, mistreatment or just amateur hands.

 

 

 

James