bobjim Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 I was wondering if it is possible to repair a chip like this with a polish? The chip doesn't go outside the hamon area. http://img13.imageshack.us/f/chip1x.jpg/ bob j. Quote
watsonmil Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Dear Bob, A great deal of metal would have to be removed, ... with a reshaping of the blade to eliminate that deep of a chip. I should think it possible, ... but I don't know if it would be practical. ... Ron Watson Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Take a straight edge ruler/meter stick and hold it up level to the sword covering the highest point of the chip. This will give a pretty good indication of what the sword, hamon, kissaki will look like after polish. In general, a chip greater than 3mm is going to have a drastic affect on the shape of most swords . A polisher will try to save as much of the ha as possible depending upon chip location, but there is only so much that can be done. Under such circumstances where the sword will be undergoing major foundation work, it will take a primo polisher up to the task to make the sword look right again. I've seen at least one important sword where the polisher simply left a portion of the chip in the blade, rather than ruin the rest of a wonderful sword. The chip happened to be close to the habaki in that case. Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Bob, the small divot nearest the boshi is a chip. The second one honestly looks like some type of flaw, rather than a chip - perhaps a fukure that spread due to the first chip. But who knows? Really too bad. Quote
george trotter Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Hi Bob, Yes, a pity it is so deep...it would cost a lot in money and blade shape to remove. The thing is "can you live with it?" Blade looks modern to me...WWII gendaito?...or gunto?...if so, accept the chip as a battle scar and enjoy the blade anyway. Just my opinion... Regards, George. Quote
loui Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 The amount of material needed to be removed depends on the angle of that chip, a polisher just doesn't remove the metal until there is no chip left. In a nutshell once the polisher determines what the proper geometry should be and the correct shape can be determined he stops removing material, or of course if a chip has to be left then it is for other obvious reasons. All that being said, if that is a gunto, gendaito or even a shinshinto blade that is a large undertaking as just about every surface of the blade has to be taken down a certain amount in order to maintain proper shape, the steel is so hard on newer swords that it really does beat up on a polisher (and most wouldn't restore a blade with damage like that). Some times better to live with it, but I understand when sentiment becomes involved time, effort and money might not matter. Regards, Louis Quote
cabowen Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 I have had this conversion with many polishers over the years. In this case, the chip is simply too deep in comparison to the width of the hamon to have much left of the sword once it is removed.... The important point is the depth of the chip in comparison to the width of the hamon..... Quote
leo Posted July 28, 2010 Report Posted July 28, 2010 Dear Bob, to be straightforward: not even a costly repair will save this blade. I can tell you this from experience after having many, many blades restored. If it is not a very important cultural property, get rid of it asap. If you feel a irrestible urge to repair something, buy a blade with smaller nicks! Regards, Martin Quote
O koumori Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 Although it is amazing what a good polisher can do... Dan K. Quote
O koumori Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 Thanks Ken, This one somehow seemed worth rescuing... I'll be taking it to Shinsa in a few weeks, so we'll see! The question for me is not whether these old soldiers can 'survive' another polish, it's whether or not their dignity can be restored without harm - if not, I let them rest in peace... Dan K. Quote
Jamie Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 That looks like a really good job. The chips on the left look to be fairly far into the Hamon. Nice Job. Quote
Jacques Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 Hi, Maybe i'm wrong but i don't like this : Quote
Stephen Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 Jacques i was getting ready to point out the same thing. something is not kosher with the pix, it shows the same amount of hamon, sans chips....a fill in job? Quote
Brian Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 I had to play a bit with scale to get them almost the same size, so I am guessing this is more about the after blade being scaled down a bit, and also a bit of over emphasized hadori finish exaggerating some of the hamon a bit. It can be done. Brian Quote
O koumori Posted July 29, 2010 Report Posted July 29, 2010 Gents, I see your concern of course. But there appears to be a nice bright nie line through most of the 'guchi;' not sure how you could do that with stones(?) In any event, I'll have this one with me in San Francisco; you are very welcome to examine it and help me learn Thanks! Dan K. Quote
O koumori Posted August 24, 2010 Report Posted August 24, 2010 Shinsa team attributed as Kyushu Kanewaka Den; 70 points. Dan K. Quote
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