Is this a safe way to display a nihonto?

[Soten_Fan]

I came across this sword display wall cabinet:

 

 

Do you think that it is a suitable and safe way to display a nihonto? Obviously the swords in the photo are stainless steel wallhangers, so the question doesn't really apply for them but for the case of a real nihonto. The great advantage of such a cabinet would be that you could display the blade and the saya separetely as in the photo, but is such a cabinet airtight enough to prevent rust?

 

According to the specs, it is lockable and the glass has 98% UV protection. It can also be ordered with LED lighting.

 

An idea would be to keep the blade oiled all the time and maybe put a mini dehumidifier in the cabinet to counter any humidity problems. What do you think?

[Grey Doffin]

Stuff hanging on a wall gets bumped into. The swords can get knocked loose and damaged. Nihonto are properly stored either in shira-saya or koshirae, and inside a sword bag. Any other method is inviting calamity.

If you need to display a sword on the wall, buy a stainless knockoff. Keep the good swords well protected.

Grey

[sanjuro]

There seems to be a sudden upsurge of interest in shadow boxes. First another member with aspirations toward the hanging of swords on a wall and now this one.......

As Grey has eloquently stated, This is silly...... Its tacky...... Its dangerous and is potentially damaging to the swords in it. Quite apart from that it may result in someone getting injured. It is also a living advertisement to any potential criminal that sees them, that you own swords.

Stick with correct and sensible methods of storage.

[watsonmil]

I hesitate to comment, ... except to say that a shadow box may be fine for certain Nihonto Related artifacts, ( I have a gunsen War Fan displayed in this manner ), but to display a fine example of Nihonto in this fashion somehow visually cheapens it / them. There are sword racks MADE for sword display, ... and yes they should be at least in their Shirasaya or Koshira to avoid the natural and un-natural elements found in most homes. Perhaps I am old fashioned ( I stand guilty in pride ), as I see little in new innovations that surpass the old.

... Ron Watson

[Soten_Fan]

Ok, perhaps the above shadow box is a bit unusual for a nihonto.. But I wouldn't go as far as calling it tacky... Maybe something along these lines would be better?

 

 

The idea is that I wouldn't like to spend lots of money on buying a fine blade and then keep it constantly in its shirasaya or in store. Ideally I would like to be able to admire it/show it off constantly. Like what they have in museums. Would such cabinets like the ones I posted be suitable for such a display without exposing the blade to rust? That was what this thread was about. Also I don't see how this is dangerous. If anything, a sword just sitting on a regular sword stand is more at risk from a sword inside a locked and fixed display case in my opinion.

[Jamie]

Ron, I agree with you. If I were going to display them, it would be on a rack. I do not display mine though. If I want you to see them, I can show you. People that do not know about swords tend to want to touch blades. You don't need to touch it, I promise it's sharper than it looks. Mine are all kept as recommended above. In shirasaya, in swordbags.

[sanjuro]

OK I can see what you are trying to achieve........ Whilst I agree with Ron and Grey wholeheartedly, the glass case you illustrate above is a safer method of display. You will however, still need to maintain the swords in the normal way. I have a tachi displayed in a similar though upright case. It still gets the same maintenance as all my other swords.

If you want to achieve that museum type display, please be aware that museums generally speaking do a very poor job of maintaining the swords on display, and there is no way to keep rust at bay without proper maintenance. Those swords you see in museum displays are most likely actually deteriorating inside their glass diplay cases from lack of maintenance.

To illustrate this, some years ago I had the pleasure of assisting with the display of a private nihonto collection in a secure studio location. Some of the blades of the swords in that collection to my alarm had been coated with a fine lacquer to prevent rusting. The measure had failed on most of the blades so treated and rust was beginning to form beneath the lacquer. This collection had come from a two year standing display in a large mainstream museum. We contacted the representatives of the owner of the collection to ask if they knew of this, and he did not. He would not have had his blades treated in such a way, we were told quite emphatically. (Draw your own conclusions as to who may have had the blades coated).

 

The point I make here is that a glass case and humidifier and whatever else you install will not negate the need for a regular wipe and re-oil of the blade to prevent rusting. Nor is there any reliable method of coating the blade except with oil that protects the blade. Just because the sword is not being used and instead lies around in a glass case, it still needs the same care, in fact possibly moreso. One caveat I would make clear to you. Even in a glass case, a naked blade is more subject to harm .

 

Sorry if this sounds a bit like a lecture, but a warning now may save an expensive polish later. :D

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Dimitri,

If you have to display a sword with the blade exposed, your latest solution should be fine. It would be best if the case was very heavy, unlikely to move if bumped. Locked is a good idea. As long as the climate inside the case is not overly damp it doesn't seem likely that rust will form on the blade.

Inside mounts and sword bag is still a better idea, though.

Grey

[nagamaki - Franco]

Besides the very nice images and information found in the following link http://www.aikikai.it/riviste/3401/htm/09Solingen.htm , notice the glasses of water in the corners of the display cases. Measured vigilance I should think is the lesson that should be taken away from this when it comes to display or storage of nihonto and koshirae.

[cabowen]

The glasses of water are for the lacquer on the koshirae. You wouldn't want them in with bare blades.....lacquer likes moderate levels of humidity, steel, none.....this is why blades and koshirae are usually stored separately.

[nagamaki - Franco]

The glasses of water are for the lacquer on the koshirae.

 

yes, glasses of water are not seen in display cases with only swords. Measured vigilance means paying attention and remaining aware of constantly changing atmospheric conditions in accordance with what is being displayed. Otherwise you might be risking having undesirable consequences sneak up on you before you realize it.