|
30th November 2022, 02:04 PM | #1 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
Gentlemen, i am amazed with the excelent support given so far, for which i am so much obliged. It is visible that i am no Nihonto connoisseur, or i would never 'invest' in an example in such poor condition, thus having no chance to recuperate its original splendor. Still i am pleased to have gone for it, and so happy that it is the real thing, which was after all my actual concern.
So i assume that, having no risk to further damage its collectable charm, i will deal with it as i deal with 'normal Western' swords, that is, eliminate the active rust with the minimum abrazion possible and one or two touch ups on the pole. Meanwile i would like to show what has been done on the blade, and will also post new photos of the characters, testing different lights and positions, with hopes that they are now (more) readable, which possible success would be of a great added valuable for me. Again my appologies to those who collect this type of weaponry, hoping they will be tolerant to my crime. . |
30th November 2022, 02:30 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 396
|
Interesting find Fernando. What is the overall length?
For my own edification. In a piece like this with evidence of an insect infestation does the piece need to be treated to prevent the risk of the infestation spreading to other items it is stored with? Last edited by Interested Party; 30th November 2022 at 02:31 PM. Reason: follow up |
30th November 2022, 03:03 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,755
|
I think that is a super thing to have. Really like the thousands of pieces of shell .
|
30th November 2022, 04:25 PM | #4 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
|
1st December 2022, 06:32 AM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,160
|
? - I presume you refer to the grip section wrapped in ray skin. Naginata are cool. Wish I could afford one. Re:tang - is the corresponding socket deeper than the tang length? Longer ones I think had two holes for the bamboo pins, does the haft have two? if broken, the missing bit may be still in there somewhere. It may even have been rehafted after breaking & the tang may fit accordingly. (I only see one hole for the meguki pin in the rayskin section.) Last edited by kronckew; 1st December 2022 at 06:42 AM. |
1st December 2022, 10:46 AM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Scotland
Posts: 327
|
My interest in Japanese arms faded some time ago but I retained some items including this naginata.
I post it here as it is a similar shape to Fernando's but it is of much poorer quality and I have doubted it's authenticity because of that. There is no signature on the tang but good file marks and a punched hole. The pole is missing some fittings. Perhaps it was mass produced for a foot soldier rather than a superior signed blade fit for a samurai. It has also lost some red lacquer from the fuller which does not help the look. I decided give it the benefit of the doubt and kept it with no intention of making it shiny - just preserved. CC |
1st December 2022, 04:43 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Russia, Moscow
Posts: 368
|
Your item could very well be an imitation made in Siam or Vietnam. Then this is a significantly rarer thing than the original Japanese one. The first difference between objects from Indochina is the round section of the pole (in Japan, the section is usually oval). The second difference is the shorter tang. Philip wrote about it on the forum. I well remember that he noted that in Indochina they used natural resins for additional fastening and therefore there was no need to make long tang. There are other differences, but they relate to the details of the decor.
|
1st December 2022, 05:27 PM | #8 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,221
|
|
1st December 2022, 06:23 PM | #9 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
|
1st December 2022, 07:14 PM | #10 | ||
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
Quote:
Mine wasn't expensive; obviously due to its condition. Quote:
. Last edited by fernando; 1st December 2022 at 07:30 PM. |
||
1st December 2022, 08:13 PM | #11 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Posts: 88
|
Unless I missed it, no one has translated the signature of this blade. With the clearer image that is possible. And it let's me correct my earlier assessment.
This blade is signed Nanto ju Kanebo Masatsugu. (MAS1654) He was a smith who made polearms in the Yamato district (call it Nara) in the early 1500's I had assumed that it was later than that. and naginata that date before 1600 are both RARE and GOOD. This blade would certainly warrent a polish. Peter Bleed |
1st December 2022, 08:18 PM | #12 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
Fantastic Peter !
Thank you ever so much . |
4th December 2022, 10:10 PM | #13 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,160
|
|
4th December 2022, 11:04 PM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 5,503
|
fernando:
No doubt my Naginata is not indicated for Nihonto perfectionists but, would be the 'perfect find' for me . __________________________________________________ ________-- A perfect attitude! |
30th November 2022, 04:10 PM | #15 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
Quote:
|
|
30th November 2022, 09:32 PM | #16 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,221
|
Quote:
Nice naginata. I have no problem with the condition of this naginata showing its age. As for the wormholes, as soon as you see holes, the worms turned into bugs and left the wood to find mates to reproduce. techincally they can lay eggs in the same wood again, but not likely. Probably you can buy some poison in a drugstore. Also the worms dont like petrol and ammonia. But be carefull with the lacquer I have no idea how that reacts on chemicals. Sometimes I see wakizashi made from Naginata blades. they are reaaly cool Best regards, Willem |
|
3rd December 2022, 11:47 AM | #17 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
Thank you Willem. I went for ammonia; bought a bottle of it in the drugstore. I keep syringes and needles since my paramedic service in the Army. One of these days i will give it a try; starting by the bottom, to check if the liquid stains the wood.
|
3rd December 2022, 10:10 PM | #18 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Sweden
Posts: 687
|
Freezing is an efficient way of getting rid of wood worm and possible eggs. I guess the sword is too big to fit in a freezer? I have a French Napoleonic sabre AN XI legere with woodworm holes in the grip. I simply waited until winter and left it on the balcony for a couple of days in sub-zero Celsius temperatures to kill any remaining worms or eggs. Guess in Portugal you don’t have that luxury?
|
4th December 2022, 01:36 AM | #19 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 396
|
Quote:
|
|
4th December 2022, 09:16 AM | #20 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,672
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|