multi-cultural

Henk · 1st August 2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Love to see pics when you get a polish going. Any chance you could take pics along the way as you restore it?

I'm convinced many members would like to follow the process by pictures and explanation. A great project to restore a magnificent piece to its old glory.
We are ancious to see the results.

Jeff Pringle · 5th August 2008, 10:07 AM

No desire to re-heat treat the blade, since I’m interested in what’s left of the original heat treating and it feels like that would be a final insult to this blade which has already had a tough life. The hilt could get some surface-level help, but not ‘til after the blade is in better shape. I don’t think I’ll disassemble the grip, which will limit the scope of work on that area.
A photo essay sounds like a good idea, though this isn’t a front-burner project so it might go on for a while! The final result will be far short of the blade’s former glory, though, it is too far gone to be more than a shadow of its original self. I’m thinking of splitting the difference between a conservation and restoration, restoring it back to a possibly imaginary point just before it fell into the hands of people unaware of basic sword care – but there is a lot of deep rust and other damage that will remain.

I used a manual press to remove the bends and ripples, since it has good control at the high force levels needed to take out that curve. There were also a lot of bends, so it was helpful in isolating them one by one. I held the blade against a flat surface and marked where it touched, then used blocks of wood at those points to transmit the force in the right direction.

mross · 5th August 2008, 09:00 PM

It looks like the butt cap may be a kashira. Is it possible the handguard is a reworked tsuba? It also looks like it could hava a fuchi there also. Intresting to say the least. Further look also appears to have a seppa next to the tsuba like guard?

Jeff Pringle · 7th August 2008, 05:50 PM

Yes, the grip is wearing a fuchi and kashira in brass, the guard is a copper tsuba with 1/3 hacked off indicating that the new owner was right-handed and liked to carry the sword with the grip close-in to the body (well, I guess most swords are worn close-in compared to the Japanese style) – two copper seppa.
Next step is to remove the surface rust with a fine-grit stone to see what’s really going on, determine the course of further action; and polish a small section to check out the steel and hamon.

mross · 7th August 2008, 08:18 PM

Jeff, very cool. I don't know about anybody else but I'm excited!

katana · 7th August 2008, 09:53 PM

This has become a very interesting thread. Great work Jeff

.....can't wait to see the finished result and love the idea of following the progress, as it happens.

Kind Regards David

mross · 22nd October 2008, 11:29 PM

Jeff, any further developments on this?

5th August 2008, 10:07 AM	#2
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	No desire to re-heat treat the blade, since I’m interested in what’s left of the original heat treating and it feels like that would be a final insult to this blade which has already had a tough life. The hilt could get some surface-level help, but not ‘til after the blade is in better shape. I don’t think I’ll disassemble the grip, which will limit the scope of work on that area. A photo essay sounds like a good idea, though this isn’t a front-burner project so it might go on for a while! The final result will be far short of the blade’s former glory, though, it is too far gone to be more than a shadow of its original self. I’m thinking of splitting the difference between a conservation and restoration, restoring it back to a possibly imaginary point just before it fell into the hands of people unaware of basic sword care – but there is a lot of deep rust and other damage that will remain. I used a manual press to remove the bends and ripples, since it has good control at the high force levels needed to take out that curve. There were also a lot of bends, so it was helpful in isolating them one by one. I held the blade against a flat surface and marked where it touched, then used blocks of wood at those points to transmit the force in the right direction. Attached Images

7th August 2008, 05:50 PM	#4
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	Yes, the grip is wearing a fuchi and kashira in brass, the guard is a copper tsuba with 1/3 hacked off indicating that the new owner was right-handed and liked to carry the sword with the grip close-in to the body (well, I guess most swords are worn close-in compared to the Japanese style) – two copper seppa. Next step is to remove the surface rust with a fine-grit stone to see what’s really going on, determine the course of further action; and polish a small section to check out the steel and hamon. Attached Images

22nd October 2008, 11:29 PM	#7
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	how did it turn out Jeff, any further developments on this?

5th August 2008, 09:00 PM	#3
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	It looks like the butt cap may be a kashira. Is it possible the handguard is a reworked tsuba? It also looks like it could hava a fuchi there also. Intresting to say the least. Further look also appears to have a seppa next to the tsuba like guard?

7th August 2008, 08:18 PM	#5
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Jeff, very cool. I don't know about anybody else but I'm excited!

7th August 2008, 09:53 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	This has become a very interesting thread. Great work Jeff .....can't wait to see the finished result and love the idea of following the progress, as it happens. Kind Regards David