japanese sword for id. translation of the name of the blacksmith please

weapons 27 · 29th April 2016, 12:24 PM

I think this blade is édo
.the handle is probably more récente.
could you translate the name of the blacksmith please!!!
I THINK ( okutaro kunihara???)

could give me tips to restaure this blade.I not know if there posibility to alleviate this rust
.must polish the blade with stones!!
any advice would be welcome
thank

Roland_M · 29th April 2016, 12:51 PM

Hi,

I also think Edo period. Someone cleaned up the Nakago (tang), that is absolutely forbidden and reduces the value of the blade significantly! The rust patina is very important for validating the age of the blade for example.

It is also a huge sin, to polish a japanese sword by yourself! A japanese Togishi (polishing master) needs up to twelve years of learning before he can say that he is a real Togishi.

A japanese polishing starts up with ~50$ per inch and easily reaches 2000$ for the whole blade. But I afraid your blade is too deeply corroded for the costs of a full polish.

Again, don't try to bring out the Hada and Hamon by yourself, you will probably ruin the blade! If you show a "self made polishing" to a japanese sword collector, you will hear some brutal comments.

I will try to translate the Mei when I am back at home.

Regards,
Roland

weapons 27 · 29th April 2016, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

Hi,

I also think Edo period. Someone cleaned up the Nakago (tang), that is absolutely forbidden and reduces the value of the blade significantly! The rust patina is very important for validating the age of the blade for example.

It is also a huge sin, to polish a japanese sword by yourself! A japanese Togishi (polishing master) needs up to twelve years of learning before he can say that he is a real Togishi.

A japanese polishing starts up with ~50$ per inch and easily reaches 2000$ for the whole blade. But I afraid your blade is too deeply corroded for the costs of a full polish.

Again, don't try to bring out the Hada and Hamon by yourself, you will probably ruin the blade! If you show a "self made polishing" to a japanese sword collector, you will hear some brutal comments.

I will try to translate the Mei when I am back at home.

Regards,
Roland

ok roland
thank you

Roland_M · 29th April 2016, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weapons 27

ok roland
thank you

I have a good idea for you!

If you have a japanese sword exhibition in your near, there are always Togishi present. They offer to polish a small window in the blade. This window costs between 50 an 100$ and you be sure, whether it is worth a full polishing or not.

If not it is still a very good blade for Iaido or Tameshigiri.

weapons 27 · 30th April 2016, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland_M

I have a good idea for you!

If you have a japanese sword exhibition in your near, there are always Togishi present. They offer to polish a small window in the blade. This window costs between 50 an 100$ and you be sure, whether it is worth a full polishing or not.

If not it is still a very good blade for Iaido or Tameshigiri.

ok roland
if you have the ability to translate thank you

David R · 30th April 2016, 12:30 PM

What you have there is a sword often referred to as a "Satsuma Rebellion" sword, the hilt style is distinctive of these.
The curator emeritus of the Japanese collection at the Royal Armouries Leeds believes these to be "Okashi To", loaned swords given out to Samurai and Ashigura in time of war. For the most part they are old blades at the end of their useful life, simply, cheaply and sometimes crudely refurbished to make them usable again. More on the type here.... http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic...ellion-swords/

ariel · 29th April 2016, 01:06 PM

I am sorry to say but IMHO it is a ruined blade. There are many deep caverns on the blade and no polishing will get rid of them without irreparably changing the geometry of the blade and without getting rid of its tempered "shell".

Nihonto is beautiful but intolerant: the blade is either perfect or worthless. Standards of polishing are incredibly high and the cost of professional polishing is mind boggling. The " do it yourself" approach is likely to remove any residual value of the blade. Professional Japanese polishers have waiting lists measured in years and I have heard of some charging hundreds of dollars for each linear inch.

This is why I stay away from Nihonto. Patina on an Indian or Arabic sword can be described as "beautiful" and advised not to be touched; nicks on the edge are " kisses of time". But the same features on a Koto or Shinto blade will make Japanese connoisseurs run for the hills.

Not my cup of ( green) tea:-)

P.S. I am an incredibly slow typist, and by the time I pushed the "post" button Roland had already beat me to it:-) We are in complete agreement, unfortunately.....

29th April 2016, 12:24 PM	#1
weapons 27 Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 462	japanese sword for id. translation of the name of the blacksmith please I think this blade is édo .the handle is probably more récente. could you translate the name of the blacksmith please!!! I THINK ( okutaro kunihara???) could give me tips to restaure this blade.I not know if there posibility to alleviate this rust .must polish the blade with stones!! any advice would be welcome thank Attached Images

29th April 2016, 12:51 PM	#2
Roland_M Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 525	Hi, I also think Edo period. Someone cleaned up the Nakago (tang), that is absolutely forbidden and reduces the value of the blade significantly! The rust patina is very important for validating the age of the blade for example. It is also a huge sin, to polish a japanese sword by yourself! A japanese Togishi (polishing master) needs up to twelve years of learning before he can say that he is a real Togishi. A japanese polishing starts up with ~50$ per inch and easily reaches 2000$ for the whole blade. But I afraid your blade is too deeply corroded for the costs of a full polish. Again, don't try to bring out the Hada and Hamon by yourself, you will probably ruin the blade! If you show a "self made polishing" to a japanese sword collector, you will hear some brutal comments. I will try to translate the Mei when I am back at home. Regards, Roland

30th April 2016, 12:30 PM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	What you have there is a sword often referred to as a "Satsuma Rebellion" sword, the hilt style is distinctive of these. The curator emeritus of the Japanese collection at the Royal Armouries Leeds believes these to be "Okashi To", loaned swords given out to Samurai and Ashigura in time of war. For the most part they are old blades at the end of their useful life, simply, cheaply and sometimes crudely refurbished to make them usable again. More on the type here.... http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic...ellion-swords/

29th April 2016, 01:06 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I am sorry to say but IMHO it is a ruined blade. There are many deep caverns on the blade and no polishing will get rid of them without irreparably changing the geometry of the blade and without getting rid of its tempered "shell". Nihonto is beautiful but intolerant: the blade is either perfect or worthless. Standards of polishing are incredibly high and the cost of professional polishing is mind boggling. The " do it yourself" approach is likely to remove any residual value of the blade. Professional Japanese polishers have waiting lists measured in years and I have heard of some charging hundreds of dollars for each linear inch. This is why I stay away from Nihonto. Patina on an Indian or Arabic sword can be described as "beautiful" and advised not to be touched; nicks on the edge are " kisses of time". But the same features on a Koto or Shinto blade will make Japanese connoisseurs run for the hills. Not my cup of ( green) tea:-) P.S. I am an incredibly slow typist, and by the time I pushed the "post" button Roland had already beat me to it:-) We are in complete agreement, unfortunately.....