Katana questions

B

Bladedude

Joined
Mar 3, 2002
Messages
17
Greetings all,

Over a year ago I was able to purchase a Katana that had been captured during WW2. Its my first true "Samurai Sword"! Took me close to 10 years to get it. It is one of my favorite swords, and no wonder the rate those things are snatched up by collectors that have lots and lots of money to buy them with. Best I've been told, and no one is sure at this point the balde is late Koto or early to mid Shinto era.
Anyways the blade is missing its hilt. It currently has one of thos plastic and cloth wrapped replic kind on it. The guy I bought it from did that! Anyways what is a good wood to carve a replacement hilt out of? I hear Magnolia wood is good for that, true? Or should I try to buy an older hilt minus the wrappings? I can get it rewrapped later. The scabbard is split down the seam and the lacquar and lacquar artwork is coming off. The throat peice at the top of the scabbard is missing as well as the "belt loop" peice on the left side of the scabbard. Any suggestions on how to fix all that and what to use? I don't have much $$$ to spend restoring this sword at this point in time, which brings me to my next and most important question . How can I polish the blade and remove the tarnish seeing how there is no way I can afford to get a traditional polish. I do not wish to harm or alter the blade just clean it up some. What is on the market that would be good to use? What methods does one suggest I use to clean the blade?

:confused:
 
unfortunately, you're in a fairly ugly situation. If it is a traditional blade, shinto or koto, you will not want to try DIY tactics, as you can seriously degrade the value of the sword. As you cannot afford a polish yet, just keep the blade well-oiled and safe from further oxidation. Don't oil the nakago/tang though, and don't scrub the blade with anything! If you DO feel the need to do something to the blade, be very gentle and use uchiko. You can get good quality stuff from a few sources, but be sure it's high quality. You should get some directions for applying it, and be aware that it's not going to polish your blade for you, but over time it will probably help the surface of your sword.

As far as a handle, you will likely want that done by a professional as well. Traditionally honoki is used, and woods that are somewhat similar are yellow poplar and alder. Try to find a real sayashi who can put a shirasaya on it for storage. This will help keep the blade safe until you can afford proper replacements.

You might also want to determine the value of your sword. If it is worth fairly little, perhaps a full-out polish would not be worthwhile. If it is a blade that will have some value, a polish can easily increase the value of the piece beyond the price of the polish and sword combined. Be sure to take this into serious consideration.
 
Hi,

I agree with Robert, I think that maintain the sword is as important as to have a good one, in my opinion you should conserve it but not try to fix it alone. A japanese polisher takes at least 15 years to be only reasonable. If it was me I would try to talk to a restoration and polish specialist like Fred Lohman, site:www.japanese-swords.com/index.htm , he`s very a very nice person and answered all my questions when I e-mail him, he could get you a budget of everything you want to do. I understand that you can not aford right now the complete restoration, but if it take you ten years to buy the sword, it could take some more to let it really OK, and when it is waiting, you can do what Robert Marotz told you.

;) ;) ;)
 
Thanks Robert,

Uh, what is uciko and is it expensive? I have no desire to do a DIY polish. I just want to get the tarnish off the surface of the blade. Its pretty tacky looking. Thanks for the info on the tang however I was informed not to mess with it.So I have not. I'm not too interested in aquiring shirasaya. Sorry. When I say I don't have much to spend on fixing this sword up at this point I mean that. Besides I'd rather funnel the cost of shirasaya into a hilt. Currently I keep the sword wrapped up and safe until something can be done to repair the scabbard. I'd like it to be restored in full fittings. However, it has an unsual scabbard for a katana, not a typical scabbard. Perhaps it was a dress scabbard of sorts.
I'm not sure of its exact value at this point in its current condition. regardless I'm just glad I could actually purchase one, even though its incomplete. I wish I was one of those Japanese sword collectors with tons of money.:cool:
 
Thanks for your input DHB.

I think I'd like to find the value of the Katana and the scabbard and tsuba before I take it to a restoration restoration and polish specialist. At least that way I've got an and idea of its possible worth. Like Robert noted, it may or may not be worth putting a lot of effort into. I love my home state, tho it has drawbacks like any state of our Nation...mostly caused by people and politics....
Anyways. One of the problems here in Alabama is there are no specialist here or as far as I know in Georgia or north Florida. I've corresponded with a spoke briefly on the phone with a guy in Birmingham but I was not impressed by his "willingness" to help. I tend to think he is more of a Japanese sword dealer. I wish I could find someone whom knows more about Japanese swords whom are down-to-earth and honest. :(
 
is kuzan oda still alive? he used to polish authentic swords in the US. man, imagine keeping at least 8 polishing stones of varying grit and roughness.
 
Kuzan Oda is still alive! He became a Tosho (Katana smith) a few years ago at Yoshihara Yoshindo's place, after years of apprenticehood. More amazing, he just had his first kid lately.
 
Where are you at in Alabama Bladedude? If you are in the southern part Baldwin county maybe? I'm from there but hanging out in Huntsville these days.
 
Where am I in "Lower Alabama"? I'm in Enterprise. It is 30 miles S/SW of Dothan and approx. 70 miles S/SE of Montgomery and 85 mile due North of Panama City Beach Florida. I've lived in Alabama the longest so I consider Alabama my home. Hmmmmmmm, I think there is a song named My Home is in Alabama. :-) I worked at Fort Morgan for a summer back in 1994 as a historical interperter. Loved the job! I missed a Japanese sword in an antique shop in Foley by about two days. Figures! A day late and a dollar short. Probably cost more then I could have paid for it at that time anyways.
Looks like answers to my Katana questions are coming in slower then I hoped. Oh well... How long do these posts stay up anyways?
I'm beat and sore. I'm gonna go catch some Z's. Painting houses can be rather tiring. I'll check back with this after the weekend.
 
No kidding! I was living down there in Foley in 94, working in the outlet Mall before the big trip off to college. Small world.
 
Hello Bladedude, as for someone who knows about japanese swords, aside from some of our esteemed members. You might try the Japanese Sword Index http://japanesesword.homestead.com/files/nihonto.htm . Richard Stein is the site operator and knows a lot about japanese swords, and is a very nice person. He will probably want to see a picture. As for UCHIKO it is basically a residue left over from polishing a blade with a very fine stone and is a powder. As Mr. Martoz states it will not polish a blade but it may clean some stuff off. You also might aquire a japanese sword cleaning kit. I agree with Mr. Martoz, leave the sword as it is for now, with a light oiling, very light, and not on the tang. And poplar works very well as a substitute for honoki wood, ash will also work.ANd try to get all the information you can about it, before deciding what to do.

Good luck
B.R. Tomberlin
Anvil Top Custom Knives
 
Hi all,

I really wish I could find out more about that Katana. It is unsigned on the tang and from what I understand a Katana, "Waka" or Tachi can be harder to pin down as to when where and whom made it. I've got photos of the sword and its scabbard on my puter's HD so I can send some out. Like I noted above, as far as I know there is few if any I can have look at the sword here in Alabama much less north Florida or southwestern Georgia. As for Dr, Stein nice suggestion. However I would not want to bombard him with so many questions that he would get tired of receiving e-mails from me, for I would have many questions if he tells me a lot about my sword.:eek:
 
Originally posted by Bladedude
Darn. I was hoping for more answers.:(
Click to expand...

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Bladedude,

If there is no mei on the nakago you might try a couple of good photos of the tsuba back and front whenever you send them to the appraiser. There are certain styles attributed to certain sword smiths
and this may help

GEne Gabel
(Iaido student)
 
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