Benton Frisse Posted August 7, 2017 Share Posted August 7, 2017 Hey Folks! Does anyone have any Japanese blade appraisers that are recommended? I have come into possession of a WW2 officer's sword through my grandfather. No signature on the tang, no hamon, etc. Would like to know the age and value. If it's worth something, I'll have a professional restore it. if it's not worth much other than the priceless sentimental value, I'll restore it myself. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 No signature? it sounds like a common production gunto but why restore it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 And what precisely do you mean by "restore"? Return to like-new condition? Repair damage? Stabilize corrosion and other progressive deterioration? When I was working in the art restoration studio, we did all kinds of different work, depending on the client's wishes. For example, private collectors often wanted their pieces repaired in such a way that they looked perfect and often could still be used. Museums wanted repairs done in a way that showed (in a minimal way) that the piece had been broken and repaired, as part of the record of its history. Moving companies wanted things to look like they'd never been broken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Perhaps he wants to clean it up and prevent further deterioration, such items often show the effects of beer and bravado. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 That they do! Our standard go-to procedure for most non-porous objects (including a lovely Japanese helmet, btw) was to vacuum off loose dust, clean any significant grunge with diluted Murphy's Oil Soap and Q-tips, allow to dry, and give a light coat of Renaissance Wax. There were more specialized cleaners for particularly delicate items, but we went through a LOT of Murphy's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS3900 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 Even if it is a common NCO shin-gunto which were mass produced, it is pretty valuable. Your better off taking lots of good pictures and heading to a world war two collectors forum before you do anything with it. A lot of WWII memorabilia has skyrocketed in price in the last few years. A basic US entrenching tool, for example, that used to be 25 bucks at a flea market, date coded, is now worth well over a hundred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benton Frisse Posted August 9, 2017 Author Share Posted August 9, 2017 Hi folks, sorry should have clarified what exactly I meant by restoration. I would like to clean the rust off of the blade, and some dark tarnishing has occurred from 70 years of people testing the edge with their fingers. I recently spoke with the president of the San Francisco Nipponto Society, and he seems to think it was a Chinese made sword. I am awaiting another appraisal for confirmation. If it is indeed a chinese made sword with not much value, I will clean the blade and polish it myself, since it probably isn't worth much besides sentimental value. The saya does not close properly. It's missing a tsuba, etc. I'd like to polish it and clean it up, keep the old mountings in safe storage, and carve a shirasaya for it to sit nicely next to my two iaito and one shinken on my wall. I would love to one day take it to the dojo and see how it cuts, even. It's a bit shorter than most, maybe 2.35 or 2.3 shaku. If it is worth something, regardless of it's origin, I will pay to have it polished professionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shimanek Posted August 28, 2017 Share Posted August 28, 2017 Photos help; i haven't logged onto this site in a while, but i spend a lot of time on the Nihonto Message Board.....lots of helpful people there. Some decent photos, and you should get some educated opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.