Samurai Sword help please

windjammer

windjammer

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My son received a Samurai Sword as a gift recently...As you might imagine, he has been trying to find as much history on it as he can..

After removing the grip, the writing on the sword was exposed......The pictures are the best we could do at the time.

Are there some of you that can translate the writing..?

samurai8.jpg


samurai7.jpg

 
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First of all, don't try to clean any of it, oil it, do anything with it other than wipe it down with a DRY soft cotton cloth. Go to SamuraiSword.com - Fine Japanese Swords (Nihonto) For Sale; Free Evaluations and contact David Pepin. He will send you some rubbing paper in which you can make a rubbing of the tang of the blade and send it to him. He is a VERY honest person to deal with and will give you as complete of history as possible for your sword. Swords range in value from a couple of hundred to several hundred thousand, so you need to find out what you have. Again, above all, don't try to clean any rust, discoloration or even dirt off of the sword, that can ruin much of its value.
Let us know what you find out.
 
Years ago I was into Iaido and collecting swords. Good advice above except a little oil on the polished blade is good for keeping down any possible rust. Eucalyptus oil was traditionally used but a good clear machine oil is OK as well. Always wipe away any fingerprints with a clean cotton cloth or rice paper you can get made just for the job. Seen many blades damaged by etched in fingerprints left when stored away.

NEVER try to cut anything with it! It's an antique most likely and it takes a fair bit of practice and training to cut with one of these blades without damaging it.

A picture of the blade, handle, guard and sheath would also be interesting.
 
Don't laugh Barb. I once handled a Japanese blade made just prior to WWII that was made in China from rail road track steel. It was actually a good blade for the period.

I also handled a shortened horsemans blade that had been made in the late 1200's by a master that handled so well it was downright spooky. I could see why they often believed the blades had a soul. With the right geometry they follow your moves like they're alive. Most modern blades don't have that though.
 
My friend inherited a samurai sword his dad got in Nagasaki right after we bombed it. He found "experts" who told him the dialect on it was ancient. but there were people that could read it. Now here's the part I have a problem with. His sword is centuries old and was a "common" style. He was told swords are Ok to restore to new condition. I wouldn't do this to a gun with original patina but he had it done. Now it looks like any cheap flea market S. sword. I finally asked him the value and he said around $10,000. I wonder if he ruined it as the value was so low.
 
47th Samurai

If you are interested in this kind of stuff, and are a fan of Bob Lee Swagger, be sure to read Stephen Hunter's book, The 47th Samurai! It imparts a lot of factual knowledge on the subject of Japanese cutting instruments, their design, construction and worth. Plus, it's a dam good read!
 
Wyatt Burp said:
My friend inherited a samurai sword his dad got in Nagasaki right after we bombed it. He found "experts" who told him the dialect on it was ancient. but there were people that could read it. Now here's the part I have a problem with. His sword is centuries old and was a "common" style. He was told swords are Ok to restore to new condition. I wouldn't do this to a gun with original patina but he had it done. Now it looks like any cheap flea market S. sword. I finally asked him the value and he said around $10,000. I wonder if he ruined it as the value was so low.
Click to expand...

Swords are OK to be PROFESSIONALLY restored, not amateur restored. The polishing process is particularly important as is the type of furniture used and how it is handled. Sharpening the sword is a skill that takes years to learn. If he tried to do it all himself then, yeah, he probably hurt the value a lot. The heart of the value though is the blade itself and if he didn't damage it beyond restoration (IE a professional polish and sharpen) it could still be brought back.
 
elcruisr said:
Swords are OK to be PROFESSIONALLY restored, not amateur restored. The polishing process is particularly important as is the type of furniture used and how it is handled. Sharpening the sword is a skill that takes years to learn. If he tried to do it all himself then, yeah, he probably hurt the value a lot. The heart of the value though is the blade itself and if he didn't damage it beyond restoration (IE a professional polish and sharpen) it could still be brought back.
Click to expand...
My friend went out of his way after a few years to find the right restorers. Thanks for the reasureness about swords. That's just what he told me.
 
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