Featured Need any info about this old KATANA style SWORD.

just how many of these blades were polished to try and make them look better , by well meaning folks.................. unknowable ..

 

I appreciate you researching and sharing all this information. I am not surprised, as the more I looked into these things myself, I suspected this might be the result.
As for any refurbishment, that will be up to the next owner. This sword was brought to me by the vet's widow in order for me to sell it for her.
Being what it is, I'm guessing an eBay auction (since I can't establish a monetary "value" on it) will be the best way to go. I do have decades of experience selling there, which is why she gave me the sword.
Again, I want to thank you and all who contributed to this discussion. This is the greatest forum ever, with many knowledgeable and generous members. God bless you all!

 

Unfortunately, far tooooo many! A sword that was in my collection was surrendered by the officer commanding a POW camp in the far east. It was surrendered to the higest british officer in the camp, a Major in the Royal Artillery. He eventually gave it to a friend of mine, who years later sold it to me. He has cut the bushes with it, then when the blade started to rust he 'cleaned' it.............with sand paper! Needless to say, it was not in good condition when i obtained it. That blade was made by a quite famous smith in ca.1629-29. I had it professionally polished and a new scabbard was imported from Japan, so that no grit or dirt in the old scabbard would scratch and ruin the newly polished blade. Oh, and I forgot, the previous owner had stabbed a door with it and put a double bend in the blade, which had to be straightened before it could be polished. That was risky as they can snap, but it was impossible to polish it without straightening it first. At least some people clean them thinking that they are doing them good, but they are always best left alone. I did notice in one of the close up pictures a finger print ! For a blade that is so tough, they are surprisingly delicate.

 

Why on earth????

 

That poor blade! I wouldn't treat a steak knife like that! I hope it goes into the hands of someone who knows how to take care of it. Maybe even the family of the officer who surrendered it.

 

The sword survives over three hundred years of honourable use, and the Second World War, and then fall into the hands of an idiot who nearly destroyed it. Thankfully, it then came to this idiot, who patiently had it beautifully restored . I later passed it on to another collector. The blade was made ca. 1625-29, and the hilt and fitting were made ca. 1800. Hopefully, it has today a loving home. The sword was saved, but unfortunately its history was lost.
I did try to find out who the Japanese officer was, but unfortunately couldn't, as I didn't even know which country he was serving in when he surrendered the sword. Today, I would try a couple of other different sources to trace the owner, which weren't available then.

It is the sword to the left of the armour, here after restoration!

 

stunning history....... you got a photo of the Hamon...or tsuba ??

btw....I have the briefcase on the lower right.....

 

Unfortunately no Komo, I did have some, but they were destroyed in a fire. This now the only picture of it that I have.

This however a very similar blade, though the mounts on mine were far simpler.

https://nihontoantiques.com/project/antique-japanese-sword-fss-761/

I did show the blade to the late Basil Robinson of the V&A, who thought first or second generation Shigetaka. I also showed it to the late Victor Harris at the British Museum, who loved it, as it was a sword that one would be prepared and expect to use every day, with simple, functional mounts, as opposed to those shown in the link above. the tsuba was solid copper covered with a hammered gold foil overlay. The fuchi and kashira (pommel and ferrule), were plain iron, and the menuki were bronze wasps. The original saya (scabbard) which I also had, was plain bløack laquered wood covered with leather, which was fairly normal when used in a combat area.

The blade on the sword was what is termed suriage (cut down), where the tang is shortened in antiquity, which meant that there was only half of the signature still evident , Echizen Ju Harima (no) Dai......... Shortening blades like this was quite normal practice in earlier days, especially if the blade was extremely long, or as was the case with this sword, with very little curvature to it. Cutting the blade down made them easier to fast draw if required and one needed to defend oneself!

As you can see from the above link, this is just what you need for cutting bushes and stabbing doors!.................

My apologies to LoveTheHunt, this is all about a sword of mine, not yours. Sorry about that !

 

Oh, not at all. I love hearing these things as much as anyone- and your sword's story is much more interesting than mine!

 

Many Thanks for that @the blacksmith ..... !!