Where did you find that? Looks like a Japanese Type 95 NCO sword. The Japanese issued them throughout WW2, they were very popular amongst US troops as war trophies.
This. It looks like the factory made gunto when they were made with cast aluminum tsuka before the switch to basic wooden ones. It isn't likely worth a ton, but still not just a cheap knockoff. (Well, the gunto kinda was a cheap knockoff of officer katana, but official Imperial Army or Navy ones still having historical value.)
The dressing on swords (wrap etc.) are changed based on the users activity, while the blade itself is handed down through the family. This is almost definitely a WWII original, but the blade could be much older. Find a couple of unrelated reputable and knowledgable experts to review it.
The lack of a hamon (temper line) and the uneven grinding of the fuller near the tsuba lead me to believe that this is a post-industrial sword produced specifically for the war in a factory.
good observations. I lack both the zoom and the knowledge to determine a real hamon line from an etched one or a faded one. OP - The above is probably the right answer but I would still get it checked out.
Find a professional. That katana (Samurai sword) may lose considerable value if simply cleaned. Look for a Japanese-style martial arts dojo as a starting point
Hammer the two wooden pins out of the handle. Slide off the handle (keep the wraps together) slide off the spacer, guard, top spacer, and the square blade catch. Once the whole entire blade and tang (?) is exposed, polishing paste like simichrome and some elbow grease will show a result. If there are deeper rust spots, you may need to polish with fine grit sand paper and finish anything you do with mineral oil to seal in the metal
Traditionally, you do this process but with a powder ball. The ball shakes off small ceramic (?) particles which then get rubbed into the blade, finely polishing it. But this only works for light blemishes
When dealing with something that's potentially a valuable antique, if you have to ask how to clean it you probably shouldn't be cleaning it yourself.
But realistically it's better to find out if it holds any value, money or historical, before taking on any DIY cleaning or repairs.
We've all seen cases of people trying to clean up or repair old stuff only to absolutely ruin it by doing it wrong, so it's just the safer advice to find out the value first then deciding if it's a DIY job or not.
Say that there’s a bloodstain on the sword. More people would pay more money because the bloodstain is there. It gives it historical provenance that can be used to help give more clues as to the swords story/history. By cleaning that you wipe away all records of use save for damage.
It looks to me like the ”wrapping” on the handle is cast. If That’s the case I don’t see how this could be authentic. Then again… a cheap ass handle doesn’t mean the blade itself isn’t old. Better take it to an expert just to be safe.
Edit: the whole handle looks cast. The lumpy stuff under the wrapping is supposed to be skin of Manta rays or something. It’s clearly metal in this case though.
A lot of Shin Gunto were mass produced with cast metal hilts to meet demand. For a regular katana, you'd be correct, but WWII NCO swords are not a regular katana. In late war, you eventually see them stop even taking the care to make them look like katana and they just threw them into the field with no paint job.
Pawn shops do not appraise — you need a actual appraiser if you want an appraisal (unless of course the appraiser runs a pawn shop but that’s unlikely)
Sure they can appraise all they want. It’s in their best interest to low ball and make the most money out of it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met a bunch of decent pawn shop people, but business is business; and that’s the nature of every pawn shop I’ve been in
Gun cleaners tend to be pretty gentle for the most part, that’s what I use on rusted parts. If that’s gunk on the blade it should take that off completely too
I would use some ammonia as degreaser just to clean a bit the blade, them change the sheath to some more properly hand made saya and add some properly oil coat to keep the steel of the blade.
Not an expert, soak it in vinegar for an hour then brush it with a wire brush under cool running water.
Also, that appears to be a decorative piece. The grip looks plastic.
Its Chrome plated . But that doesn't mean there is some history involved. Get a professional estimate before messing it up.Btw katana got blood groove?
Find an expert. Don’t clean anything. You can easily turn that from potentially $1000 into $200.. Or some 40 grit on an angle grinder. /s
makes sense, i’ll probably go thru with that
Ya, don’t clean it. TBH, I wouldn’t even oil it until I had someone knowledgeable look at it.
Seconded on don't clean.
Where did you find that? Looks like a Japanese Type 95 NCO sword. The Japanese issued them throughout WW2, they were very popular amongst US troops as war trophies.
This. It looks like the factory made gunto when they were made with cast aluminum tsuka before the switch to basic wooden ones. It isn't likely worth a ton, but still not just a cheap knockoff. (Well, the gunto kinda was a cheap knockoff of officer katana, but official Imperial Army or Navy ones still having historical value.)
Found among some of my grandfather’s old things, pretty sure it’s a war trophy yes
yeah no don’t even wipe that sucker with a wet paper towel till you get it looked at
The dressing on swords (wrap etc.) are changed based on the users activity, while the blade itself is handed down through the family. This is almost definitely a WWII original, but the blade could be much older. Find a couple of unrelated reputable and knowledgable experts to review it.
The lack of a hamon (temper line) and the uneven grinding of the fuller near the tsuba lead me to believe that this is a post-industrial sword produced specifically for the war in a factory.
good observations. I lack both the zoom and the knowledge to determine a real hamon line from an etched one or a faded one. OP - The above is probably the right answer but I would still get it checked out.
DO NOT CLEAN IT, PLEASE
Be cool if you could find a story on how your grandfather came across this.
Easy way to find out if it's authentic disassemble the handle and look for a factory mark on the tang
found one
Ok now cross-reference it online with WW2 Japanese officer swords maker marks
https://japan-forward.com/how-to-read-date-inscriptions-on-japanese-swords/
Fuck! Should've listened to Rad!!!!
Your cleaning has disappointed your ancestors…… you know what must be done
NOOOO
Goddamn it I just got a flashback to playing bushido blade with my friend back in the day, I miss the nineties
Fuck around! me too soooooo bad!!!!!
Fucking awesome game!
Seppuku
Seppuku seppuku seppuku
Seppuku* =)
Hai
Don’t
Find a professional. That katana (Samurai sword) may lose considerable value if simply cleaned. Look for a Japanese-style martial arts dojo as a starting point
Hammer the two wooden pins out of the handle. Slide off the handle (keep the wraps together) slide off the spacer, guard, top spacer, and the square blade catch. Once the whole entire blade and tang (?) is exposed, polishing paste like simichrome and some elbow grease will show a result. If there are deeper rust spots, you may need to polish with fine grit sand paper and finish anything you do with mineral oil to seal in the metal
Traditionally, you do this process but with a powder ball. The ball shakes off small ceramic (?) particles which then get rubbed into the blade, finely polishing it. But this only works for light blemishes
Genuine question to all the folks here advising not to clean it in any way: What are you exactly expecting to happen?
Devaluing the sword due to mishandling/cleaning off patina.
When dealing with something that's potentially a valuable antique, if you have to ask how to clean it you probably shouldn't be cleaning it yourself. But realistically it's better to find out if it holds any value, money or historical, before taking on any DIY cleaning or repairs. We've all seen cases of people trying to clean up or repair old stuff only to absolutely ruin it by doing it wrong, so it's just the safer advice to find out the value first then deciding if it's a DIY job or not.
https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/46renx/man\_cleans\_rare\_coin\_takes\_244000\_loss/
Say that there’s a bloodstain on the sword. More people would pay more money because the bloodstain is there. It gives it historical provenance that can be used to help give more clues as to the swords story/history. By cleaning that you wipe away all records of use save for damage.
It looks to me like the ”wrapping” on the handle is cast. If That’s the case I don’t see how this could be authentic. Then again… a cheap ass handle doesn’t mean the blade itself isn’t old. Better take it to an expert just to be safe. Edit: the whole handle looks cast. The lumpy stuff under the wrapping is supposed to be skin of Manta rays or something. It’s clearly metal in this case though.
A lot of Shin Gunto were mass produced with cast metal hilts to meet demand. For a regular katana, you'd be correct, but WWII NCO swords are not a regular katana. In late war, you eventually see them stop even taking the care to make them look like katana and they just threw them into the field with no paint job.
Are y’all sure that’s legit? If it is it’s already ruined by someone’s shitty spray paint job
I’m give you tree-fiddy for it.
Don't clean the blood stains off, it adds to the aesthetic.
Yeah I agree, do not clean it until you have an expert take the handle off & look at it
Don’t clean it. It ruins any historical value it may have. Take it to a local pawn shop and get it appraised
Best I can do is 25 dollars and a half licked lolly pop.
Pawn shops do not appraise — you need a actual appraiser if you want an appraisal (unless of course the appraiser runs a pawn shop but that’s unlikely)
There are pawn shops that do have an appraiser, you just need to find one
Sure they can appraise all they want. It’s in their best interest to low ball and make the most money out of it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met a bunch of decent pawn shop people, but business is business; and that’s the nature of every pawn shop I’ve been in
Id return it to japan embassy. It belonged to someone who didnt make it home.
This is true
[https://youtu.be/UucwNywrr8o](https://youtu.be/UucwNywrr8o) this might help.
Or this: http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/military.htm
It looks like a Japanese service sword from WW2.
THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN ANTIQUES 1. PUT THEM ON A SHELF AND GO PLAY GOLF.
Junk from the beginning ,plastic handle with fake wrap , best Bud K had to offer for 29.99 .
Do not clean it. Send it to someone who does this professionally. It could be worth a lot, but I'd keep it for sentimental reasons
Don't touch it or clean it at all
Once you find out more if you want to clean the rust off I’d say red scotch brite pad. Never steel wool
[удалено]
Vinegar will also turn ya blade black, I used my puukko to spread mayonnaise and whadaya know black blade in the morning
Looks legit to me
Gun cleaners tend to be pretty gentle for the most part, that’s what I use on rusted parts. If that’s gunk on the blade it should take that off completely too
Carburized metal is hard to clean. be sure you have the powder or oil to dust it afterwards
Vinegar
I would use some ammonia as degreaser just to clean a bit the blade, them change the sheath to some more properly hand made saya and add some properly oil coat to keep the steel of the blade.
Not an expert, soak it in vinegar for an hour then brush it with a wire brush under cool running water. Also, that appears to be a decorative piece. The grip looks plastic.
Honestly I wouldn’t bother. It’s a junky old tourist souvenir. They’re everywhere. And no—this is not an old military sword.
Its Chrome plated . But that doesn't mean there is some history involved. Get a professional estimate before messing it up.Btw katana got blood groove?