Tang Rust???

[David Guist]

Hello I am trying to clean the tang on a ww2 Shin Gunto sword. It is rusty.I tryed 3 in 1 oil. But Is there something That will eat the rust better? I would like to clean so the markers mark can be seen better befor I sell it.Thank you for any help.

[BryanD]

Try Oxalic acid. It is commonly used to remove rust stains on cloth. I have used it on rusty german helmets and brought the remaning paint back out and removed the rust. Follow the instructions on the bottle.
Try any Hardware store .

[Federico Perez]

BUT be carefull removing the rust from the sword tang, it could ruin it's value. The most observed tradition in the Japanese swords is to avoid cleaning the tang, to some collectors and traditionalist in the art of the Japanese sword is a FULL NO,NO.

But if your sword tang has "active rust/corrosion" it should be removed and stabilized.

[David Guist]

Thanks guys.It realy need to at least be stopped.It was pretty bad. Thanks again.

[Stahlhelm]

BUT be carefull removing the rust from the sword tang, it could ruin it's value. The most observed tradition in the Japanese swords is to avoid cleaning the tang, to some collectors and traditionalist in the art of the Japanese sword is a FULL NO,NO.

But if your sword tang has "active rust/corrosion" it should be removed and stabilized.

Good advice!

Chris

[Scott-W]

Before I began my God-forsaken trek into 3rd R,I HEAVILY collected Japanese militaria,specifically gunto/swords.My late dad was a PI veteran and left me an NCO and a t-38 rifle to start me off.I must have had over a dozen swords,mostly in IJA gunto fittings before I sold out to German. One thing I learned about Nihonto is DON'T clean the blades/tangs! The high dollar collectors will turn their noses up at them if you wish to sell or display! A rusted barely discernible tang/blade is always worth more even as a risk to buy than one that has been improperly cleaned,weird,but that's how it is. Kinda like non refinished high end Colonial furniture,original and cracked/missing finish,50K for a 1780's shifrobe,ect, cleaned up to see the grain of wood,3k! A buddy of mine is J.Christopher Mitchell,the millitaria appraiser on WGBH's Antiques Road Show,he sees this all the time,it transcends to all fields of collecting.... Odd but true....

[Tiger 1]

No don't!

[Tiger 1]

Thanks guys.It realy need to at least be stopped.It was pretty bad. Thanks again.

Dav,

If you are not versed in the subtle intricasies of maintaining a Japanese sword the less you do the better for the sword and it's value.

Please don't clean the tang. You will destroy much of the sword's value if improperly done or to many collectors if done at all.

But, being your sword you may do with it as you wish. Unfortunately once the damage is done it is not reversable and the real value is lost.

Tony

[Stu W]

Hello Dav,

Is this the shin gunto you were asking about the other day on the Japanese Forum?

While the other members are correct, you will substantially reduce the value of a blade by cleaning the old rust from it's tang, it may not be as applicable in this case. If memory seves me you were told it was a 80-100 dollar item, given the condition, so you don't have as much to worry about.

Regards,
Stu

[David Guist]

Hello yes its the same sword.I realy ony like to collect german items so I think I will just get rid of this old sword.It was at a yard sale so I didnt do to bad I guess.Thank you for all your comments and help.Best regards