Samurai Sword Questions

[The Professor]

Hello forum. I obtained this sword from Army Veteran TSGT. (XX) Cook.

He related to me that he had pulled it from an after the battle equipment pile somewhere on the road North of Bamban and South of Taraic, Philippine Island.

The cloth cover is very tight to the handle and I hesitate to disturb it to remove the blade. The cloth wrap beneath the cover seems to the touch to be in good condition. The blade has darkened from age and storage conditions. Some old pitting and newer light surface rust is present. There is one place of shrapnel damage to the scabbard.

I would like opinions on the affixed Tassel and Handle Cover. They appear to me to be field made and applied as opposed to issue available items.

I normally leave things in as found condition. However I would like to prevent further deterioration to the blade and welcome any recommendations in that regard.
I will most likely not try to restore the blade to a bright condition but will listen if anyone can provide good reasons and a method to do so.

Thanks for looking,
TP

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[Jareth]

I really like the handle cover! You see them often in period photos but very few remained on the swords stateside! The tassel I don't like but that's your call.

[Budo45]

clean and care

a proper cleaning would require the removal of the handle, so the habaki can be removed, id clean the blade of its cosmoline (sp)?, with oops or goop off, then lightly oil, lots of military collectors like to leave handle covers on, us Nihonto guys like the blade taken care of first. If you plan on handle removal id remove the saurte then the cover should slide off I would hope. the tassel is nothing more that what a navy or marine fellow did to add to the sword. If you look in F/G you'll see a complete cover of the navy cord on a sword. to go to full restoration id use Bob Benson in Hawaii, cost close to 3K. to know if the sword warrants a full polish you'd have to have the handle removed to see if its more than a WW 2 sword. I always like to see if there signed but thats MHO

[Steve Flanagan]

Sword

Late war sword judging from the fittings, the tassle looks like something a sailor would do to pass the time, not normally seen on Japanese swords. Wiping the blade down with high grade oil wouldnt hurt it. Might try denatured alcohol on the blade prior to wiping it down, let it evaporate afterwards prior to coating with oil, will probably take off the old dried cosmolene type oil. Still a nice example of a field worn blade.