Recieved these pictures through a gentleman that answered one of my ads, it was his Dads. I know the pictures are not the greatest but its the best I could coach him on via phone. Japanese swords are not my area but this one looks to be a handmade blade via pics. Any help would be appreciated before I make the guy a offer.
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folks i know its hard to get good pix, please do not lay your swords on the dirt, ground, concrete, lay a sheet r blanket down, something.
sword looks real, to bad someone re wraped it if price is low go for it.
edit to add to new pix added while posting
smith is KanekuniComment
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Originally posted by Budo45 View Post
I know, this guy totally doesn't know what he's got or how to handle one properly. Sadly he's the one that unwrapped the handle trying to get to the tang.Comment
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take a look at this on on estand, it seems to have similar "scratches" on the habaki...
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=471185Comment
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that means he spent more money on the the fittings for his sword to take to war and or it was on there from a older blade. I dont have the book handy to tell you the japanese name for it, it can be called falling rain, or cat scratch... i like the falling rain thought myself.it seems to have similar "scratches" on the habaki..Comment
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Sword
I agree on how sad its been treated, tang itself may have been cleaned as well, rewrap of hilt will cost at least $200 and thats if he kept the menuki fittings. Hard to appraise without closeups,,,,I gather there is a scabbard?Comment
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I see a scrubbed tang! too bad, as its probably an older blade thats been mounted and remounted! Looks like the son has really screwed Dads sword up.
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Googled the smith Kanekuni and only came up with a modern swordsmith from the 1960's. From the double holes and the arch of the blade it looks like a older one maybe??
Guys any idea of a "ballpark" value going by just this?Comment
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Sword
There are 42 of them in just the revised Hawley book alone, scrubbing the tang hurts but the specific smith can be found out. But even then it takes a Shinsa appraiser to authenticate the signature for papers, if the sword is worth papering in the first place.
(1) Are there any cracks, bends, grain openings, visible temperline present.
(2) Scabbard?
(3) Cutting edge length,,,get him to measure from tip to notch in rear spine of blade.
To try and answer your value question, if I had to buy this sword based on these photos I wouldnt cross the $400 mark, if it does indeed have a scabbard in good shape then perhaps $500. If its got any of a number of "fatal flaws" when you get it then you wont be hurt too bad.Comment
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Thanks guys for all your help
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An update to this thread. Just completed the transaction with the veterans son yesterday. Hopefully these pictures will shed more light on this sword. Left me little doubt if it was traditionally handmade when I examined it but my experience stops there. Tang does look like it may have been cleaned but not so aggressively as I originally thought, going by his poor pics. Overall the fittings appear above standard in quality.
Any more info will be of great help!Comment
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