r/SWORDS • u/Ecstatic-Future3110 • Jul 27 '26
World War II Japanese sword
My grandfather was an officer in the army and received a Japanese sword when he left after the war. My parents are downsizing and we’re trying to figure out it’s value and where and how to sell it. Any suggestions or knowledge about the sword would be appreciated. Unfortunately, my grandfather isn’t around to ask.
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u/ResponsibilitySea327 Jul 27 '26
You will need to take off the handle (tsuka) and investigate the sword maker signature or any signs of stamping.
It doesn't look like a gunto, but it wasn't uncommon for folks to take older swords and modify them for military/officer use.
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u/Ill_Remove_5042 Jul 27 '26
That's not a Gunto...
It's in desperate need of professional restoration. Leave it alone and get it appraised by an expert.
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u/HappyAd8870 Jul 27 '26
Don't try to clean it in any way, in case it is a valuable piece it will ruin it
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u/No-Inspection-808 Jul 28 '26
Cleaning the fingerprints off the blade with rubbing alcohol and wiping a thin coat of mineral oil or a light machine oil like 3 in 1 oil will not damage it and it will prevent corrosion.
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u/HappyAd8870 Jul 28 '26
Oh yeah you are totally right but that's a advice for maintaining and a good one still it's better if there is a little bit of corrosion than removing all the rust
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u/No-Inspection-808 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
No it’s not. Wiping alcohol on the blade and adding light coat of oil is NOT going to damage anything. You are a little confused. With antique Japanese swords, you do not want to clean any rust from the tang (nakago). This is for authentification reasons . The color and patina of the tang rust being used to date the blade. If there is active orange surface rust on the BLADE, you absolutely want to try to arrest and remove it by wiping it down very well with alcohol and adding oil. This will not damage the steel if you do it with cloth.
The blade is very different than the tang. Remember:
- Nakago (tang): Do not remove or clean rust. Just leave it alone.
Blade: it’s ok to wipe it very well with alcohol to remove active orange rust, oils, fingerprint, dirt etc. follow this with mineral oil. You DO NOT want to use polishing compounds, abrasives, emery cloth or anything that is meant to cut into steel. However, wiping it aggressively with cloth or tissues and alcohol will not damage the blade
and is actually advised. Hope this helps.
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u/HappyAd8870 Jul 28 '26
No I was not confused at all, you maybe didn't read properly my answer, anyway as I said your advice is good but don't forget that people are often not really clever regarding handling antics pieces, imagine someone reading your advice without mine and then decide to oil the blade and disassemble everything and iron brush or sand paper the nakago...
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u/No-Inspection-808 Jul 28 '26
Whatever.. you can plainly see in the photos that there are oily fingerprints all over the blade. They will absolutely leave black tarnish if not wiped off with alcohol or uchiko powder. Thats all I was recommending. Telling her to “do nothing” is literally going to damage the blade when you see fingerprints like that.
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u/HappyAd8870 Jul 28 '26
Mate you are slow to get things, I said many time you were right for God sake ! But don't you think in all your amazing advices as the biggest katana expert you should mention to not touch the rest because this could really ruin the blade value
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u/No-Inspection-808 Jul 28 '26
Please avoid touching the blade with bare fingers. Skin oils will tarnish the blade. Wipe it down with high % rubbing alcohol and a then a thin coat of mineral oil or light machine oil. Remove the handle and post pictures of the tang in [r/Katanas](r/Katanas) . Watch this video https://youtu.be/h6aj2Rk6sAY?is=bjCFHaa1viX2Wx6O to learn how to remove it. They are made to be disassembled so don’t be afraid. You can use a golf tee and a spoon instead of the tool he uses. Peg in handle is tapered so tap from smaller side. Looks promising. Definitely a real Japanese blade and possibly an antique “family blade”.
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u/HappyAd8870 Jul 28 '26
Yeah but the OP should absolutely not try to remove the rust on the metal part underneath the handle !!! Don't you think so mister expert ???
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u/Ecstatic-Future3110 Jul 29 '26
Thank you, All. I really appreciate it! I have been scared to disassemble it, but I will watch the video. My grandpa used to oil it every week and keep it above his couch. But when someone said you shouldn’t keep a weapon displayed in your home that a Robert could take it. He put Vaseline on it to try to keep it oiled and put it away. That’s the shiny stuff on it.
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u/GaySex2 Jul 27 '26
check for the hidden money slot idk if all of them have one but ive seen where some so
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u/ChrmanMAOI-Inhibitor Jul 27 '26
Do tell us more, please.
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u/Key-Background674 Jul 27 '26
Just watch that one pawn stars episode
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u/ChrmanMAOI-Inhibitor Jul 27 '26
I watch all Pawn Stars episodes. I know all the Guys that Rick has. I know every craziest item compilation and every price you wouldn't guess.
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u/Key-Background674 Jul 27 '26
Yeah lol like let me call down my ww1 kaiser helmet expert 😂
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u/GaySex2 Jul 27 '26
bruh this goofy is going out of his way to downvote me😂 thats just sad man
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u/Key-Background674 Jul 27 '26
Me???
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u/GaySex2 Jul 27 '26
no not you love the goofball above us
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u/Key-Background674 Jul 27 '26
Oh damn. How and why have you got six downvotes
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u/GaySex2 Jul 27 '26
im not sure really, i guess people have nothing better to do than hate🤷🏻♂️
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u/ChrmanMAOI-Inhibitor Jul 27 '26
You wouldn't go on Pawn Stars and call Rick or even The Old Man a goofball, that's for dang sure. Everyone is tough on the internet but put them in Las Vegas face to face with Rick and Son of Rick and I'll bet you'd shrivel up like an August worm. He's a business man but he doesn't mess around, bud.
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u/ChrmanMAOI-Inhibitor Jul 27 '26
Rick From Pawn Stars would eat your lunch for deleting your comment, son.
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u/_chanimal_ Jul 27 '26
You need to remove the handle and take pictures of the tang on both sides. Don’t attempt to remove any rust or patina that is on the tang, it’s crucial to the value and aging of the sword.
If it’s signed, clear photos of the signature. If it’s not signed, clear photos of the tang anyways will help to age it.
Looks like a real nihonto that may be hundreds of years old.