Japenese Sword Identification ???

[AJ Drew]

It is a long shot for a pepper forum,  Who knows what hobbies we all might have,  Peppers, antique swords, what ever,  If you have any clue how to read signatures and my photo doesnt suck too bad, help a guy out

 

[hardcore]

says...made in japan     :
 
looks like is been around for a while    tell us more about it

 

[AJ Drew]

says...made in japan     :
 
looks like is been around for a while    tell us more about it

Katana style blade found at flea market with heater hose for a hilt.   It was in a barrel with a sign that said corn cutters or some such thing.  He purchased it for a few bucks figuring it was the right shape, took it home and cut the heater hose off hoping for a signature on the tang.  There it was.  i dont remember if I purchased, traded, or maybe received it as a birthday gift or something like that.  So many years ago.

Now it is years later and I am thinking about cleaning it up.  Thing is, if it is worth something you are never supposed to clean them.  So trying to decide what it is, whose signature it is, ,how old it is.  If it is valuable, wont clean it.  If it is run of the mill, will clean the thing, make fittings for it, and put it on my wall or something.

 

[Rymerpt]

Drew that is sooo cool I'm nearly speachless. GOOD LUCK

 

[Grass Snake]

Hope this helps
 
http://www.meiboku.info/mei/index.htm

 

[AJ Drew]

Hope this helps
 
http://www.meiboku.info/mei/index.htm

I think that was the final site that made me throw up my hands and start posting pictures.  Oh damn it is confusing.
 

Drew that is sooo cool I'm nearly speachless. GOOD LUCK

Thanks.  It is cool to own the thing, but figuring it out is frigging insane.  I make knives and swords and sell them at a
Ren Fest.  Using it as one of those things that you display but dont sell.  If its worth something, I do not want to clean and polish it cause experts say that is a horrible thing to do.  Not worth something, with shine it up and put it under glass. 
 
If I can get the grain to show, conversations will go like this:

Patron Question:  May I hold that?
Answer: No

Sorry.  Venting.  We live in a stainless steel world.  Maybe 1 in 10 patrons realize you should not put finger prints on carbon steel.  I wind up doing a half off sale last weekend on anything with finger prints.  The You Clean It Sale.

 

[Chris Kewley]

You have a website with your blades for sale?

 

[AJ Drew]

You have a website with your blades for sale?

 
Thank you for the interest.  Not currently.  Most everything I make goes to the Kentucky Renaissance Festival.  I hope to get one up this winter, maybe spring.

 

[dragonsfire]

Just discovered the show "Forged in Fire" love it, always wanted to make my own Knives.

 

[Hybrid Mode 01]

 
 I hope to get one up this winter, maybe spring.

 
 
     I would be very interested to see what you have to offer. I'm sure I have enough already, but I'm always interested in quality, American made knives for camping/utility etc. I bet my brother would appreciate a hunting knife for Christmas, too!