Japanese sword info.

[marmaduke]

Hi all. I am hoping this forum will be useful to me. I apologize if I am in error.
I just purchased a Masahiro sword from e-bay. Claims to be hand forged 1060 carbon steel with real rayskin handle. Only info on "Masahiro" I can find is that it is a cutlery company. Orijin appears to be Seki, Japan.
1) Can anyone direct me to more detailed info regarding this company?
2) I have small quantity of Choijo oil for sword blade. Does anyone know how to care for "real" rayskin handle?
Thank you for any help in this matter.

 

[Mike Cash]

The price the swords retail for should tell you everything you need to know about the company.

 

[marmaduke]

The price the swords retail for should tell you everything you need to know about the company.

You must be a politician.

 

[Mike Cash]

You must be a politician.

I'm a pragmatist.

 

[Hachiro]

I'm a pragmatist.

Meaning what? To take the dictionary definition of the word;

1. A practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems.

The OP should research it for themselves?

Aw Mike you're no fun, where would the world be without message boards to have all of life's questions answered.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

1)A maker of a kitchen knife(Masahiro)
世界品質のものづくり。岐阜県関市の包丁専門メーカー。株式会社マサヒロ
2)Care of a Japanese sword
http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~ikkaku/maintenance.html
Masahiro sword ?
A name of a person of production of a Japanese sword is strange.
A Japanese sword is made with tamahagane.
1060 carbon ?
http://www.zwaardstunter.nl/Masahiro.htm
A genuine Japanese sword
A person of production of a Japanese sword
(Settunokami minamoto no tadayuki)
http://www.kanshoan.com/special/dtls_0025_s-tadayuki.html
http://www.masamune.brst-group.com/wakizashi/settukami_530/index.php

 

[marmaduke]

The OP should research it for themselves?
Aw Mike you're no fun, where would the world be without message boards to have all of life's questions answered.
Again, I apologize. I have tried "Google" and cannot get sufficient information on company. This is first sword purchase. I realize its not a $1000 sword. For my sons use (Karate student) it should suffice. But would really like to know what resources to use to find on my own.

This is all I can find on Masahiro:

MASAHIRO CUTLERY
Seki, Japan began as a village of sword makers. When they learned to laminate steel to make swords for the Samurai , they established themselves as the best blade makers in the world. That tradition is reflected in the precision and polish with which a Masahiro knife is put together. Seki is as famous for cutlery as Solingen and Sheffield.

 

[Mike Cash]

Meaning what? To take the dictionary definition of the word;

1. A practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems.

Precisely. I googled the product, saw the price, and learned all I need to know about it.

I later learned the OP purchased this for his kid's karate practice. I hope he got the kind of sword with an unsharpened edge....or that he has marvellous medical and liability insurance.

 

[nice gaijin]

is this the one with the "Oda Nobunga Tsuba," or the "Toyoyomi Hideyoshi Katana"?

In any case, you get what you pay for; I wouldn't worry too much about caring for that "real" rayskin handle. The name alone of your "oil for sword blades" tells me that it's for the blade, not for the handle.

Also, what level is your kid at that he is using a sharpened katana? Seems a bit irresponsible to let a kid wield a sword unless he is an advanced student.

 

[Hachiro]

later learned the OP purchased this for his kid's karate practice. I hope he got the kind of sword with an unsharpened edge....or that he has marvellous medical and liability insurance

Good point there.

Marmaduke, sometimes giving "all" the pertinent information ahead of time saves a lot of wasted time for people checking out the answers for you......

Hell when I first read the OP I was thinking that the 1060 carbon was from the YEAR 1060. :bikkuri: :bikkuri:

 

[Mike Cash]

It may have been a better idea to consult the karate teacher about what sort of swords are appropriate for practice and where to obtain them. If this thing has an edge on it and the teacher allows kids to practice with live blades, grab your kid under your arm and run to your car.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Karate never uses a Japanese sword.

 

[marmaduke]

Sorry for my ignorance. I will be leaving these forums. No more posts will be required.

 

[Mike Cash]

I regret that you got what you asked for here, only to learn that it wasn't what you wanted after all.

 

[ArmandV]

Perhaps he needed the sword for use in performing brises.

 

[nice gaijin]

That makes giving a sharpened sword to a kid way less irresponsible!

While technically Karate wouldn't use a katana, there are a lot of schools, especially in America, where promising to teach swordfighting is a good way to bring in new students (ZOMG I CAN LEARN TO SWING A NINJA SWORD!@?). There are so many mixed styles that a bizarre combinations of weapons are offered at schools all over the US.

 

[yamada]

The OP should research it for themselves?
Aw Mike you're no fun, where would the world be without message boards to have all of life's questions answered.
Again, I apologize. I have tried "Google" and cannot get sufficient information on company. This is first sword purchase. I realize its not a $1000 sword. For my sons use (Karate student) it should suffice. But would really like to know what resources to use to find on my own.
This is all I can find on Masahiro:
MASAHIRO CUTLERY
Seki, Japan began as a village of sword makers. When they learned to laminate steel to make swords for the Samurai, they established themselves as the best blade makers in the world. That tradition is reflected in the precision and polish with which a Masahiro knife is put together. Seki is as famous for cutlery as Solingen and Sheffield.

I guess that MASAHIRO is a trademark. MASAHIRO sounds something like several centuries ago. During those era, they were lack of intellectual properties. I imagine that there were many other cutlery men/company using the same name MASAHIRO on every sword. Still there are alot of MASAHIROs in the market. Hard to know who made it. However, I dont have a confidence in it, dont quate me. Seki is a popular name of person or place.

 

[Yoshida Shoin]

Marmaduke,

If you are still checking this, I'd recommend looking at this site (Welcome to Nihonto Antiques - Japanese Sword Restoration) and perhaps emailing Bacerra sensei for advice.