Help With Samaurai Sword Sheath

[Kcinnick]

One of my regular customers asked if I could wrap his Samurai sheath in leather. I have a couple of questions. First, will I destroy the value of his sheath by taking the leather off and re wrapping it.

Second, I know I could lace it up all the way without any problems, but I don't think I could sew it that tight on my machine (Cowboy 4500), so any suggestions?

Does anyone here do work like this and I can send him to you?

[electrathon]

Is this a real Samari sword? If so I would think that you will greatly reduce the value by re-doing it.. Generally restoring things like this may make it nicer, but will destroy the origional value.

Aaron

[camano ridge]

One of my regular customers asked if I could wrap his Samurai sheath in leather. I have a couple of questions. First, will I destroy the value of his sheath by taking the leather off and re wrapping it.

Second, I know I could lace it up all the way without any problems, but I don't think I could sew it that tight on my machine (Cowboy 4500), so any suggestions?

Does anyone here do work like this and I can send him to you?

I have a small collection of military swords, I am no expert on Japanese swords, however looking at the pictures it would appear to be possibly world war II maybe earlier, it is hard to tell with out seeing the sword itself and any markings. I would not recomend doing anything including cleaning until it was appraised by someone knowledgable in this type of sword. If you were to recover it you would stitch the leather like a sleeve or a glove the you would force it over the Scabard until the scabard was completely seated in the sleeve. It would then be laced above the lanyard ring ( not the correct terminology but you should get the meaning).

Edited February 21, 2012 by camano ridge

[Kcinnick]

It is a WWII bring back. I don't want to touch it, but the owners want it redone. It was last appraised at $1500. When I told home I would look at it, I thought he was talking about a hobby sword. When he sent the picks I freaked out. I don't want to mess up history.

[malabar]

I started collecting edged weapons when I was a kid, so I know a little bit about this stuff...

First, it's not a samurai sword or nihonto. It's a WWII military-issue sword or shin-gunto. I'm not an expert on these things, but $1,500 would be on the high end of shin-gunto worth. There have been isolated cases where family blades were mounted as gunto, but it is highly unlikely. Regardless, I would leave it alone. Nihonto are restored by experts. Gunto were machine made and generally not restored. The rule of thumb with these things is that the more original they are, the more valuable. Anything you do -- regardless of how well you do it -- will make it less valuable.

Your friend should get the sword identified by type, and then search military collectors sites for a leather-covered scabbard in better condition.

tk

[Kcinnick]

I started collecting edged weapons when I was a kid, so I know a little bit about this stuff...

First, it's not a samurai sword or nihonto. It's a WWII military-issue sword or shin-gunto. I'm not an expert on these things, but $1,500 would be on the high end of shin-gunto worth. There have been isolated cases where family blades were mounted as gunto, but it is highly unlikely. Regardless, I would leave it alone. Nihonto are restored by experts. Gunto were machine made and generally not restored. The rule of thumb with these things is that the more original they are, the more valuable. Anything you do -- regardless of how well you do it -- will make it less valuable.

Your friend should get the sword identified by type, and then search military collectors sites for a leather-covered scabbard in better condition.

tk

Yeah, I know nothing about the sword. I am going meet him at in an hour, we are discussing other business also. I already told him he shouldn't touch it. Any idea where to pick up a used scabbard.

[malabar]

Yeah, I know nothing about the sword. I am going meet him at in an hour, we are discussing other business also. I already told him he shouldn't touch it. Any idea where to pick up a used scabbard.

Sword collectors' shows are great for that kind of stuff. And he might try this site.....

http://www.guntoartswords.com/

tk

[steelhawk]

why don't you make him a brand new scabbard, then he can keep the original intact and retain the value.

[Kcinnick]

why don't you make him a brand new scabbard, then he can keep the original intact and retain the value.

I can't make the wood part..

The Sword is marked

Jinsen Korea

1945

Other side marked after the war with the Lt's name

It is in the original navy issued bag with his name on it that was used to ship it back as a bring back. It has the original tag showing that it went through Korea then California and then to New Orleans.

[mrdabeetle]

If this were me, I wouldn't touch it.

[Kcinnick]

I convinced him not to touch it and pointed him where he could purchase a replacement if he really wanted. I suggested he displayed it AS IS. He did order a belt and I got to play with a badass piece of history.

[Reaper]

I wouldn't touch it...