Found an oriental (Japanese?) blade in a box of unrelated stuff at the flea market. Blade is a bit over 11 3/4 inches overall, 8 3/4" to the tang with a 3" tang, at the back it is a bit over 1/4" thick and 15/16 wide. Has 2 thin blood groves for about 3/4 of the blade length on the right side and 1 wide and one thin on the left. Back of the blade is straight, edge gently tapers to a sharp point, edge is still quite sharp. The tang has oriental writing on both sides. Overall condition is a fine rust just short of light pitting.
Now, what do I do with it to preserve it, get it cleaned up if appropriate and find out something about it. This is totally out of my lane.
Thanks.

Need good photos. Might be chinese, hope not though.

Please they are "fullers" not blood grooves.
Need photos of the rest.

Thanks gentlemen, I'll see what I can do about photos. What is the best way to highlight the markings on the tang?
Thanks.

You can angle the light to shadow the markings.You can also use white chaulk tighten the markings.

quote:

Originally posted by 50 Calshtr:
Thanks gentlemen, I'll see what I can do about photos. What is the best way to highlight the markings on the tang?
Thanks.

Use white chalk in the characters.