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Jap sword part 2
rmnewcom
Member Posts: 28 ✭✭
I posted detailed pics of each character in the other thread but now it is locked. Someone told me the pics were upside down so here is another view of both sides:
and the other side:
and the other side:
Comments
It was made in Showa 19 (1945) by a man named Tomoharu. Likely it was commissioned by a Japanese officer and should have been put in military mountings but wasn't. Now is where I must speculate. Since the war ended and all weapons were to be turned in, an old set of mountings were available and used instead. The same (pronounced Sah-may is the rayskin used for the hilt and it is large nodules. That quality was not available since the 30's and is proably quite older, like maybe over a hundred years older. The peg hole must have been drilled to match the hilt rather than the other way around.
I can find no listing for Tomoharu but this is not surprising since most wartime smiths are seldom of renown.
I have a '43 dated handmade blade and it is in what is known as Type 44 Ersatz (Emergency issue) fittings. Most of these were issued to the Japanese Imperial Naval Landing Forces (NFL). If you google Ben Stein's "Japanese Swords on the Internet", you will find a wonderful site that will show you the fittings you probably should have on the blade.
As always, get a second opinion on the Kanji as interpertation is somewhat subjective.
Best,
Mike
Go to www.BandKCustomFirearms.com. He is one of the few true Japanese sword makers in the USA. His translations on the hilt will be dead on.
He has made me two blades that I highly treasure.
He had a Dragon & his lover that I dearly love, but I don't have $12,000 for another blade to put into my safe.
Best Regards[:)]
Steve Adams