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Jap sword part 2

rmnewcomrmnewcom Member Posts: 28 ✭✭
edited October 2007 in Ask the Experts
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:

Picture050.jpg
Picture051.jpg

and the other side:
Picture052-1.jpg

Comments

  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm printing these out to take to work tomorrow and consult my books, but right now I can tell you it was made after 1800. Given the condition of the mountings and quality, and a single peg hole that was drilled, not punched, and the lack of black rust, I would date it from 1860-1920.
  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here is what I have found about your sword.

    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
  • AdamsQuailHunterAdamsQuailHunter Member Posts: 2,022 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello "rmnewcom"[:)]

    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
  • rmnewcomrmnewcom Member Posts: 28 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I went to the site but I did not see a contact email address. Did I just miss it or do you have it?
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