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As it is said that the blade is a Java sword. The characters look a little strange. They were not inscribed by native Japanese. The characters were intended to be as follows. ジャワ刀 (Jawa-to) – Java sword スマラン (Sumaran) – Semarang FYI, there is another thread. WWII Japanese Katana Identification Help - Military Swords of Japan - Nihonto Message Board

@Stephen Hi Stephen, I am kicking myself for not taking photos of my daughter, Robert Hughes, me, and a few other people who sat near me. It was so much fun that by the time I realized I had not taken the photos, it was almost the end of the tour. I took these photos at the last minute. The food was wonderful (Tenpura was cooked on the boat and served on the spot). A couple of people sang Karaoke, and later we sang along together. Outside of the boat, we were surrounded by many high-rise buildings with huge numbers of lights, went under a bridge, and saw many other boats like us. Soken-do (sword store) sent me more photos of my swords. This time, side-view.

They are mirror images. 京透 – Kyo sukashi 桐繁透鐔 – Paulownia-rich sukashi tsuba 丸形鉄地透彫 – Marugata, tetsuji, sukashibori 無銘 - Mumei 昭和丗六年夏日 – Showa 36th year (1961), a summer day 寒山誌 – Kanzan wrote

Sword-testers, executioners, and producers of pharmaceuticals:

Kanesada

What's quite possibly happened is someone recently used a gunto blade (likely a showato) to create a "samurai" package featuring "civilian" mounts. Now how much of the mounts are modern can be concluded with images, the tsuba is modern, but maybe some other elements are old.

But why would soft steel or iron break like this ? I would think it would take some bent first but the piece on the picture looks like a good fake if it is one ? I know that they have their „own“ views at Usagiya sometimes.

Signed, Kanezane, Showato.

No, that’s another decades old urban legend. Simply because no one had been able to read the official World War II Japanese documents. You will see in Nick’s article that he has pulled up the actual wartime documents that assigned that color to the civil servants.

The "crepe paper" background plate are fairly common, only a small percentage have added decoration - no proof but I think the decoration was added later in many cases. Probably to "dress up" an otherwise plain looking guard. There is a name for the stippled plate but I can't remember it, most are sold as Yasurime-ji or Amida-yasuri but this is not strictly correct. They come in all shapes as well but by far the most common are Maru or Mokko. There is no doubt yours is genuine.

Hi Gareth! Thanks for the added pics of the black painted tsuba/seppa. I'll add a link of this to the Black Painted gunto thread. There are no swords specific to the Navy landing forces. But they would have been navy swords, not army, which the Type 3, or Rinji seishiki model is. That is an urban legend that got started decades ago. The tassel, if indeed all brown, indicates this sword was carried by the civilian branch of the army called Gunzoku. They wore military uniforms with Gunzoku rank and carried swords commensurate with their rank. You can read about the Rinji model here: Unveiling the Rinji seishiki Sword 1940 and History of the Mislabeled Type 3 About the Gunzoku brown tassel: The all-brown Tassel

Dai Token Ichi was wonderful. Mr. Robert Hughes hosted the "Yakatabune party" like any other year. This is a tour boat around Tokyo Bay with Japanese dinner and drinks. I joined the party with my daughter. Here are the photos. Thank you, Mr. Robert Hughes.

This may be interesting and fun! So, how about sharing pictures of Edo period water kettles with some amazing motifs? I found this one described below (pictures attached). “Rare Signed Edo Period Japanese Iron Tetsubin Tea Kettle! This wonderful early Japanese iron kettle is decorated with relief leaves and berries around the body and on the lid, the lid having a figural berry finial. It is signed with a three character mark to the right of the spout. It dates from the Edo period and measures approximately 8 + 5/8 inche tall to the top of the handle (4 + ¼ to the rim of the lid) by 8 inches across including the spout. It is in excellent condition with a rich patina, as can be seen in the photos.” From this website- https://www.worthpoi...nese-iron-1809543934

Sungashi hairu - suganashi is in the hamon

This is a TOKEI TSUBA. They are much easier to forge and file than to make a mold and cast an iron copy that would then have to be worked over to make it look better. Casting iron is very different from casting soft metals, and in addition to that, there is no sense in producing TSUBA that weren't useful for combat. In the picture we can see that a tiny bit was broken off. There is not enough material length to bend, so iron or steel will simply break under these conditions. USAGIYA are certainly competent in their own field, but this is metallurgy.

Ron: Just FYI, the "hot stamp" on the end of the tang is called a kokuin. The one on your blade was used frequently by Kanezane as kind of a trademark. John C.

Nicholas, Could I get some photos of the metal fittings, close-up, for the files. I like to keep a record of the Java swords.

I don't know, there were several individuals using that name in Muromachi period Mino, and some were using the same name at the same time (parallel lineages). It's possible even at shinsa that you will not get a specific individual

大澤兼久 – Osawa Kanehisa One of WWII smiths in Seki.

Thank you for the info, I am glad I was right about it being genuine

Greetings sword mavens! In case you cannot make it to the Dai Token Ichi in 2024, there is always next year! At the recent meeting of the National Commercial Sword Dealer's Association, the organization behind the Dai Token Ichi, the dates for 2025 were confirmed. It will be the first weekend in November, so Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd! Lots of notice in advance for you to make your plans! Best Regards, Robert Hughes Keichodo

Yurie I can almost smell the tempura and see the lights as if I was there, thank you.

There is a manga called "Samurai executioner" (Kubikiri Asa) that is based on this family. It was apparently based on legal documents from Edo period. Thank you for the link!

I am afraid it was produced in the "LANDFILL AGE" - Why do we as humans allow people to produce rubbish as a business? There really ought to be a hefty tax on deliberately producing waste as a business model! but look around at all the one-time-use junk we see for sale, knowing full well it won't last and next week will end up in the garbage. [handy having the "getting off my soapbox" emoji ]

Big 名, little 名, and a circle 〇. 名名〇

I don't always acquire a book to learn something new - it can just be about appreciating the artistry and craftsmanship in these blades thru a unique presentation, such as the foldout large images included in Paul's book, even though I may have seen those blades before...

HI Ray, thank you for that excellent information + source = clarity - a whole new picture is revealed! Kind regards, Nick

Hi Nicholas , It is sword that was made on the Island of Java , and is signed Shiyawaka Sumaran , according to the book called Fuller and Gregor swords smiths of Japan 1926 - 1945, the oshigata is on page 116 , you should be able to find more info with a search on the board here , good luck

Sold.

I was mainly talking about this Tsuba that I think isn’t cast. I don’t see any clear evidence for casting and think that some parts are just naturally corroded over time. There are many ways to create the iron patina and some may leave a surface that could me misinterpreted as looking casted. I have read the part about casting from Dr. Lissenden. So the idea is that making it the „traditional“ way was too Labour intense, but I think that was very cheap. How much more charcoal and people would be needed to get the iron to melting temperature that generates additional expenses. So I cannot really say what would be the cheaper way of making them. At some point I stopped following the thread and just want to say something because the NBTHK papered Tsuba looks not cast for me. http://www.ksky.ne.j...umie99/episodes.html

It has been said already, but in iai, one only cuts air (and occasionally, oneself). To your points, using a shinken is an expectation in the long term. What is taught is that one starts with a bokuto, then moves on quite quickly to a non-sharpened blade, and above a certain level, a shinken is recommended by the sensei (and it can become mandatory for gradings or competitions). But typically, the sensei is telling the student what they ought to use, with all the points I raised before (the blade needs to fit the requirements of iai practice and size). Knowing one's own sword well is necessary, but I remind you that practicing with only one sword is because it is relatively difficult for many to buy more than one sword. Famous Nakayama Hakudo did have several swords that he used in rotation. More to the point of iai, the sword is a tool, and anything can be used to replace it if necessary (I was told to use a wooden spoon or even a towel, or simply nothing).

After threatening with reporting it to the police yesterday as theft. xxxx me it was magically found. Case closed

Incense burner with tsuba design: https://page.auction.../auction/g1158457297 Damon

The door-handle of my forge:

Come on you know you want one! They certainly make an entrance statement! Now that is a DOOR HANDLE ! https://silkroadyamb...ndle-grab-old-style/ https://www.etsy.com...r-handle-pull-katana [PS THEY COME IN THREE COLOURS AND MATCHING PAIRS OR SINGLE] I wanted one but could not justify the expense so I just used a cast tsuba. [Also over on the cast tsuba thread]

I'm planning to go to Japan again in 2025, in the fall of course, and of course this time to the DTI.

This is wonderful news and fits with my schedule perfectly. I was hoping it would be early in Nov like this year. Looking forward to further updates in the coming year. I plan to be in Japan for 3 weeks and take advantage of the 21 day JR Rail travel pass, from mid Oct into Nov to attend the DTI.

Oh the late 70s and 80s - those were the days for Bolo ties! https://www.jauce.com/auction/w1119742428 never used - must have been a gift at the end of the trend!

Menu holder....

A tsuba bottle opener? As seen on Mercari …

Wall hanging? https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/196649348714 Wooden background plastic tsuba?

A friend in Japan made these for an art project...

"signed Umetada"

Hi guys. Keep a eye out for these two. Stolen aka lost by Australia post employees on Monday. Police report will be filed tomorrow. Full tracking and signature on delivery and insurance. But still not enough these days

Redundancy.

It's redundant: all famous swords have been the subject of numerous publications. We learn nothing new.

The KSKY text is nonsense; it is a 'normal' hand-made TSUBA I believe.

Oh I missed that… Let me ask you some questions… What about the “desire” to own then ? What about the desire to collect, amass even? Is it not the most selfish thing to do? Have you not succumbed to your desires when you took all these “art” swords out of Japan? Is this not, in itself, a significant threat posed with respect to preservation? I mean, what will happen to all these master pieces you guys seem to possess, when you die?? Would they not be better off with the Japanese, where it’s much more likely that they can find knowledgeable owners or caretakers? I personally think that in the rest of the world, there is a very high probability that our swords will end up badly after we die. And even if say, you write a testament to instruct that all your blades go to a museum after your passing, there is absolutely no guarantee that they will be treated well and that they will not end up rusting in the basement… I, for one, decided to just get an authentic, genuine sword from a period of Japanese history that I find fascinating. That’s it. It will stop there. And it happens to be closer to kazuuchi mono than it is chumon uchi. I hope that you guys realize that I’m playing devil’s advocate here… and that I do not think that everyone here owning art swords, Juyo token and what not, are dumb or should be ashamed for putting these treasures at risk. But I also feel like for a lot of people it’s much, much easier, to question others’ opinions and views than their own…