Nihonto2013

Hi, Just the blade on a ruler with cm on one side and inches on the other for scale. Also the marble tiles are right about 12 inches square. So the whole thing measures about 19.5cm or just about 7 3/4 inches, from the tip to the end of the tang. Thanks, for all your help, J.Edward

Hi, Here we go, looks like I may have gotten a good profile shot of the blade. Thanks, J.Edward

Hi, I finally very carefully, removed the brass bushing retaing the blade. This is what I found. Thanks, J.Edward

Hi, I tried to catch just the blade all by itself, with a very handy razor sharp tool beside it for scale, also hoping the marble floor tiles could provide scale as well. Those tiles are pretty close to being 1 foot square. Could it be something made for a woman or boy? It does seem to be to the proper scale to accomodate a smaller person. Thanks, J.Edward

More pics

Hi, Yes the Kozuka appears to be iron with the gold mon inlay. The blade has some characters engraved on it also. One seems to be obscured by rust. I will get a better picture of it tonight. Thanks, J.Edward

Hi, In taking another look at this blade. It really appears to be constructed more like a 14inch Tanto. Now I can relay how I found this blade. I was walking through a flea market doing a little "picking" for my store, when I came across a fellow who delt with WW2 related stuff. Mostly junk reproduction daggers and East German uniforms, trying to pass them off to the locals as "Vet Aquired". Anyway I was just browsing the boxes of stuff he had just brought in that morning, still in front of the Garage door in his booth. I saw the naked tang of what appeared to be a longish blade poking out of a box full of old toys and mildew. I dug my way to it and pulled this out. I asked about it and he said he was waiting for a guy he had called who bought all the swords he found, at yard sales and junk stores. Well a couple of weeks before I had some Vietnam era fighting knives with me and he had shown some interest. I raced back to the house picked up the knives and got back as quick as I could. I offered him the knives and he accepted, before the other guy showed up. "Better the deal in front of you", as they say. I had about $50 into the knives so that is what I figure I have into this blade. I have had it displayed on the wall for the last 10 years. I had picked up a loose Tsuka, from somewhere and have it on the blade to make it look more complete. I enjoy it for what it is, an old blade. If that is all that it is, then thats just fine. Thanks, for all the info, J.Edward

Ok I think these are little better. This is exactly how I saw it when I got it. The first thing I noticed was the obvious high level of workmanship. Observations? Thanks, J.Edward

I have had this blade for well over a decade and know very little about it. It was not complete when I got it, missing the tsuka. The cutting edge is 14 inches long. The blade is stained and in dire need of a polish, if recommended. I know the photos are a little cut and chopped but I have to reduce the size to accomodate the requirement. Will include more if you want later. Thanks, J.Edward

Update: I got out the old Dremel tool and useing an old dental burr milled away the white metal portion of what appears to be a copper stud passing through the tsuka. After tapping the stud out, I am confronted with something that looks like a brass bushing or collar which is still retaining the tsuka like a brass mekugi. During the milling process I didn't see anything like treads so I am working under an assumption that the copper rivet stem was the connection between the flat white metal ends. I am proceeding slowly and working with the lowest speed of the tool. To my eyes it is a charming little blade and I am trying to allow the next owners, whomever they might be to enjoy it in as original condition as possible. I respect all blades for thier own unique characteristics. While I was in the Air Force everyone brought thier worn out pocket knives to me to have some very tired blades reshaped, polished and sharpened. I didn't charge to do it. I just enjoy working with steel. More pics when the tang finally sees daylight in what appears to have been many years. Thanks, for your comments, they are very welcome and are educating me in this facinating pursuit. J.Edward

Hello everyone, I have been looking for a source of more detailed information on Nihonto, and it appears I have found one. I have two blades which appear to have merit for further research. One of a Wakizashi, which on surperficial examination would be from the 15th century, we will approach that one presently. The subject of this post is my most recent aquisition a Kaiken with some interesting characteristics. First I should intro myself. I am a long time collector of blades from all countries. So as they say in Texas, "this ain't my first rodeo". I have owned an Antique Store in my past, and have bought and sold items from all eras, except perhaps pre-historic, no Wooly Mammoth type stuff. So I know when something is old and when something pretends to be old. I no longer have the store, anyone who was ever in business with family will know why. So I am just John-Q-Public, with some stuff, now. I picked this up recently and was interest what more learned eyes my have to tell me. Things I think I know; 1. The Mon is from the Tokugawa family. 2. The Dragon appears to be a Female version due to the tail configuration. 3. The dragon is not engraved on the blade so much as it is "carved" into it. 4. This is a "well loved" item. Someone handled this thing every day for many, many years. It used to have a gold wash over the Saya and Tsuka, which is evident in the protect places, which were not handled as much. The gold wash on the saya is seen in the engraving. It appears to have been blackened then gilded. Now to my question. How do you get the retaining stud out of the Tsuka? It is more like a double sided rivet, than the bamboo plug. I would like to look for a signature under it, and share that with my new found colleegs. I don't want to damage anything anymore than it already has. I had to play with the images to get them to upload, so they are not original full frame. Thanks very much for any help you may have to offer, J.Edward