IJASWORDS

Hi All, thanks for your interest. The blade is signed HIZEN NO KUNI TADAAKI SAKU. My research on him has been limited by information. The only reference in SLOUGH is on page 212, in the CT (cutting test) category. Actually help here would be appreciated. It is a HEFTY blade, and would be a formidable weapon. Neil.

Has any one got any ideas on my painted TSUKA and light weight painted wood SAYA? All in good condition. This is the only example I own (in fact seen). I have seen many type 44's painted, and this is the type 98 equivalent. Neil.

Hi All, here is some photos of the sticker and the sword (leather carefully removed). It is an old MUMEI blade (looks EDO,) looks like old leather/wood TZUKA wrapped GUNTO style, nice old iron TSUBA, SAYA has remnants of a KURI-GATA. Does this add any value to the discussion? Neil

Hi, as I indicated my gold foil sticker was on an old blade, with KURI-GATA, so may be an acceptance mark for existing swords?

Thanks again, Steve M.

WOW, thanks Steve!!! Could you look at my post in MILITARY swords and may be comment on my post, WW2 Japanese MAGAZINE? Help would be appreciated, Neil.

Just going through some of my militaria junk. As it has a military sword on the cover, thought it may be relevant to post. A help with the title and date would be appreciated. Neil.

Could it be KOHARA MASAHIRO?

Peter to be honest I always thought it was the logo of the SAYA maker, or sword assembler at the "officers club" as well. It is interesting how one post can lead down a track of discovery!! May be should be logged in section of arsenal marks. Neil.

Hi, an up close photo of unclear symbol, Does this help. Neil

My gold foil sticker was on OLD BLADE. Saya still had KURI-GATA on it. So is it the gold foil one of mine rare or the other one? Neil.

Hi Bruce, found this logo under a leather combat cover, in a gold foil finish. Looks like concentric circles with a "H" or "I" in the centre. Any ideas? Neil.

Hi Steve, thought about the museum offer, but I know of bad experiences. If a sword is "on loan from Steve" it is cataloged and remains your property, and can not be disposed of. If a sword is "donated by Steve" it becomes the museums property. I have heard of swords put in crates, and left to rust away, as there is no one to maintain them, also heard of museums selling them off. Also heard of swords just being taken by staff. Bet you have all heard the horror stories first hand. I know of a collector of militaria that donated his collection (including a couple of swords) to a veterans club, and after renovations, all the best pieces went missing. So be careful here, with the donation idea. I some how like the idea of a family member or sword "buddy" being charged with the task of understanding what you have, and maximising its value for the family or contacting sword friends who can recommend how to keep the collection together. I am sure some NMB stalwarts could be trusted to do this. Imagine a collection of all the NCO variants, WITH all the arsenal marks..... what a crime if this was broken up or lost! I guess there are some people who treat this subject with levity, but I am as serious with my collection as I am with the deeds to the house! Both are valuable. True, when you are gone you are gone. But that doesn't mean your swords disappear. I want them preserved for as long as possible.....Neil.

Thanks Ken, this is my first repurposed NAGINATA then. So I am happy that I have a representative piece, Neil.

Please help me with translation of a YUKIHIRO sword. Made in 1944??? Made for MASAHIRO??? Could some one fill in the missing words please? I have tried, and only can do so much. Thanks in advance, Neil.

Jose, GOOD ONE!! Hope you and your friends continue to appreciate and preserve the NIHONTO.

Hi Geraint, this is the first time I have looked at the bare blade, (my photos are not the best) so we are both looking at it for the first time together! It looks like a purpose made blade and not a cut down naginata. MUMEI unfortunately, can you identify any age from the nakago? It is hard to see from photo, but there is a nice hamon. Neil.

Charlie, I am in the older age group, and my only mentors/buddies are also in poor health. Bruce, the children of WW2 Vets are probably in their 60's as well!!! We need new younger generations of collectors coming through. Neil.

Thanks Ben.

Hi All, I promise not to post too much more, but just picked up (today) a little sword with NANBAN TSUBA and fittings and KOGATNA. The blade length is about 14 inches, is this size a TANTO or WAKIZASHI? You will have to cut me some slack, as I am a GUNTO collector, and these pieces are out of my field of expertise. Neil.

Thanks Ken-Hawaii, I WILL and HAVE kept away from buying on eBay, been burned too many times, only buy now from trusted sources or old estates. Also, don't worry, I have resisted any temptation to use any thing but oil. I do get jealous however when I see posts of you guys beautiful blades, with HAMONS that look like snow capped mountains!!! Neil.

Hi, whilst my line of collecting is WW2 GUNTO mounted swords, there is a percentage that are traditionally made old family blades. I have some KOTO and onwards. So this question is relevant to this part of the forum. Attached are photos of an early 1800's family blade (for example) that has staining (not pitted rust). I have never or would never think of "backyard" polishing this blade or others I own. BUT, it is not worth spending $$$$$ on a professional polish. Besides regular use of the powder ball and CHOJI oil, what else can be done? I see many great looking swords on ebay for example that I KNOW have been attacked by backyarders. I am happy to continue to leave it as is, but I know the staining would reduce its ebay value if the time arose to sell them. Don't get me wrong, I love the WW2 swords with authentic PATINA, and I keep them that way, but I don't know if the "market" appreciates it as we do. Any thoughts on my dilemma? Neil.

Most of my "sword buddies" both here in Australia and in the USA are in their 60's and 70's. We love our sword/militaria collections, and want them preserved even when we depart this mortal coil. A recent topic of conversation, is what happens to our collections when we move on. God forbid, they are left to rust away or sold off by un-knowing relatives to junk dealers. A sword buddy tells me his greatest fear in life is that his wife would sell his swords for what he told her he paid for them!!! I think a lot of us would fall into this situation. I have come to an arrangement with a fellow collector, that on either of our demises, we guide and help our families manage their swords. This is not morbid, but a practical solution. I think this topic certainly comes under the umbrella of sword preservation and should be addressed. There is the potential for good collections to be lost or broken up. Is there some thing NMB members could offer if it a concern to others? I want my swords to be around for another hundred years, but not necessarily in my family. They wouldn't be appreciated or cared for. Neil.

Hi Bruce and Shamsy, one of the attractive features about the NCO swords is that they are rarely disassembled, as no one is looking for hidden treasure blades. They are usually also not attacked by amateur polishers looking for any HAMON or features in the blade. From my point of view, an as is, patinated NCO is more desirable. OK, stabilize active rust with oil, that's called preservation. In my experience collecting forged GUNTOS, nearly 100% have been disassembled, probably half those have been reassembled in the wrong order, and God forbid some have been assembled using mixed components that were never on the original sword. Its pretty easy, knock out the peg and any thing goes!!! A good honest original unassembled, unrestored NCO certainly has its attraction. I actually get angry when I see a GUNTO that has been tarted up to "improve" its looks or saleability. Like putting lipstick on DaVincis Mona Lisa. Neil.

Hi All, can I ask a stupid question. If the sword was a WW2 SHOWA made blade, why was it put in civilian mounts, with a scabbard that has what looks like provision for a KOGATANA? If it was going to war, and made in war time, would it not be in military mounts? I can understand an old sword in civilian mounts put in a leather combat cover and taken to war. What am I missing? Neil.