IJASWORDS

Hi all, I am trying to make contact with Markus Sesko. Many of us have forked out big bucks to help him research and write a treatise on GENDAI SWORDSMITHS, and to pre-purchase an edition. I write this on behalf of many people who have contacted me with the same request. Firstly, I hope nothing untoward has befallen Markus, but if things are OK with him, I think we are at least owed a progress report, a copy of what we paid for, or if the project has been aborted, a financial refund. It has now been years in the making. First prize is, as far as I am concerned, is a completed edition. As this work would be great reference material. Failing that, well, I would like my money back.

WOW, thanks Manuel, this is more information than I possibly could dream about, much appreciated.

Some help on this KANBUN, YOSHIKUNI sword would be appreciated. And identification of the actual swordsmith would be a bonus, thanks in advance.

This sword is no longer for sale.

Please leave the name of the "down voter" on. You can't (in my opinion), post anonymous snipes.

Tip to notch, 67cms.

I offer for sale, a Spring 1943 Koa Isshin WW2 officer sword. They are rarely found in the original leather combat covers these days, which I have left on to preserve its originality. I have slightly peeled back the leather, and looks like the painted metal saya is immaculate underneath. The blade is in as found condition, no rust no pits, no chips. The features of the blade are there for the eyes to appreciate. As expected there is very slight staining with age and combat use. I love the patina on these swords that show that they have been taken to war, and not left in an office or cupboard. The mei is well cut, and the nakago is in very nice condition. To further prove its originality, the MUNE stamps are evident, and not obscured by rust that so often happens. At AUD3150, I will express post with tracking and signature any where. These swords are now very collectable and sought after, not often does an original example that hasn't been monkeyed with come up.

Thanks Steve M, very much appreciated.

Steve M, thanks for asking. This sword was made by AKIHIDE, using the name NYUUDO AKIHIDE. So it has religious connotations. A translation would be appreciated.

Could I get some help with these two characters, please.

Bruce, same sword, Andrew is the lucky new owner.

The question is interesting, and finding conclusive answers to your questions are only conjecture. But, as the RS model was really only a year old by wars end, they are of course much rarer. And by 1945, the RS model degenerated into very basic, lacking refinement, rushed into service, swords due to lack of materials and bombed factories. Knowing what swords were preferred in a combat situation again is speculation, also you find very few ancestral blades in RS mounts. There are however many examples of RJT traditionally made blades in RS mounts, with star stamps. For example, ENDO TOMONARI was favored for the blades cutting ability late in the war. This would mean the officer who chose one of his blades, wanted a good cutter. This would indicate that they were used, and not for show.

Andrew, to answer your question, sword/koshirae outfits were made by a number of individual companies. Although the basic pattern was mandated, individual companies used their own fittings, and also offered a good/better/best range. Pictured below are 3 star stamped blades all made in 1944, in koshirae ranging from painted steel, through various grades, to a premium quality sword. It was a matter of what was offered, and because officers PAID for their swords, they could buy a basic sword, or premium example. The RS swords are only rarely found with leather covers, (look at photo's of surrendered swords). The 95 was a continuation of the model 32 with metal scabbard and extended drag. I believe you are getting a star stamped blade in RS mounts, this will be in premium option koshirae, like the first sword pictured. I would strongly recommend you buy Dawsons book on swords, if you want to learn about the various models and variants. I believe NMB member Gray Doffin sells them.

Occasionally a nice, but mystery Gunto comes along, and no end of searching throws up any information about the swordsmith. And the best advice that can be given, is that he is an "undocumented" swordsmith, not that uncommon, but annoying when you are doing research. So here is an example, combined with a cry for help for any information. This is a 1943 YASUMASA, in what looks like its made in the MINO tradition. The photos don't do justice to the hada, homon and hataraki. It is well made in every sense, but I can't find any info about the maker. So any help would be appreciated.

My issue is that it is being sold on a Japanese web sales site, and being sold as genuine, and I don't "respect" that.

I disagree, a foolish job butchering good original parts to make a worthless, non-historical toy.

Have to agree with Brian on the interest front, plus many of us contributed big bucks to the project, and I think we are owed at least a progress report.

Its a totally made up modern piece of rubbish, using old cut down fittings. If you look the KUCHIGANE has a slot for a locking clip, where as the other fittings are off a koshirae with leather securing strap.

Bruce, this saya housed an old family blade, and is an old saya, as evidenced by the remnants of its original KURIKATA. To me, I suspect that the SEKI company also did re-mounts of old swords and mounts into gunto. This has a leather combat cover, which luckily preserved the foil label. Hope this helps.

A little seen RJT (star stamp) smith is ENDO TOMONARI. Here is a July 1944 example, in premium RS mounts. It is in war time polish, which is very basic as are all war time polishes. But polished enough to see a wide suguha hamon, and hada. This is a powerful sword, that would give confidence to the officer who would use it. It would be stunning polished, but I tend to like swords the way they were found.

Samurai Monkey has some videos on YouTube, some images of mine from this forum have been used, is this legal?

Stephen, great post. I have 2 Iida latch swords, and tried on many occasions to contact the shop for information, with no success. This helped me big time, thanks.

Whilst the outer layer is folded tamahagane, called kawagane, this can be made thick or thin, and wrapped around the core steel, called shingane. So the thickness of the folded outer layer can be any thickness, and is drawn out in the lengthening process of forging the blade. So Bruce, the outer layer is folded, but is the outer "skin" called kawagane, can be of varying thickness. I have had and seen Gendai-to that have been deemed "tired", where after a number of polishes the core steel shows through.

This is a (Kojima) KANEMICHI. This sword smiths details and history is more than admirably covered in mecox's download. This polished/papered example has no date, but the numeral "1" stamped on the tip of the nakago. It was more than likely a special order, with bohi on both sides.

Dave, this is a laced up leather tzuka cover, and matches the lace up saya cover.