Utopianarian

I am presently looking into a purchase but pictures are limited with seller with limited knowledge on the blade. It appears to have been a katana at one time but possibly shortened at some point. Waiting for measurements but appears Wakizashi length. Shape looks promising but once again limited info. Nakago looks aged mumei or suriage and hamon obscured. Once again a gamble and seller was told from “Experts” possibly late 1500s Sue Bizen. If took a rock and threw it into a pile of swords chances are it would hit a Sue Bizen blade so that’s not saying much. I know it leads much to the imagination but what do you think from the few pics so far. My impression is looks older than Muromachi especially sugata. Before you beat me with wet noodle I know that doesn’t carry a lot of weight. Just one small piece of the puzzle with much more to observe and many questions

Don’t know much about tsuba. Any thoughts on this style, age or school.

Yes Absolutely

Thank you for assistance Trystan and Bruce

Thank you both Moriyama and Ray for your assistance

Hello, this was attached to a leather scabbard of a fixed blade dagger My grandfather brought back from the pacific. I posted it also in military swords of Japan section. Looks like surrender tag or? If someone can translate the tag I would appreciate the help. My brother sent me the pics which the blade is in his possession.

Hello, I was hoping somebody on the board might assist with identifying this one. My brother sent me pics of this dagger my grandfather brought back from the Pacific after the war. Not traditional obviously and is a fixed blade. Here are the pics of the tag that was attached to leather scabbard and a pic of what appears to be an arsenal stamp in the leather scabbard. Any assistance of what it may be or translating the tag or arsenal stamp. Thank you

Here are a few pics but I can’t get that bright reflective lightning stripe of kinsuji to reflect or show

Need help on the Forum. I remember reading about a Smith whom was known for using Kinsuji in the boshi. I’ve been looking thru my reference books and online but cannot remember or find the reference where I’ve seen it. I was looking at one of the older blades I had polished a few years ago and noticed a streak of kinsuji in the boshi that I can’t believe I never noticed. I don’t think that is commonly seen. Please correct me if I am wrong. Trying to seek more info to piece together this sword that I have but still don’t know what it is. I posted it a ways back but proved to be a tough one to pin down

Thank you for that info Bruce. You know your WW2 production blades

The one blade actually to mention looks forged. The signed showato is definitely not. I could tell immediately by how heavy it is and the hamon appearance and no grain (definitely not traditionally forged)

John you are totally right. I got two ww2 Showato blades. Both set of fittings are exceptional and as you said the tassels are original and the Gunto fittings as well. The one with the company grade tassel also had the higher grade Gunto fittings with the cutout Gunto tsuba all seppa and fittings match and haven’t been messed with or thrown together with mismatched parts. Exceptional condition for ww2 Gunto. Both are time capsules. Better condition than 90% of the Guntos I’ve seen. Not quite what I was looking for but a surprise nonetheless.

The seppa all are numbered 14 matching same as 14 on nakago

It’s numbered with arsenal marking

Thank you Jan

Ww2 mei. Please help with translation

Good point Simon and John, I did notice that fact and what are the odds that both swords would have hangers intact and be very similar. There are slight differences between the two hangers but I don’t know that much about the hangers or types. The hangers weren’t necessary a deal breaker but they did seem odd being almost identical in type and being present on both swords. The tassels probably are repros too I would suspect. Dressing them up from a sellers prospective makes them more desirable I would assume for Ww2 buffs as well as nihonto enthusiasts. The blades I am interested in especially the bottom blade. It still would have been nice to have original accessories with the blades. Thank you both for assisting me to refine my ability to know what to look out for. I took a gamble on these.

Thank you John, will do so with future listings. I figured for $2250 plus fees and buyers premium, taxes etc.. still not bad for 2 Gunto with hangers/ tassels. Even if mass produced ww2 blades. Next time I will definitely take your advice. Thank you

Won these two Gunto swords with hangers and tassels in recent Rock Island Auction. Don’t know much about Gunto fittings but they look ok to me. The description didn’t give much info besides the sword with a thicker blade with deeper curve (bottom blade in pic) was signed with two characters on the right side of blade and 5 characters on the left. It’s a gamble but possibly older blade signed ura side with smith two character signature and date on left or omote. Just a guess and blade with only fittings on without pics of nakago or any other pics. Worst case scenario two ww2 Gunto with hangers and tassel would still be worth the auction price paid.

Piers, yes I think from that prospective makes sense. Holding the sword with mune up would I assume they are thinking right side or ura tachi mei? That’s the only thing I could think of by the auction houses listing. Thank you

Thank you Piers, just to ask a question. I was checking out another blade at an auction. The shape of the blade looks promising or early sugata. Ww2 Gunto but limited pics without pic of nakago. Fittings are on the blade. Big auction house. You can tell the person whom listed for the auction house doesn’t know much. The listing says signed on right side of blade two characters and five characters on the left side or other side of blade. They make it difficult by not specifying ura or omote. What do you guess right side of blade is meant by the seller. I assume the two character would be the smith name and the five characters possible date. Right side tachi mei? The first pic of blade shows the blade facing or pointing to the right tachi style

Yes just found it. You are right Sukesada researching this blade looks like a sukesada smith 1504-1521

Thank you Van

Looks like Bizen Osafune but having hard time translating. Thank you for assistance

This is WM Hawley old news interview: https://youtu.be/KF7TbTdUVew