Shuriken

And now we know why you own nihonto @DTM72 because you just might need one in your own backyard!

I'm amazed that someone would literally hack the iron tsuba like that, and not make any attempt at cleaning up the work. Japanese sword making always seems to have a feeling of artistry to it. Would a smith offer this sword to his daimyo with that workmanship?

Are these assembly numbers?

Let's not forget the flawless kissaki.

No words. Has to be a joke. https://www.ebay.com/itm/113828029442?hash=item1a80ade402:g:nSgAAOSw0qFdNldw

I'm getting the "chop shop" feel, literally and figuratively. Methinks this soldier was sold a bill of goods...

One more for you @Bruce Pennington

Pics of katana

@Stephen I love that it had "alligator pits" back in the day!!

Nakago

@Bugyotsuji @Stephen What happened here?!

Hi @Ken-Hawaii and all, thanks for the note! And, yes, I know the area you lived in! The letter was a personal note to the new buyer (me). He was a corporal and had been issued the then-brand new M1 carbine. He wasn't too happy about that because A: he felt more comfortable with the 1903 and B, the M1 didn't mount a bayonet like the 1903 and the Garand. There was a small probing attack and his platoon was attacked by Japanese soldiers including an officer with the sword. The point man froze and didn't shoot, and it was this corporal with his semi-auto M1 who saved him--he said he hardly aimed, he was scared and just was shooting blindly as fast as he could and then it was over and the officer was down. He claimed the sword. He survived the Guadalcanal campaign but was wounded and required surgery and shipped home. Later in life he took it apart and saved the pieces in a shoebox that was later lost or misplaced, so it had no fittings; just the blade, habaki and saya. It had two mekugi-ana. I do not remember now the mei/smith except that it was, theoretically, late Shinshinto vintage. I sold that blade to fund others, but it had a great story behind it and I always regretted it.

Let the record show I am ALWAYS grateful for your insights @Bugyotsuji and everyone here!

@Bugyotsuji thank you. Forgive the question: the kanji in your post, are they meant to match the mei?

I'm a nOOb, but I think Type 3's did have a screw in the upper mekugi-ana.

Well, speak of the devil. @Bruce Pennington and @Stephen you may be interested in this. Showa stamp on a very nice looking blade with beautiful fittings. @Ray Singer can you shed light on the mei?

I'd never been in the museum at Knott's Berry Farm amusement park. Normally it's not open. Today it was, and it's actually quite good. All kinds of stuff in there; mostly pretty cool old Americana. There's also quite collection of weapons--1800's pistols and carbines, and some edged weapons. And, literally in a dark corner, was a katana in display case. Labeled as "400 years old, record is in the handle". No record of when it was donated, probably the 1960's, although the person who did, Vernon Hudgens of Huntington Beach, is noted. It's an interesting katana. "Type 3" mountings. Blade looks beefy, is is pretty good polish, and a solid hamon is visible. Would love to see the nakago. 400 year old blade in a Type 3 mount setup? Yet someone back then knew to check the nakago for mei... I have half a mind to contact the PR dept of Knott's and ask if it might be studied. Worse they can do is say no. It's like the katana at the Palm Springs Aviation Museum. Looks super nice and has a surrender tag on it. Always wanted to know the provenance of that sword too. Dave

Hi all, real name is Dave and I live in Torrance, CA. Been into nihonto study for some years; first blade was a WWII taken in combat on Guadalcanal--had a fascinating letter talking about how it was acquired. Now that I'm older, the minutiae of this field continually amaze and motivate me. There's so much to learn, and the blades/swords are, in the main, works of art. Okay before this descends into a febrile, maudlin moment, that's it. Cheers, Dave

@Nobody thank you. Is the 10,538 at lower left the price paid in yen? If so, he paid approximately 41,000Y/$357 equivalent in today's yen/dollars for the sword.

Something seems off about the mekugi-ana; not visible on one side of tsuka. "Hamon" seems reversed on one side of blade. Sarute at kashira clearly wrong. I have no photos of the nakago. Saya might be legit. Paper tag on hanger...? Maybe a modern repro in wartime saya?

Here's a new one to me--a letter presented with the also pictured sword. I'd love to learn what this document and little card at top discusses. Thank you!

@Bugyotsuji @tbonesullivan @ROKUJURO sorry for delays. Here are more pics of this blade.