Scogg

I enjoyed the video, and thank you for sharing! Whether we like it or not, on an internet forum, we are forced to share videos and photos; and there's nothing wrong with that. I think that's why a lot of us are here. Maybe someday, someone will invent a method to teleport blades through a computer - so we can finally solve the issues of viewing a sword on a screen . Until then, Cheers, -Sam

Unfortunately, I believe this is a fake. The profile and the look of the tang appears crude and not right. The shinogi into the kissaki looks off to me. More than likely not Japanese. I hate to be the bearer of bad news… And a second opinion never hurts. -Sam

Hi Mike, Any chance you can get us a photograph of the tang (nakago)? This will reveal a lot of information about how the sword was made. Nakago photos will be best with the tip facing UP, and the butt of the tang DOWN, preferably against a dark background - and well focused / clear. The reason I ask = is because if this is a traditionally made sword, then theres really NOTHING you should do at home to restore it. Only a highly trained professional should attempt such a restoration. Often times with most WW2 swords, there's nothing to be done. They are as they are; a relic from the war - and it's often recommended to leave them as-is. Just my two cents. Cheers, -Sam

How neat! It’s been about one year since I acquired that wakizashi in the previous comment from Lewis. A really interesting piece in ww2 fittings that I enjoyed owning. I no longer own that sword. I sold it to partially fund a project blade I’m having restored. I was able to sell it to one of its previous owners, which made me happy to reunite blade and collector. Anyway, I still have my (novice) notes. I believed it to be original length (ubu), and maybe late Muromachi period. For comparisons sake: Kiri yasurime. Iorimune. My blade had muneyaki and hitatsura. Nagasa: 41cm Nakago: 11.5cm Total length: 52.5cm Motohaba: 30.2 mm Sakihaba: 24 mm motokasane: 6.8 mm sakikasane: 5 mm All the best, -Sam

I’ve decided I’m going to list this sword for sale, along with the wakizashi shown in the link below. I will donate a small percentage of the proceeds to NMB for the generous help y’all have provided in translating and identifying (thank you @Spartancrest @Matsunoki and others in my tsuba thread). The rest I will put towards a new sword more tailored to my tastes. I hope this is the ethical course of action as I have no intentions on being a dealer - but I want to turn these over to support my collecting habit. Cheers! -Sam

Here’s some photos of the sword. Pretty weird collab of fittings. Weird tassel too, and it might be a fake, made from bolo tie? I’ve never seen one like it. Waiting for a tassel thread to post it to, but I’m not convinced it’s Japanese @Bruce Pennington I got this sword, and a wakizashi at a local gun show for what I think was a very affordable deal. Cheers, -Sam

Thank you Mal, that’s super helpful! It’s nice to have a well documented smith to look into. This sword has a 69cm nagasa, and bohi. It has a well defined Showa stamp. Certainly not one of the other less common stamps I see on some of his swords. I understand this means it’s not traditionally made, and I think it looks oil quenched. The sword is in lower-end civilian fittings, without a WW2 component to speak of. I suspect someone might have pieced it together for martial art practice. I’ll get a photo soon. The yakote has been polished down a little unfortunately, but it can still be seen. Cheers, -Sam

No apologies necessary Colin and Peter! I’m here for exactly this kind of discussion and I appreciate your feedback. Everything you’ve said Colin makes a lot of sense; and I think you’re correct! I got this item at a local gun show, and like mentioned above, I do like it personally - even if it’s bits and pieces. I like the color scheme and blade. But don’t worry, my feelings won’t be hurt by the truth Full transparency here: I sold a non traditional showato in type 98 fittings. With the money I got another showato that’s particularly long in custom fittings, and also this wakizashi - in addition to taking a few hundred dollars home. So two swords for one, and some extra cash - I think I did OK, maybe not great . Cheers, -Sam

Yes the menuki are indeed crude. Like mentioned, they do the job from a distance I would be very surprised if this were fake or a tourist item. The blade is ubu with a nice hamon with lots of nie - in nie deki. High shinogi, and 23 inch Nagasa. I’ve handled a lot of fake swords, and this doesn’t give me any of those vibes. It was my assumption… That this is a late edo wakizashi, maybe for a merchant. It has lower end (especially the menuki) but properly fitted fittings. Possibly fitted even more recently. Im no expert, but this was my impression of the sword. BUT I will always defer to the more knowledgable if ya’ll think otherwise. Thank you all, I appreciate the discussion! Cheers, -Sam

Oops double post*

Thank you! I liked it too. Its no showstopper, but I thought it was a really nice package for the trade/price The Menuki don’t appear particularly fancy or ornate to my (novice) eye, but they are large!

Thank you Dale! That’s very helpful and informative. That makes sense because I believe it is on what is a late edo wakizashi, and it fits pretty well. I thought the koshirae was an attractive set. Much appreciated!

Thank you so much! Much appreciated All the best, -Sam

I am again interested by another tsuba; found on a sword I received in a sale/trade. It has a nice rich color to it. I was hoping for your thoughts about it. Is it of any quality? What is the motif? All constructive discussion welcome. Let me know what you think! Cheers, -Sam

Was hoping for some help translating the mei on this non-traditional WW2 showato. I did not apply the chalk - it was already there. Thank you! Cheers, -Sam

Recently got a couple swords in a trade. One had this dragon themed fuchi, and I was hoping for help translating. Thank you! Cheers, -Sam

That seems a likely scenario! Previously I had wondered about the possibility of suicide or hunger. I wonder how Marcus Sesko aquired his death-date, and if any other info was available. You've caused me to go down a rabbit hole of the bombing campaign in July before the big bombs were dropped; very interesting! Thank you! -Sam

Osawa Kanehisa Showato with seki stamp and kanehisa kokuin (hot stamp). Numerals “226” found on Nakago in red paint, and matching on most of it's Type 98 fittings. I think you got this one logged on my translation thread a few weeks ago, Bruce. From Marcus Sesko's book, Japanese Swordsmiths: KANEHISA (兼久), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanehisa” (兼久), real name Ōsawa Kan´ichi (大沢勘一), born January 2nd 1915, student of Kojima Kanemichi (小島兼道), he worked as a guntō smith and died July 7th 1945. ryōkō no retsu (Akihide, skilled artisan) What I find particularly interesting, is that the smith died in 1945, at just 30 years old. I wonder how... Going to be bringing this sword to a local show this weekend for a possible sale/trade. Hoping for some luck! Cheers, -Sam

If I had a nickel every time I heard that a gunto was "Recovered off the body of a Japanese officer", or "Found in the sands of Iwo Jima"... I'd be able to afford a much more impressive nihonto collection . I'm sure they are out there - but I have never seen a 'framed sword' that was worth removing from the frame for a closer look. Cheers, -Sam

Old fiberglass perhaps? Could be a vintage miners helmet or hardhat. Just a guess, -Sam

It's the fault of all you crazy Tosogu collectors. Supply and demand after all… Just teasing/kidding of course, Cheers, -Sam

This is something i've been noticing too. I've always wanted a 95, but not at the current market value... Seems to me, you can get an arsenal type 98 Showato these days for less than the type 95 Cheers, -Sam

That Hirata Hikozo tsuba is really stunning. ...And perfectly highlights how naive I am to judging the quality of a tsuba I can tell it's very nice. I would never have guessed anywhere near that price! Back to the books , Cheers, -Sam

Dan, I think he was asking about your new Tsuba