John C

Bruce: I'm sure I'll catch a bit of flack for this, however I've always felt there was more to these numbers that just "assembly" bin numbers for parts etc. There are consistent colors and number of digits used by various smiths (or arsenals, perhaps). And now you have 4 of the same number with almost all souvenirs using two digits and black paint. I still think these numbers have something to do with applying to different smiths or arsenals, possibly for pay purposes or as an identifyer for polishers. John C.

Tim: This blurb from DHL's website discussing the things they ship suggests they will ship a knife. I wonder if labeling it as "cutlery" would change anything. Kappabashi Kappabashi shopping street, located near Ueno Park in Tokyo, is often called "Kitchen Town." This unique district appeals to professional chefs, restaurant owners, and food enthusiasts seeking authentic and professional-grade culinary tools. It offers a wide and diverse range of specialized equipment not easily found elsewhere. What is Kappabashi famous for? Specialized, Fragile, and Heavy Items: This includes hand-forged knives (Hōchō), high-quality ceramics, and lacquerware. These goods require careful international shipping from Japan due to their fragility and significant value. Realistic Food Samples (Sampuru): The street is famous for these highly detailed models. While not heavy, their detailed and delicate nature means they require extensive protective packaging when shipping. John C.

Volker: Interesting. The Hitler Jugend visited Seki in 1938 and were gifted tanto by Kanehide and a few other smiths. Is there any mention of this in the book or is there any indication the writing of the book was inspired by this event? John C.

I also thought it was unusual, or at least uncommon, to see a staged photo using a type 95 (the pic above - seated soldier with picture of palmtree in background). John C.

To me it looks like 6 3 20 (the old number style). John C.

Juan: In regard to the thickness, picture this blade on the end of a 8 to 12 foot pole. Imagine a line of ashigaru as the first line of defense for cavalry. These blades were used against horses and armor at full charge. The yari had to be quite robust to withstand the impact. John C.

It could be - and maybe that's the reason for the different construction, however the auction description is "Iron" so I just took their word for it. John C.

I was wondering if iron jingasa can be dated by their construction. Most iron ones I have seen are made with plates and rivets or folds like the first pic. The second one pictured is clearly a single curved piece with a unique fastening system. Were multiple methods used throughout the history of the jingasa or can a period be determined by the construction method? Thank you, John C.

I believe the date is Feb Showa 13 (1938). The smith is perhaps Hiromitsu? John C.

Miranda: We don't generally do valuations here, however I can give you some info for your description. I believe the sword is signed Kanesada saku kore (respectfully made by Kanesada). The stamp above the signature is a Seki Cutlery inspection stamp. It also indicates the sword is semi-forged but not traditionally made. Traditionally made swords are made from tamahagane steel and are water quenched. The painted numbers (762) are assembly numbers. In addition, the fittings are not high quality and are missing parts. The tassel is also missing. This makes your sword slightly less valuable on the collector market but still has military/historical value. Folks on ebay tend to list these for crazy prices. I recommend using ebay completed auctions and search for "ww2 Japanese sword". Find similar examples and it will give you an indication as to what these actually sell for. John C.

These little cuts into the ana suggest the mei was cut after the ana was formed. Could be another piece of evidence depending on the process used by Kotetsu or Kajihei. John C.

Nicholas: Just out of curiosity, what does the area around the mekugi-ana look like? Specifically, does the rim of the ana rise above the chisel marks or do the chisel marks cut into the rim? It could help determine if the mei were cut after the mekugi ana was formed. John C.

Jeff: FYI, the two holes at the bottom of the tsuba are called udenuki-ana. Some suggest they were there to tie a wrist lanyard or to secure the tsuka. Others suggest they were simply decorative elements. From a post by Piers on a different thread: 1. Satsuma holes, which are smaller, were called more properly Sayadome-ana or Sayadome-no-ana. This word means 'Sheath-stopper/fastener hole(s)'. I have heard elsewhere that local laws were passed in Satsuma requiring the seals to be unbroken upon random inspection in public places. The Saya was tied from the kurigata or the kaerizuno to the tsuba by a length of twisted paper called a koyori. Every household had an abundant supply of these and people could whip them up on the spot, but I wonder if there was an official type that had to be used? Paper twists could be broken easily, but the owner probably had to have a good reason for making that extra tug. 2. Udenuki-no-ana/kan means literally 'forearm, go-through, hole/ring/loop'. If Satsuma Sayadome were smaller, then these by definition will be generally larger in comparison. Several examples above show one hole, not two, so are we happy to say that Udenuki-no-Kan could have come in either ones or twos? (This is also true for Netsuke which especially in older types often had a single 'chimney' passing up through a hole in the base. On another note, Japanese armour and horse saddles had many places where two adjacent holes were used for stringing.) John C.

Hector: Does it say who these smiths are? John C.

Note the yellow striped stitching on the tassel. Typical of a general grade tassel. John C.

Alex: I give my two cents here since I have been doing some ordering from Japan. As Rohan noted, it can depend on the seller. There are options for them to ship the item having already paid the fees. On the stuff I have gotten, under shipping it usually says something like "includes all duties and fees" etc. Sure it costs more for shipping and I suspect they are charging a little more than necessary, though the transactions have been seemless so far and actually faster than USPS. I've had stuff shipped DHL, USPS Speedpak, and USPS priority mail international. John C.

Teppo was probably the wrong term. Maybe tanegashima is more accruate? This barrel, for example. https://www.ebay.com/itm/168167826408?itmmeta=01KHZ5VS9WFVSV05TZE05ZNZKF&hash=item27279563e8:g:orQAAOSwioRoAjRl Or this matchlock, for example. https://www.ebay.com/itm/168160773447?itmmeta=01KHZ7NB909XBYAJ0XNE2NAT6C&hash=item272729c547:g:cYMAAeSwqixpfXSF John C.

Hello: I was interested in several of their items, namely the teppo and armor stuff they carry. But I know absolutely nothing about that stuff and how to spot fakes. Just as a general opinion, do you all think the stuff they are selling seems legit? I know some folks won't comment on specific items, however I was hoping for a general opinion. https://www.ebay.com/str/basarajapan?_trkparms=folent%3Abasarajapan|folenttp%3A1&_trksid=p3542580.m47492.l74602 John C.

Steve: Just to expand on what Ray noted, notice the issues marked by the arrows: 1) the blade has been shortened for some reason. Note how the hamon does not taper off but is rather robust at the ha-machi. This indicates it used to be longer. 2) Also notice the notch is not perpendicular to the blade but angled. Probably happened when it was re-cut. 3) Note how the nakago is not straignt. Again, probably cut or ground down by someone. 4) Looks as if the kanji have been ground down and are not as strong as they used to be. John C.

@Scogg Sam: Possibly for your next update, a variation 9 (?) with what looks like the jinsen mark and the extraodinary inspection mark. But it falls just outside your listed serial number range. Could be useful if updating the range (300,107 to 301,799 on page 58). https://www.ebay.com/itm/306773941651? John C.

Anthony: Personally, I think you could do better for 600 pounds. If it's history you are interested in, would that be Japanese history, samurai history, ww2 history? I think once you settle on that answer, it will guide you to a nicer, or more meaningful, blade in your price range. This one is a bit of a mash up between civil and military. Many of us have started out with a less-than-desireable sword, only to do more research and then wish we had spent that money on something better. I only mention this because this hobby is expensive and kind of like a Moray eel - once it bites into you, it doesn't let go. John C.

Steve: Not sure if you still need it but the date, I think, is auspicious day Feb 1939 (showa 14). John C.

Tom: I just realized this one does not have a kiku. Sorry for the mis-lead. John C.

This could be what you are looking for. His description is incorrect (AI generated), however I think it is 23rd gen kanefusa. https://www.ebay.com/itm/147086903736 John C.

I'm thinking maybe a suiteki with the dots in the middle and corner. John C.