Crusader22

Thank you!

Probably a cricket?

Unknown insect

Mantis

Upon studying the fuchi and kashira, (hopefully correct terms?) there is a "Praying Mantis" theme, and another insect with long antennae on one side of the fuchi. In all cases, the insects are gilded. Also, blossoms of some sort? Plum?

Ok, I will disassemble it tomorrow. Here are closer photos. Jeff

I will have another, more patient, go at a photo shoot tomorrow. Jeff

I also note that the habaki is a brass sleeve on contact with the blade, and wrapped entirely in another equal thickness layer of silver, with a falling rain with hail pattern. If my reading serves.

Thanks very much! I paid what I thought was what all I could afford as my first, but by chance found a nice traditionally smithed gendaito Shin Gunto while this was in the mail. Im actually more excited to dive into the 3 hardcover books I just bought and Ray's flash cards now that I'm no longer terrified my sword is not junk LOL! You guys are a class bunch. Im glad I fell into this hobby. Thank you, all. Jeff

Yes, this is a color copy of the paper the seller made for me. He based his dating entirely on the Hawley entry and date. Methinks. Yes, there are a couple delamination flaws! Jeff

It strikes me as abnormally thin and petite

Sold to me as the work of a "Yatsumitsu", with reference to Hawley and a date of 1362-1368

More

Please advise of any further photos required if necessary.

More

More photos

Well, first, thank you for looking. I bought my first, as far as I hope and know to be, real pre-Meiji sword. Or maybe I did not. It was not expensive by most standards, but I took a chance long before I should have. More reading was, and is, in order. I am certain the shown parts are not likely original to each other, the tsuka is not tight, as the mekugi holes are very, very slightly off. One more thick spacer would correct that. The tsuba is iron, I have seen others like this, loose, some identical, most look sloppy and "off". This one has sharp casting. The fittings look finely made and like internet and book examples. The saya looks to be in poor shape, the blade is tight without rattle fully inserted. The open end is unfortunately taped and surely cracked. I have not attempted to address that yet. I feel good about what I see, but I know little to nothing. I now present it to you, and will accept my beating if required. Two more books arrived today. Jeff

Thank you, good info to look through. Just an idle thought I had, always wondered. Jeff

By this I mean, between the family blades taken to combat and lost, destroyed, or captured, and the dumping into Tokyo harbor of untold thousands of weapons, what impact did these events have on the indigenous Nihonto "population" in Japan, if you will allow me that phrasing, and the subsequent outlawing of weapons such as swords? And what percentage ended up in US servicemen's hands and were brought back as souvenirs, knowing the esteem which IJA and IJN officer swords commanded quickly as US forces came into contact with the Japanese? How successful were repatriation efforts, if any existed? Al very speculative, I know. Any thoughts are appreciated. Ramble on! Jeff

Hello, everyone. I am a novice collector, I just started really building a knowledge base, and am absolutely fascinated with this very nuanced and complex collecting field. I have collected martial firearms most of my life (I am 56), and specifically rose to an advanced state in the field of WWII K98k rifles, specifically sniper variants and optics. That area is a minefield, to say the least, with abundant fakery, and a steep learning curve. I am published in a couple journals and one excerpt in the most thorough book volume set on the subject, and have left it all behind to solely focus on Nihonto. It has been a lifelong casually interesting subject, seemingly out of my reach, but I now understand even with my meager financial means, it is absolutely something I can participate in. I truly appreciate the vast knowledge on this forum, and the gift of being able to readily connect with advanced collectors on this valuable venue. I recently posted my first sword, a gendaito Type 3 (or Type 100) Shin Gunto I found locally, and traded for - I got lucky, but also had studied enough in advance to immediately see it was of higher quality than others I had seen. The outpouring of knowledge when I posted it was wonderful. It is posted in the Japanese Military Sword section. Having said all that, I did do EXACTLY what I always advised junior collectors in my old field to not do - plunge in on passion and impulse and buy a lower end sword with limited knowledge a few weeks ago. It is in the importation process, and I genuinely hope I have not taught myself an expensive lesson in impulse and it's consequences. I will not repeat this. It did, however, "speak to me", and I truly hope it is as represented by the seller. I will wait until it arrives to post it, and receive opinions, and take my beating, if warranted! I have since, however, purchased books and flash cards to get myself up to (slow) speed, and now know more than I did. I am reading anything I can find voraciously. I am looking forward to a wonderful collecting "career", and after collecting what are essentially machine made, heartless pieces of equipment, the Nihonto collecting field is a breath of fresh air, and cannot exist without a fundamental appreciation and understanding of many other aspects of Japanese culture, language, spirituality, and art in everyday life. Thank you all in advance, and I look forward to conversation and sharing this passion. Jeff Diederichs Elgin, AZ, USA SSG (RET) US ARMY

Thank you, John.

Yet another question as I look over every minute detail of this sword. I cannot figure out the saya coating paint, or lacquer, or how this interesting, uniform texture was achieved. It looks more like a molded thin layer was applied...of, "something". Thin leather of a ray or other animal? Also, pic under magnification of the hamon edge, because I did not know my camera could do that.

Good Lord, what a train wreck. I have seen SO many fine WWII rifles RUINED with sandpaper and cold bluing paste... I see this field is equally susceptible to this. My uncle used to say, "The surface of the Earth is covered in a roughly even layer of morons". I think he was correct.

Thank you!