cplnorton

This looks to be a bringback WWII Japanese sword in non-military mounts. Any help on the signature would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some better pics of the Tsuka. It feels almost like leather. It's really beautiful work. Also on the Saya. It was Red. Any significane to the color? And is there anything I can put on there to make it look nicer? It's really the only part on the sword that looks bad. Thanks Gentlemen. Steve

Yeah I figured I would get caught on the fingerpring when I posted the pic. I tried not to touch the blade and wiped it down a dozen times, but my wife looked it while taking pics, and Im going to blame it on her. Thank you so much guys for answering back to me. While not as neat as the 1300's, I guess I should be happy with a blade from the 1500's. I'm not a Sword collector per say, but I collect WWII Marine Corps items so I run across a few along the way and still find them very Beautiful. Now on the officer's name, Hayashi. There is probably no way to trace the officer and see where he was during the war? I did a google search and it sounds like the name is very common over there. It sounds like it's like a name, like Smith or Johnson over here. I would imagine he or his family might have had some money. The fit and finish of the mounts is really high quality. So I imagine he might have had some rank or at least wealth? Thanks so much for your help Gentlemen. With everyone sword and your help, I learn a little bit more. Steve

More pics in the next post.

More pics in next post.

More pics in next post

I'm trying to research this sword. You will have to bear with me as I know a little bit about swords but I'm still a amateur at best. I know enough to know when one is real and not fake. But not all the language of the parts or all the terms. But I think I do have one here that might be a real gem. From what I can research online, it appears to be a Kamakura period Tachi blade in WWII Army mounts. The cutting edge of the blade is roughly 27 1/2 inches long. The handle is signed on both sides, but it is so rusted that you cannot hardly make out the signature. Also the WWII mounts are of very high quality. I've had several officer's swords from the period but about all were machine made and not traditional made. I've never seen quality like this on any of them. Also this one has a Mon which I'm not sure what it represents. What is also interesting and I've never seen before is every single spacer, tsuba, every little part is either numbered or named, or something to that extent. This one seems to be a very high quality sword and mount. So I guess my quesiton, am I correct this is a blade from the 1300's and anyone know the maker of either the blade or the WWII mounts? Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I'm still learning on everyone I pick up. If I'm wrong in my research so far, I apologize. I'm know enough to get myself into trouble more than anything, but I've never seen anything remotely like this before. this is way out of my expertise. I have a ton of pics, I was trying to capture the signature, but it is so hard to do. It is signed on both sides though. But I will try to post enough pics for you guys to evaluate an opinion on. I hope it is not too many. Steve More pics in next post.

Would I just put the Tariff Number as 9307.00.00.90 (swords). I have no paperwork and don't even know the age of the blade. It appears older but it is unsigned, so I have no idea. The buyer said there are no taxes or anything he has to worry about in France. Steve Norton

Do I even need to worry about the commercial sender sections? I am not a company just an ebay seller. Also what descriptions should I put it as? I imagine if I put sword I might have some trouble with customs. I saw on google someone said to put "Ancient Japanese Art, Nihonto, over a 100 years old." Is this what I would use? Does this shipment require an export license? Thanks guys! Steve Norton from Van Wert, OH

I am shipping a sword from the US to France. I am shipping it thru the post office with priority mail. I was wondering if you guys could help me fill out the customs form so I don't screw this all up. This is the screens that I am seeing when I go to print the postage online. I understand the normal questions such as item value and quantify, but if someone could help me with the description and tariff codes and such. I ask the gentleman at the post office today and he said he had no idea. If figured as many times as you guys have shipping sword you probably know all the tariff's and everything to put. I just don't want to screw this up and either lose the sword or have it at customs forever. The sword is a WWII Japanese sword. Thanks everyone in advance. Steve Norton from Van Wert, OH

I worked all day today, I will try to get out tomorrow and try this. Hopefully it will help. Steve

I have $450 into it. So not too much I don't think for what it is. Yes there is small spot on the back of the blade. I think it is actually a flaw in the blade from when it was made or something. It's actually pretty small but in the pic it looks much bigger than what it is. By the way I might send it off to get it re-wrapped. I found this guy for $145, is this who you would recommend? Steve http://www.tsukamaki.net/index.htm

Here is the link to this last set of pics. I took about 60 or so outside. If you guys need better pics of anything let me know. Steve http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt293/cplnorton2/Japan%20sword%20outside/

Ok I went out in the shade and took the pics. I'm pretty sure it is a filled in hole. One side is raised up, and the other side is indented in that area. I can't really get good pics of either, but in the sun it was very noticable, especially the side raised up. Raised up side. Close up of rasied up side. Other side is indented in that area. And there is a faint line in a circle that is hard to pick up with the camera. Steve Other pic of the indented area. Pic of the temper line. Some what looks like air bubbles in the steel. Some forging marks in the steel.

Hey I think you are right and I was wrong. I looked again and there is just a faint line of what looks like a filled in hole on the opposite side. It's not as noticeable as the other side, but it is there. What does that mean then? Steve

No no other marks on the opposite side. I had thought maybe it was another hole that maybe was filled in, but it's not I believe. The other side is perfect in that spot.

The blade I do believe has forging lines on it. I tried to take some pics, but my flash is making it worse. I'm going to get a different back drop and try this again and post pics tonight. I'm a welder and when I weld on metal and grind it flat you can always tell a little bit on where the weld was. The marks on the blade remind me of this, and I'm guessing this is what you are guys are referring to as forging lines. There are a few areas on the blade as well that look like a small air bubbles were in the metal, it's hard to describe but I see this in welding as well in areas around the welds. It just like it. Also on the backside of the sword there are a few spots where there are these lines as well. I don't know my head from my butt when it comes to Japanese swords, but when someone mentioned forging lines, it makes sense with what I'm seeing on the blade in person. Now if I can just get my camera to take some good pics for you guys. lol Thank you to eveyone for your input. Steve

Actually I was looking at it again, I think I found a stamp. Does this mean anything or am I just seeing something that isn't there?

If you guys need better pics of something let me know. Tell me what are to take a picture of and I can even try different color backgrounds so I don't drown out the blade. The blade looks better in person, but the my lights and white background might be affecting it some in the pics. Would this help? Thanks for your time gentlemen. Steve

I googled Shinto period and I found a date of 1600 to 1764. Is that the date you believe the blade is from? If so that would be so neat. I'm a big history buff so to think about a blade that had been around that long is so cool. I had to google the terms, but the tang or the nakago I don't believe was cracking. I looked it over a lot yesterday with a magnifying glass to try to figure out if there was a signature but couldn't tell if there was. It's really pitted. But I don't remember seeing anything. But I will double check again. I did find the menuki I believe. I just bought a set that is supposed to be original on gunbroker. I emailed the seller and and he said they are correct for a WWII sword. Here is a link to the Menuki: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=288336402 I am like you to about doing projects myself. I found some videos of how to wrap the handle. I might try it or how much is it to get it professionally done, and who do you recommend to do it? If it's like $300 to get it rewrapped, I might try it myself, but if it's like a $100, I might just send it away to get it done professionally. Thanks for you help by the way, and I went back and fixed my signatures. :D Thank you! Steve

More pics can be seen at this link. http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt293/cplnorton2/Japanese%20sword%20hand%20forged/ Thanks in Advance. Steve

I bought this officer's sword today. It's fresh out of an estate, but the handle wrapping is torn up. So I need a good recommendation on who to sent it to, to get it re-wrapped. Or can I buy just a WWII handle by itself. I've seen them on ebay but I figured it would be really hard to find one that fits. I'm still learning on Japanese swords. But I believe this is a hand forged blade because of the wavy lines on the blade. Under the handle is is pretty rusted. I don't know if this is maybe an older family blade redone for WWII or this is a WWII made timeframe blade. When I look closely I see maybe some Japanese characters, but I don't know if my eyes are playing tricks on me or not. Any and all help would be appreciated. Thank you. Steve

There is something written on the other side. I did put powder on it and it did bring it out. But it still hard to see. I uploaded several new pics of it to photobucket as well from different angles in the hopes you guys could read it. The files are too big to be seen here. So just go to this link. http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt29 ... n%20gunto/ Also I did notice another little stamping in front of the one that dates the sword. I didn't notice this one before. It's very small. But is definetly put on by human hand. What do you guys think?

Wow, you are awesome!! So does that mean it was a machine blade, that was polished by that guy. Or was it forged by that guy? Also is that his name "Showa Ju Hachi Nen Ju Gatsu," or is that his name and where it was made. Sorry for being a newb. But this is very interesting.