TomMcRei Posted December 11, 2012 Report Posted December 11, 2012 Hello, I would like to ask experts about this sword. There is no signature on the handle. Can anyone date the blade? How old could be the sword, is it a ww2 machine made sword or prewar one fitted to Shing Gunto standard during 1935-1945? Quote
Mark Posted December 11, 2012 Report Posted December 11, 2012 can you add a close up of the nakago? Quote
hxv Posted December 11, 2012 Report Posted December 11, 2012 Tom, Definitely traditionally made. Pic 17 shows a hamon, but you will have to control the lighting and angle a little more to get a better picture. The shape and the nakago suggest no older than shinshinto. Other than that, I don't have anything else to add. Regards, Hoanh Quote
cabowen Posted December 12, 2012 Report Posted December 12, 2012 Hard to say for certain from the pictures but I would be tempted to say oil quenched, WWII era. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted December 12, 2012 Report Posted December 12, 2012 While I'd always take Chris' opinion over mine, but I'd vote low grade gendaito. I seem to see some light activity in the a couple of the pics but as Chris said, the pics aren't completely conclusive and there are others that show a lifeless showato. Quote
Stu W Posted December 13, 2012 Report Posted December 13, 2012 I'm inclined toward oil quenched WW2 period too from what I see. The presence of a hamon, such as has been pointed out in pic 17, doesn't confirm traditionally made. Regards, Stu Quote
jason_mazzy Posted December 13, 2012 Report Posted December 13, 2012 IMO (very humble opinion) the nakago is well shaped for a nameless traditional war blade. Also (and I may just be seeing things) I noticed some traditional folds and what looked like nie swirls in a few places. Things I have not noticed in oil Tempered blades. May be a step up. Quote
Brian Posted December 13, 2012 Report Posted December 13, 2012 The presence of a hamon, such as has been pointed out in pic 17, doesn't confirm traditionally made. Of course it can't confirm it, but the hamon that I am seeing there certainly points me more towards Gendaito than Showato. I would have it checked out further. Brian Quote
Stephen Posted December 13, 2012 Report Posted December 13, 2012 also interesting that the hole looks punched rather than drilled, id lean toward true nihonto, why not signed??? your guess is as good as mine. Quote
TomMcRei Posted December 13, 2012 Author Report Posted December 13, 2012 What is an average price for this kind of sword? Quote
jason_mazzy Posted December 13, 2012 Report Posted December 13, 2012 Cant really say. Your pictures are not very good, and it would need to be shown much better. If it is oil quenched mass produced a couple hundred to a bit more if all the Gunto dress is in good shape. If a standard decent Gendaito then depending on the polish and condition could be worth a lil bit. Quote
hxv Posted December 13, 2012 Report Posted December 13, 2012 Tom, Your blade seems to be in good shape, except for what looks like an umegane in pic 5.jpg. The scabbard is not exactly desirable, although the tsuka is in good shape. I would guess may be $700. Regards, Hoanh Quote
TomMcRei Posted December 13, 2012 Author Report Posted December 13, 2012 Since I don`t own the sword yet I don`t have better pics, but I can post closeups from better resolution pictures. IMO from what I see on the photos the sword is made from folded steel, but I might be wrong. Quote
cabowen Posted December 14, 2012 Report Posted December 14, 2012 I can't see any hada in the ji. What appears to be hada in the hamon looks more like the graining seen in blades made with railroad steel. There have been some explanations of this here and there but I do not have a reference handy at the moment. Try a google search or maybe someone else will chime in. Quote
J Reid Posted December 14, 2012 Report Posted December 14, 2012 $1400 seems fair. If its a gendaito. But it looks like a showato. So $7-900. EDIT: oops just realized this was answered. Quote
TomMcRei Posted December 14, 2012 Author Report Posted December 14, 2012 I can't see any hada in the ji. What appears to be hada in the hamon looks more like the graining seen in blades made with railroad steel. There have been some explanations of this here and there but I do not have a reference handy at the moment. Try a google search or maybe someone else will chime in. So you think that blade is rather forged from railroad steel and not folded? Quote
cabowen Posted December 14, 2012 Report Posted December 14, 2012 Again, I can't say for certain because of the photos, but from what I can see it appears to me to be an oil quenched, possibly forged out from railroad steel. I see no hada in the ji, and what hada I see in the hamon looks more like the graining seen in railroad steel. The hamon is diffuse without any nie that I can see, hallmarks of an oil quench, non-tamahagane steel. Quote
Stephen Posted December 14, 2012 Report Posted December 14, 2012 I trust Chris's take on this, he knows Gendaito much more than i, just seems like smith went extra mile too my eye. Quote
cabowen Posted December 14, 2012 Report Posted December 14, 2012 And you may be right Stephen but I for one would need to have the blade in hand to be sure of anything... Quote
TomMcRei Posted December 17, 2012 Author Report Posted December 17, 2012 Is it normal that the sword is only 35,8" (91cm) long overall? Nagasa: 25" (63,5cm) Tsuka: 10,5" (27cm) Nakago: 8" (20,7cm) Sword Weight: 2,53 lb (1150g) Quote
hxv Posted December 17, 2012 Report Posted December 17, 2012 Tom, A nagasa of 25" is not atypical for WWII-mounted swords. The weight seems to be on the high side for this length, though. Does that weight include the tsuka or not? Hoanh Quote
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