Ok how about this one!

[diprivanman]

This sword is in WWII mounts. I beleive this says bishu osafune suke sada. It is claimed to be from koto period. The sword has obviously been shortened, and missing part of the signature? Any thoughts?

[Jean]

i,

 

The blade is dated 2 month 15th year of Eisho : February 1518

 

The mei reads Bishu Osafune (I guess) Suke ...

 

The hamon seems to be suguha but nearly impossible to see from the pictures, the nakago is slightly suriage.

 

Thats all I can say from the pictures, mei could be genuine (easy strokes) but as, at this period, there were more Sukesada smiths than hair on my head, it is difficult to say more ...

 

Please, to be in line with NMB policy, don't forget to sign your post

 

[Stephen]

1522 there abouts

 

the rest of the story

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

[Jason]

quoting the ebay auction "This is one of two swords I recently bought by a heck of a veteran...we chatted for hours...anyway, he was a USMC vet and picked both of these up in the Iwo Jima battle...one of which (this one) was taken during a smaller banzai charge late in the battle (he called it mopping up..)- Anyway, in it;s own right it is a KILLER signed BISHU OSAFUNE SUKE SADA and DATED february 1518 sword"

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Guest Simon Rowson]

If one believes eBay, every Japanese soldier, pensioner, woman and child on Iwo Jima carried an ancestral sword (which was then inevitably confiscated by a brave US "vet" after fierce hand-to hand fighting involving flame-throwers, bayonets or kiwi-fruit).