Looking For Help Identifying Three Swords

[ga31]

Hi, I am new to the forum and have been trying to decipher the markings on three swords I recently acquired. I don't know much about Japanese swords, just what I have read in the past couple days, I hope I get the terminology correct.

 

The First sword I believe is a Waribashi, the Nagasa measures about 13". The nakago is unsigned, but it is signed on both sides of the Tsuba. It also has an Umabari on the Saya, which is also signed, the other is missing.

 

The Second sword's Nagasa measures about 28.5". It is signed on the nakago. Some of the kanji are difficult to read, and even more difficult to photograph. The Tsuba, Fuchi, Kashira and Menuki all look like bronze and have prawns depicted on them.

 

The Third sword's Nagasa measures about 21.25". I have not found any writing anywhere on it. I would guess it is from the WWII era.

 

Here is a link to the photos:

https://plus.google.com/photos/10692390 ... qdHTmPn8cQ

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Brian]

Waribashi are chopsticks. Do you mean wakizashi?

All are genuine, they look like they may have some promise. Especially the one with the horimono.

Umabari were a Bizen trait if I remember correctly. One of them looks like it may be a Boy's sword...thin and scaled down? Tsuba and tsuka seem to lead that way too.

 

Brian

[ga31]

Try this:

 

http://s300.photobucket.com/user/gabbatemarco/library/

[takakage]

Hi,

 

I think for the first sword you should look shimosaka school.

[ga31]

Waribashi are chopsticks. Do you mean wakizashi?

 

Brian

 

Sorry, I meant Wakizashi. Thanks for the correction.

 

Thank you for the other info as well. The one you think might be a boy's sword, I thought might have been cut down during the second world war. That's according to something a friend told me, could that be true?

 

The other thing I found odd about the 'prawn' sword are the two holes on the nakago, any logical reason why this might be?

[ga31]

 

I think for the first sword you should look shimosaka school.

 

That is very helpful thank you.

[Geraint]

Hi Gianfranco.

 

What a find! If my first three swords had been this good I would have been thrilled. The first has a very good looking koshirae and is a wakizashi as you give it's length, assuming you measured from the tip to the notch on the back of the blade. The koshirae look very good in spite of the damage and I would say well worth restoration. Respectfully disagreeing with Brian I understood umbari to be associated with Higo mounts not Bizen but I am sure more knowledgeable fittings collectors will put us straight on that one.

 

The second sword is interesting because it has tachi mei, extra holes are not uncommon as words are remounted and shortened at the nakago end of the blade. Both these things suggest that this is an old blade and certainly worth showing to somebody in hand who can advise you. I think I can see "Bitchu no kuni" , others may make out more. Fuch and kashira look really good and the presence of foiled seppa and double habaki are usually signs that someone took great care with the mounting. The wire loop at the end of the hilt suggest use in WWII.

 

The third sword has a mounting ring on the scabbard which would probably have had a leather combat cover.

 

Depends where you are but there may be a society near by where you could get some better hands on advice, for now please don't try any cleaning or restoration yourself, members here will recommend people for you who will do good work, perhaps a little light oil on the blades.

 

Have fun.

[ga31]

 

assuming you measured from the tip to the notch on the back of the blade.

 

Depends where you are but there may be a society near by where you could get some better hands on advice, for now please don't try any cleaning or restoration yourself, members here will recommend people for you who will do good work, perhaps a little light oil on the blades.

 

Have fun.

 

Thank you for all the info.

Yes, I measured it from the tip to the notch.

 

Regarding the second sword that has a prawn design, do prawns have any special meaning in Japanese folklore or art?

 

I know enough about antique swords to have a healthy fear of do any cleaning or restoration myself. Do you really think it would be alright to lightly put some oil on the blade?

 

Thanks again.

[Geraint]

Yes Gianfranco a little light oil will do no harm. By the bye, board rules are that you sign posts with your name, easy to add in your profile. I really think you should find someone who will give you a hands on assessment but these, particularly the first two, are interesting swords. This could be the start of something big, you may have been bitten by the Nihonto bug and contracted an incurable disease. You are in for a fun time!

 

All the best.

[ga31]

Yes Gianfranco a little light oil will do no harm. By the bye, board rules are that you sign posts with your name, easy to add in your profile. I really think you should find someone who will give you a hands on assessment but these, particularly the first two, are interesting swords. This could be the start of something big, you may have been bitten by the Nihonto bug and contracted an incurable disease. You are in for a fun time!

 

All the best.

 

Thanks for the heads up on signing my posts.

 

The Nihonto bug has definitely bitten me, but it still has to get in line behind all the other collecting bigs I've already been bitten by.

 

Does anyone know of someone I can take them to in the Connecticut area? I am very interested in finding out as much as possible about them.

 

Thanks Geraint

[kunitaro]

Do you really think it would be alright to lightly put some oil on the blade?

 

No oil on blade into old Saya. please.

Oil doesn't harm the blade but Saya.

When oil stick inside of Saya, it will stay there, will harm inside of saya wil into wood, and will damage lacquered (urushi) surface from inside.

Sometime we see blister (kind of fukure) on old saya because of oil in the saya.

Old polished blade doesn't need oil, Just keep it dry.

 

When the blade is fresh polish, it needs oil and it must be in Shirasaya.

Shirasaya could be opened and clean inside, but Urushi lacquered Saya can not be opened and clean.

[takakage]

Hi,

The second sword , the mei is written as a bitchu aoe but is it really a bitchu aoe, that is the question......????

[Geraint]

So Let's see. Your first three nihonto and it starts to look as though one might be an Echizen Shimosaka wakizashi with horimono in rather spiffy koshirae, one sets out to be an Aoe tachi, also in koshirae and then there's the other one! Wow!

 

Well you certainly need to find some expertise locally and start reading. These are a real find, well done.

 

Can I suggest that you post pictures of the koshirae for the wakizashi in the tosogu section of the board?

[ga31]

So Let's see. Your first three nihonto and it starts to look as though one might be an Echizen Shimosaka wakizashi with horimono in rather spiffy koshirae, one sets out to be an Aoe tachi, also in koshirae and then there's the other one! Wow!

 

Well you certainly need to find some expertise locally and start reading. These are a real find, well done.

 

Can I suggest that you post pictures of the koshirae for the wakizashi in the tosogu section of the board?

 

 

Needless to day, I am very excited. I will try to take better photos of the koshirae and post it on that board. Thanks for the tip.

 

I hope I can find someone in the Connecticut area to bring them to, to have them looked at in person.

 

Thank you everyone for all the help so far!