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Posted

Hi, I'm new here and know nothing about Japanese swords. My Father was in the occupation forces in WWII and brought back a military Japanese sword. He is 85 and his health is failing and he recently gave me the sword. I just wanted to post a few photos of it on here and see if anyone can tell me anything about it. I couldn't find any stamp on the tang. I'm not so hot at pictures either. Sorry. Sukoshi demo Nihongo o hanaseru.

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Posted

tsuka does not match the saya, most of the pix need to be croped and show more of the blade not the fittings, it may be a sound blade cant tell for sure.

Posted

It's weird... the tsuba (hand guard) is that of an officer's blade, but the saya (sheath) is that of an NCO's sword.

 

That's actually a good sign for you though, because if it WAS all NCO fittings, that would mean that the sword had a 99.9% chance of being machine made.

 

Give us some closeups of the blade and the tang, both sides...

 

*crosses fingers* :o

Posted

At a quick look (at work at the moment) it would appear to be much older than WW2..probably a family blade taken to war.

Looks good from the limited pics. I also see what could be polishers marks that would indicate it was worth a proper polish at some stage.

Needs to be examined closer, but looks like you have a decent and genuine Nihonto. The patina on the nakago and signs of remounting (multiple mekugi ana) also indicate this.

 

Will take a closer look at the pics a bit later when I have a chance.

 

Brian

 

PS - We do require you to sign your posts with a first name at least, please.

Posted

Since it is genuine and old (agree with koto or early shinto era) you have to handle the blade with care, don't touch it with bare hand, nor clean or sharpen it. Don't clean the tang since it is clear indication for its age. Read and learn so so you will be able to appreciate what you have in hand. Mike

Guest Simon Rowson
Posted

USMC-LCPL said:

It's weird... the tsuba (hand guard) is that of an officer's blade, but the saya (sheath) is that of an NCO's sword.

 

I think the scabbard is actually a chrome-plated kyu-gunto which has had the tsuka replaced when military fashions changed.

I've seen this a couple of times in the past and it would certainly explain the presence of a decent ancestral blade.

 

Simon

Posted

I've taken a couple of additional photos. A couple of the polishing marks and one of the hamon. I was wondering if anyone has any idea of the ballpark value of this sword? If it is worth trying to have restored or polished? And if is worth being polished, how much that would cost? And where I could have that done. I live in Southeastern Arizona. The sword is 27 inches long from the tip to the start of the tang and 34 1/4 inches long overal. Thank you very much for all of the assistance you have given me here. It is greatly appreciated. Cody

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Posted

That last pic seems to show a nick in the edge. Being almost completely ignorant concerning polishing, is this nick something a polisher would be able to 'polish out' or would it take away too much steel to do so?

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

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