Why would someone do that?!

[Sporkkaji]

The mei looks nicely cut, hope it wasn't anything too special.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251373139343

[hxv]

Mune xx Saku.

 

Hoanh

[george trotter]

Munetoshi Saku. Pity.

I once saw a nice Hisamichi nidai blade with chrysanthemum and leaves treated this same way.

It happens...

[ROKUJURO]

C. Lewis,

 

yes, why would someone do that? Perhaps to make knives out of it. Today, swords are less useful and seem more dangerous to some people (governments included) than knives. In addition to that, many people are not very educated and don't know about/don't respect other cultures or their history. This results in a lack of sensitivity.

 

It is sad but it underlines the importance of institutions like NMB.

[Dr Fox]

I recently posted a blade, that had suffered to death through water exposure. Travelling back towards the nakago better steel is evident. To the unsympathetic, this with a bench grinder can be converted to an utility knife, and so it lives on. The same could apply to a blade that was broken.

 

The practice of converting good steel into utility items, is not new and goes way back, especially in the case of knives. The value of carry knives, is the subject of a very active thread on the board at the moment.

 

The only small saving grace, is that this bowie type conversion, has saved a mei (if its real) for either study or comparison.

 

Denis.

[Adrian]

My 2p say that the veteran mentioned on ebay never had anything but a broken sword.

[Dr Fox]

  ROKUJURO said:

C. Lewis,

 

yes, why would someone do that? Perhaps to make knives out of it. Today, swords are less useful and seem more dangerous to some people (governments included) than knives. In addition to that, many people are not very educated and don't know about/don't respect other cultures or their history. This results in a lack of sensitivity.

 

It is sad but it underlines the importance of institutions like NMB.

 

Swords were at one time never regarded as 'art' objects, but practical weapons, when no longer practical, their original form and function was destroyed to full fill another purpose. This was done on a national scale by the Japanese, tachi to katana, katana to wakizashi. Thousands of swords lost their mei, and their provenance. Why did they do that? Again a conversion of use from impractical to practical.

 

So in comparison, I don't feel my sensitivities are saddened, by the sight of modified items seen around today.

 

Denis.

[ROKUJURO]

Denis,

 

I understand what you mean. But I think there is a difference between those times of living tradition when swords were still being made in large numbers, and times like ours when these items cannot be replaced because history has made a step in another direction. Today, when you cut down an old blade (I don't speak about damaged swords) it is not just recycling metal but it is a loss. But that is only the way I see it.

[Dr Fox]

Jean

 

I understand where you are, but to be fair, you or I, or any others with the knowledge we have, would not do as seen here. But we really are in a minority, when it comes to seeing art where others see an old sword! Damage and misuse is usually down to ignorance: shameful but as George said "it happens".

[drbvac]

Well it could have been done wartime as the look of the cut down blade resembles an M1 Bayonet - somebody could have just tried to see if they could copy it.

[kusunokimasahige]

And here the text of the auction itself :

 

  Quote

This is the handle end of a Samuari or katana sword from WWII. I am no expert in swords but an American WWII veteran gave me this several years ago. He told me he brought it back from the war and cut the sword in three pieces to make knives out of. There is Japanese writing on the handle that would tell when and where it was made as I understand.

I'll send it free priority mail!

Happy bidding!

[Stephen]

Would make a great camping knife with proper wood and sharpening

[Dr Fox]

  Stephen said:

Would make a great camping knife with proper wood and sharpening

 

An honest and practical view of the item Stephen, and very probably the aim of the original modifier of the blade. It stands to go some way to explain " Why would someone do that?"

[Brian]

I think it very likely that some US serviceman had been told repeatedly how great the steel of Samurai swords was, and how much effort went into making the blade. But of course, no-one explained back then (or even today much) how important the hamon and boshi is. So someone presented with a long Japanese blade, might have thought if he cut it into 3, he would have 3 excellent pieces of "Samurai steel" to make knives with.

Of course, we know better. But without someone to educate him....

 

Brian

[Jean]

Decades ago, I was discussing with Robert Burawoy and he told me that during one of his American sword hunting, he has been informed that a veteran had a valuable Japanese tanto. He went to see him and try to buy it with no success as it was a souvenir. It was in the kitchen and used as a kitchen knife....

[cfm15]

If I ran across something like this I would reforge it into a nice little tanto and call it good as a use for a unique piece of historical steel .I think the original maker would be alright with that.

Chris