Japanese Polish On Foreign Swords?

[Peter Bleed]

Dear Friends.

Please allow me to beg help from the collected wisdom the NMB.

I am preparing a small article on a “Japanese” sword that incorporates what I believe is a model of 1796 English cavalry blade and scabbard.  Interestingly, the blade seems to have be “polished” in Japan and given a kessho suguha hamon. I recall reading in - I think  one of George Sansom’s books - about a Japanese official who acquired a European blade and had it polished. But, even with some serious searching, I can’t find the reference I recall.

Does anyone else recall ever having seen reference to  Japanese polished “foreign” blades?

Peter

[ROKUJURO]

Peter,

there is a certain Dr. Stefan Mäder, who used to live in Japan for quite a while. He is known as a researcher in the field of early medieval sword blades and at one time, had Alamannic blades polished in Japan. Amazing enough, these blades had a kind of HAMON!

One of his treatises can be found under: http://www.archaeologie-online.de/magazin/thema/die-alamannen/mado-wo-akeru-ein-fenster-oeffnen/seite-1/

Hope that helps! 

[BIG]

Hi Peter,

 

only foreign Blade I know was this Solingen aikuchi

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/15090-german-aikuchi/?hl=%2Bgerman+%2Baikuchi

 

 

Best Regards

[BIG]

Hi Peter,

 

here is a Link

 

http://1501bc.com/files/Polished_early_medieval_blades_eng.doc

 

and Mr. Maeder gave Info about a tv doc. Togishi To Yon-Deshi

 

Best Regards and int. Theme

[Geraint]

Dear Peter.

 

I believe there is a reference in Sword and Same to something along these lines.  I'll see if I can find it.

 

All the best.

[Peter Bleed]

Thank you Big-Rokujuro!

These are interesting links. As i punched the "post" button for my initial message, I also recalled seeing - at chicago some years back - a russian sword that had been tricked out in Japan - apparently it was  a Russo-Japanese bring-back.. The sword I am addressing at the moment is (I think) a later example of the Rampeki-/Namban craze. In general, I think it is becoming clear that the world of Japanese swords was always somewhat permiable, with foreign materials and ideas drifting in but always as exotic oddities.

Again, thanks

Peter

[Geraint]

Sword and Same, p 79.  Reporting what Masahide says.  "In kwansei period, a sailor named Kodayu brought me a Russian sword, I had it polished and I found many rough niye, it cuts well; however, it is not so sharp as our swords, the edge is too brittle, and I could not find the boundary line (hazakai) between the yakiba and the jigane.  This sword belongs now to the Katsuragawa family (physician with the title Hogen).  The handle and scabbard are of leather attached with a cord, the back is about 2bu and the length  1.3 shaku."

 

Any use?

[Peter Bleed]

Geraint,

Eureka!

Yes, indeed, that is the quote I was looking for!

Thank you thank you.

Once again the NMB has worked

Peter

[Geraint]

Glad to be of help.

 

All the best.

[Dave R]

 There is a Tanto in the Royal Armouries Leeds which is made from a re-tempered and polished German Hangar.