Hello Everybody...

[Walter]

Since few weeks I'm lurking on this Forum and this is my very first post.

I collect German edged weapon since approx 10 years and accidentally have purchased Japanese officer WW2 sword.

Well, of course it's a Showa-to and as such nothing interesting for you.... BUT!

After few days watching this sword I realized a terrible thing - German blades are not that appealing to me any longer!

Have purchased another Shin-Gunto ... and another one (still in mail) and ... here's the problem:

Now I want a real Nihon-to katana (and maybe wakizaschi too...)!!!

Have already started to sell some of my stuff and gather the money for my first Nihonto

Also I've started to learn about genuine Nihonto swords and realized that it's close to the rocket science.

History, terminology ...etc. makes me want to start learn Japanese language too ... if I only had enough time in my hands.

Could you Guys recommend me some good reference book about Japanese swords for newbies (kind of Nihono for Dummies)?

 

Would like also to ask you for a favor:

Could someone translate the kanji on my 2nd Shin-Gunto tang?

I'm sure it's not the case of so-called "ancestral blade" since can’t find any folding pattern on the blade, but still would like to know something about maker and approx. date of this sword.

Thanks in advance!

 

Here some photos:

 

 

[falconj]

Hello Walter and all,

as a new member also, ( have lurked out there for a long time) I wish to say hello to all,

and I will have a guess at the signature as something something kuni nobu??

regards

John

[Paul Martin]

Kojima Kunifusa

 

does it have any stamp marks in the blade?

[Ichi]

Kojima Kunifusa å°å³¶ã€€å›½æˆ¿

[Walter]

Kojima Kunifusa

does it have any stamp marks in the blade?

 

Thank you very much!

Kojima Kunifusa is the name of the smith, right? (or Kojima is the location?) ... sorry again for my ignorance.

No, no other marks on the blade - just the single mark on the other side of the tang (on 2nd photo) - could be the date?

Thanks again, much appreciate!

[Ichi]

Kojima should be the smith's last name and Kunifusa the swordsmith name. Markings on the back is not even a word. Probably incomplete chiselling. Sorry, I'm at work, and no books to trace this piece.

[Brian]

Walter,

 

He is a WW2 smith making Showato. Listed on Dr Stein's site here: http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/index.htm

 

Let us know when you are ready for your first Nihonto (after lots of study and books etc)

The top of the forum has a recommended reading section, and if you search the forum for recommended books you will also come up with all the info. Check out Stephen's book sale in the Commercial Section as there are some great deals there currently.

 

Brian

[Walter]

Thank you Brian and Ichi-San!

Of course, before my first purchase I'll do my homework - the reference books are MUST in any collecting area.

As collector of German daggers I have committed few pretty expensive mistakes in the beginning of my collecting adventure and still keep one fake piece as reminder how NOT to collect.

I learned my lesson in painful enough way that if you don't know very well the stuff, better buy from reputable dealer or people with good reputation in collecting area.

In few weeks (or months) I will be ready to buy my first (and hopefully not last) Nihonto blade!

 

PS - Please excuse me for possible mistakes in my English.

[Brian]

Walter,

 

Not to get carried away on another subject, but many of the German militaria collectors I know have quit the field now. They say that the fakes are getting just too advanced, and many of them can't even be identified easily by experts. Some even made on the original machinery. It is such a popular field that the fakers are becoming mind-blowingly good at what they do.

Stick with Japanese swords. Most of the fakes are still fairly easily spotted, and we have a good number of years before they reach the level of the German repros

 

Brian

[Walter]

Walter,

 

Not to get carried away on another subject, but many of the German militaria collectors I know have quit the field now. They say that the fakes are getting just too advanced, and many of them can't even be identified easily by experts. Some even made on the original machinery. It is such a popular field that the fakers are becoming mind-blowingly good at what they do.

Stick with Japanese swords. Most of the fakes are still fairly easily spotted, and we have a good number of years before they reach the level of the German repros

 

Brian

Well Brian, you are absolutely right!

Even if can "smell' the fake German dagger from the distance, it's still a minefield.

I'm also tired of arguing with some people who come out-of-nowhere claiming to be the "seasoned collectors" and offering me single blade - obviously fake - telling the stories how "his father or grandfather removed this particular dagger from dead German soldier in Omaha Beach, Normandy."

When I ask what "soldier" would carry the Feldherrnhalle dress dagger into the combat and tell that dagger looks to me more like the Spanish poor copy, I'm always ended called "an ignorant", "idiot" ... or worse.

So I decided to keep some of my best pieces and move to Japanese swords area which looks to me for now "terra incognita" - pretty scary, huge field to explore (that's what I love in collecting!).