Kwakernaak Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 Hi fellow collectors. Got this sword in today. One of those with that "been to war" feel to it. Just love that. It also came with the leather cover for the Tsuka. I think the maker is Kanemichi, as I found the signature on page 47 in the book of John Scott Slough. Not so sure if its more valuable because of this?? The blade is original polish, but the hamon can still be seen as is quite nice. A couple of things I noticed that I did not see before (but might be common??). On the tang there is a painted mark. I found exactly the same mark inside the mounth of the Saya, and in the month of the Tsuka. I assume that the bades were sent to saya makers to get outfitted, and they marked each item with their own number/mark to keep things together?? More unusual to me is the mark on the tang under the Habaki. Can anybody tell me what the mark means, or why it is there?? I have never seen this before.. On last question: Can somebody translate the reverse inscription on the tang? Is there a year and place of manufacture?? Any help appreciated. Hope you like the pics. Thanks in advance, Peter Jan. Quote
Stefan Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 Seems to be a name. Wada ? Greets Stefan Quote
Stegel Posted January 17, 2017 Report Posted January 17, 2017 I hate this what i call chicken scratchings for kanji, typical of mass produced ww2 blades, not as clear and easy to read. (at least for my eye) I'm sure someone will be able to read it and get back to you... my gueass is showa 12 (1937) or possibly 13?? Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 18, 2017 Report Posted January 18, 2017 Peter, The small stamp at the top of the nakago is the "Showa" stamp, put on military blades made during the war in the non-traditional manner. The painted kanji are numbers - 5701 - and like you said, were used to keep parts together, since almost all officer gunto were of varying sizes and shapes. So once parts were fitted to each other, they were able to keep them together even if seperated, like for final polishing. I can normally read date kanji, but this one has me stumped! Nice find. the complete leather set is fairly rare! Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 18, 2017 Report Posted January 18, 2017 On 1/17/2017 at 8:39 PM, Kwakernaak said: . More unusual to me is the mark on the tang under the Habaki. Can anybody tell me what the mark means, or why it is there?? I have never seen this before.. Thanks in advance, Peter Jan. Hello, My guess would be that these are assembly marks. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 18, 2017 Report Posted January 18, 2017 I think it is a name on the nakago mune! I've posted it on the "Translation help" forum and will update as soon as I get word. Quote
george trotter Posted January 18, 2017 Report Posted January 18, 2017 The date is KIGEN 2 thousand 6 hundred and 1 year (1941) a system used to proclaim the number of years since the foundation of the Empire 660BC. The name? behind the munemachi is Wada something (can't tell if the next character is one character or two)...I think this is one for Morita sensei. Hope this helps, 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 18, 2017 Report Posted January 18, 2017 From SteveM on the Translations forum: Members 659 posts LocationTokyo, Japan Posted Today, 12:43 AM 和田護 Wada Mamoru ↑ My best guess. The Wada is obvious. The bottom name, not so much due to the balance being wrong for 護. Still, its the closest I could find without digging into the really obscure kanji. George - Thanks! I keep forgetting about that dating method. Do you think there is significance when this method is used, like the blade is made special by it? Or was it just the popular method of dating leading up to the war, then as the production demands increased, it became quicker to use the Showa dating? Quote
george trotter Posted January 19, 2017 Report Posted January 19, 2017 Hi Bruce, No, it is just one of three dating systems seen on WWII period tangs KIGEN, and KOKI both use the 2600 year = 1940 cycle and of course the most common is Showa (current Imperial reign) cycle. Koki is shown in Slough p.164 and others and Kigen is shown on p.79 and others. Regards, 1 Quote
Kwakernaak Posted January 19, 2017 Author Report Posted January 19, 2017 Gentlemen, Thank you all very much for your comments. Highly appreciate the feedback and translations. Nice to see the blade is marked with name. I assume its the name of the former owner. Makes the sword just a bit more personal.. Thanks again, Peter Jan Quote
Kwakernaak Posted January 20, 2017 Author Report Posted January 20, 2017 David, I was referring to the name Wada Momura on top of the tang. I assume this is not the maker. That should be Kanemichi right? I am assuming the second name would be of the owner, or would this assumption not be reasonable? Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 20, 2017 Report Posted January 20, 2017 It is most likely the polisher, but no way to really know. You can read the full discussion your inscription here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21519-name-on-nakago-mune/ Quote
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