Type 98 Army Sword

[EdWolf]

Hi to all,

Something to share with you. I have recently bought this Type 98 army sword. The blade is an old traditional blade, signed Bishu Osafune ???. The last part of the Nagako is cut off to fit the military mountings. On the Tsuka is a family crest but the symbol is removed. I hope you all like it. Feel free to comment.

Regards,

Ed

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Ed, that's a real beauty! You probably already know, but they often defaced the mon when surrendering them to avoid family shame for the surrender.

[EdWolf]

Hi Bruce, thank you very much! I have heard about it but for me this is the first sword where the the mon is defaced. Thanks for bringing this up.

Regards, Ed

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes. Sure sign it was surrendered by the officer would carried it!

[Shamsy]

That really is a lovely sword Ed. Fabulous fitting and that same and ito... Beautiful work! Must have been a wealthy individual!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Very high quality Same indeed. High quality example, good buy.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning all.,

 

Looking at the shape of the defaced cartouche, it may have contained Kanji script specific to the Officer and not a Kamon.

 

(I think there's an illustration of one in Fuller and Gregory)

 

Very nice Koshirae!!!

[EdWolf]

Thanks for all the kind replies. The quality of the fittings is beautiful and high grade when compared to my other army sword. Also, the blade is almost 5 cm (2 inch) longer.

 

@Malcolm

Do you mean that the family name of the officer is written in kanji on the mon?

 

Does anyone have a picture of this?

 

Regards,

Ed

[Baka Gaijin]

Yes Ed,

 

The family name in two Kanji Characters, usually in standard script, easily readable, hence perhaps the desire to remove more than a Kamon which had become more generic by Showa period.

 

Here's an example and note the shape of the cartouche to accomodate the twin Kanji.

 

https://www.antique-swords.eu/P77-WW2-Japanese-Showato-Shin-Gunto-Family-Mon.html

 

Years ago, I was told that sometimes the "Tensho" (篆書) style seal script  was used, but I have never seen an example.

[EdWolf]

Hi Malcolm,

Thank you very much for posting. I find this very fascinating.

Regards,

Ed

[vajo]

Very very nice Sword Ed. Congratulation for the buy.

Beautifull mountings.

[Windy]

Yes Ed,

 

The family name in two Kanji Characters, usually in standard script, easily readable, hence perhaps the desire to remove more than a Kamon which had become more generic by Showa period.

 

Here's an example and note the shape of the cartouche to accomodate the twin Kanji.

 

https://www.antique-swords.eu/P77-WW2-Japanese-Showato-Shin-Gunto-Family-Mon.html

 

Years ago, I was told that sometimes the "Tensho" (篆書) [/size]style seal script  was used, but I have never seen an example.

Here's my standard mon. Quite obvious difference in cartouche shape.

[EdWolf]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for sharing. That’s also a very fine sword. So, circular shape is a family crest, rectangular shape kanji family name?

Regards,

Ed

[Windy]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for sharing. That’s also a very fine sword. So, circular shape is a family crest, rectangular shape kanji family name?

Regards,

Ed

I'd say so, but by no means am I an expert on this.

[EdWolf]

Maybe the more experienced collectors can jump in?

Regards, Ed

[PNSSHOGUN]

Silver Mon are quite varied, many are indeed legitimate old Samurai family crests and rightfully used by the Officer. However it was also common for soldiers to simply invent Kamon or Kanji Mon for whatever purpose, and these we do see on Gunto. Usually it is the Kanji type that are more....adventurous in terms of Mon "legitimacy".

 

Mon are also widely shared between many families, or subtle variations on a Mon indicate a completely different family connection. From my experience presence of a Mon usually coincides with highe quality Koshirae and/or Blades.

[paul griff]

Hello,

Very nice sword Ed..Just the way I like them,original,nice patina and classy..Well done...!

Regards,

Paul..