Japanese Vet Bring Back Ww2 Sword Help

[Mike A]

I'm looking for any information for this sword. A friend is looking for info on what he says his uncle brought back while serving in the navy during ww2. Any info is appreciated including value as he might be looking to sell it.

 

Mike A

[SteveM]

Possible to get a better shot of the entire mei (inscription?). In particular, the top part of the second picture is cut off, and I can't figure out what it says. Well, I can't figure out the rest of it either, but I'm hoping the top part gives me a clue. 

 

It looks like

(cut off from picture)国住孝光？作 Takamitsu ? saku

 

Takamitsu would be the name of the swordsmith, and the bit before that would be his location (Takamitsu from such-and-such province). The last part just means "made by", but there is a funny kanji before the last one, so it could mean something more than just "made by". (For example, "made by forging" "made by using some unique steel" "made by a unique method", etc...). 

 

The other side has the date of manufacture as 

昭和十一年九月日

September, 1936

 

And next to that is 行?記念 

In commemoration of - something. But I can't figure out the something. My guess is commemoration of going off to war, as the Japanese were engaged in China at the time, and, as you say, it is a wartime sword. I think the inscription should probably be something like 行陸記念, and the artist used an alternative, simplified kanji for 陸. But this is a guess. 

 

Also, one can't completely discount the possibility that this is some kind of imitation or fake sword. If a real WW2 sword, they go from anywhere between $500 or so, up to more than $5000 for the incredibly well-preserved and well-made swords. The one in your post is missing its proper scabbard, and it doesn't look like one of the high-end wartime swords, so I would guess this one would sell for south of $1000. But let's figure out the inscription first.

 

Oh, and forum rules are that posters must sign with a real name so that we know who we are talking to. 

[Mike A]

Thanks, I'll try to get a better picture of the inscription.  If there is anything else that needs a better picture of, please let me know.  I'm also hoping to get the story of it soon from him, unfortunately the uncle who he got the sword from pasted away and so part of the story may be lost to time but so far this is all very helpful and extremely interesting.  

 

Mike A

[SteveM]

Hi Mike,

I should have also said that I couldn't find any wartime smith with the name Takamitsu, so hopefully the rest of the inscription will point us in the right direction. 

[David Flynn]

It could be, Bungo (no) Kuni Mori Mitsu.

[ashibagou]

IMHO...

 

(?)国住幸光謹作 

行幸記念 (Emperor's Visit Celebration)

昭和十一年九月日

[Bruce Pennington]

The blade looks legit. I've balked on "writing" of this style because it looks like something etched on with a hot iron. I've seen this style before and guys at the time said it's completely legit method of marking blades.

 

I'd love to hear DaveR's thoughts on the koshirae. It looks like it spent some time in occupied lands and was refitted by locals.

 

The date is interesting as the "new" style was reintroduced in '34 right? So this is quite an early blade for a shingunto.

 

I like it.

 

Dave, you there?

[Dave R]

 Looking at the mounts, I reckon that they have been so badly abused as to be virtually worthless, and probably retrofitted. I have seen string wrapped WW2 swords before, one of them belonged in fact to divisional commander Lieutenant General Kensho, but generally they are the result of a bored matelot filling in time. The value and interest is all in the blade,.... and there is to me a lot of interest in this particular sword.

 

 There might be something under the string, as I think I can see black lacquered wood in places, but the lack of a tsuba etc makes me think this has been used as a machete or parang at some point and the string put on to hold it together.

 

 Below is a picture of Kensho's sword.

[PNSSHOGUN]

The blade condition doesn't look like it was used as a machete. That Generals sword is quite unique, do you have a higher resolution version of it?

[Dave R]

The blade condition doesn't look like it was used as a machete. That Generals sword is quite unique, do you have a higher resolution version of it?

 

This is all I have.

[Bruce Pennington]

Hm. Another one of those dual-holed tsuba - a square for a latch, and a round for a leather retention strap! And the hexagonal shaped saya! That's quite an item you've got there Dave.

[Dave R]

Hm. Another one of those dual-holed tsuba - a square for a latch, and a round for a leather retention strap! And the hexagonal shaped saya! That's quite an item you've got there Dave.

 

 Not mine, one I found on the internet....... But someone has a doozy. The tsuba is an Edo era item at a guess, and the saya a shirasaya in a field cover. Something of a story behind that one methinks.

[David Flynn]

A lot of talk about a crappy shirasaya.  Anyone else here interested in the blade, beside me?  Personally I would like to see more photos.