Type 98? (My cousin's)

[mtexter]

I went and visited my cousin today to see his inherited sword from our grandfather.  Pics attached. 

 

I think this is a type 98, I did not see any arsenal stamps or mon on it, and once again I got too carried away with looking at and cleaning the sword to take good pictures.  No engraved mei, but some kind of wax or red ink or something that someone could translate... Curious to know more about it.  Thanks!

[mtexter]

[PNSSHOGUN]

Yes, this is a later war Type 98 in "combat mounts", the scabbard would likely have had a leather cover originally. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Is it too late to get a clear picture of the tsuba? Also, a clear picture of the hamon, close-up?

 

The painted numbers - 843 - are assembly numbers put there by the shop that does the fittings.

[mtexter]

Yeah once again I have to apologize for the quality of pics.  I got too carried away with just looking at / enjoying it, and only actually took what you see above as an afterthought.  Next time I visit I'll get better ones and update here. 

The hamon was fairly indistinct and almost straight, following the ha very closely.  Would that be an indicator of being machine-made?   

 

I wish I would've concentrated more on the tsuba, I don't think I even inspected it in-hand very closely.  What sorts of things would you be looking for there Bruce?  I don't believe it had a mei or a stamped serial number, but I really didn't look as closely as I wish I would've now.

 

The blade was in remarkable shape in my eyes, just a few rust spots here and there.  It was nice to give it its first oil treatment since wartime.  It really felt like I put some life back into it, very rewarding

P.S. I am not sure why my brain forgot what paint was when I posted yesterday.  Wax or ink?  sheesh.

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 8/28/2020 at 12:14 PM, mtexter said:

.  What sorts of things would you be looking for there Bruce?

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This one doesn't seem to have the little swoopy, sculted lines at the edges like I'm used to seeing.  Ohmura's site shows that they were made without them.  I just haven't seen a real one, that I can remember.

[Dave R]

 Lots of variations on the Tuba, remember they were jobbed out to small manufacturers, and what even Mr Komiya calls "Mom and Pop businesses".