Yayoi period bronze sword hosogata-doken with shokkaku-shiki tsukagashira hilt.

[GrozaB]

Kind of Nihonto related - Yayoi period bronze sword hosogata-doken with shokkaku-shiki tsukagashira hilt. Most likely older replica. Previous owner purchased this one in early 70-s serving in Okinawa, so it is not modern "made in china" for sure. Blades of hosogata-doken was excavated in many places all over Japan in numbers, but hilts are very rare - as far as I know only 4 intact ones was sound so far. Those swords come to Japan from Korea in Yayoi period and was used well into the Kofun period mostly as ritual objects, not as real weapon. Blades almost never was sharpened.  Unlike early bronze age weapons, this antenna-hilts was cast from 4-8 separate pieces joined together.  Most of swords of this type was excavated in Korea and south-east Siberia. One found in 2006 in Siberia is almost a twin brother down to the casting flaws.  Selling as REPLICA, so priced accordingly $300+ shipping

[Toryu2020]

Thats pretty cool, even for a replica.

-t

[ChrisW]

Reminds me of Luristan bronze swords. Beautiful piece.

[GrozaB]

10 minutes ago, ChrisW said:

Luristan bronze swords

No, Luristan bronze is completely different. I collect antique bronze and have few Luristan pieces. Back in Bronze Age bronze was VERY expensive,  at some periods more expensive then gold. so all early Bronze Age weapons was very light. On Far East real Bronze Age started very late, almost on the same time with Iron Age. Plus supply of tin was just around the corner, in Burma. So all Chines/Korean/Japanese bronze almost always very thick and heavy.  

[GrozaB]

51 minutes ago, Toryu2020 said:

Thats pretty cool, even for a replica.

I had this one for few years. eBay is flooded with cheap Chinese "antique bronze swords", but I never saw another "Violin dagger" or "Slim dagger" like this. IMHO, it is great conversation piece and very high quality replica for display. And, of course, it is VERY slim chance this one is original.  It was brought from Japan before fake bronze artifacts become mass-produced in China

[GrozaB]

 Very similar one on page 16 of Markus Sesko Koshirae book

[ChrisW]

Well of course they're very different, completely different times and cultures. They're just reminiscent. Just like how a Kabyle flyssa reminds me vaguely of a Laz Bichaq. They have similar typologies, but are wholly different.

In any case, its a beautiful piece! How do you display it? I once attempted to win a Luristan dagger from a 1960's era collection that was mounted in a very lovely standing display... didn't get it sadly, slipped through my fingers.

[GrozaB]

I have 3 year old daughter, so displaying anything in the house become bit tricky - no matter how high I will put it she will move the chair and get it... 

But most of my bronze in displaying cases I get years ago, when I was living in Chicagoland. It was old gentleman making them and selling at the gunshow.

[GrozaB]

SOLD. Please move to archive