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WW2 Japanese sword Authentication

Andy Spohn

By Andy Spohn
in Military Swords of Japan

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Andy Spohn Apprentice

Andy Spohn

Posted
Posted

While deployed in WWII my grandfather was in a liberated city in which he found a Japanese sword. It has been handed down to me and I was hoping I could find out more about it. I’d like to find out if it’s a machine blade made or forged and who the made the sword. Is there any way to determine this information?

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted
7 minutes ago, Andy Spohn said:

While deployed in WWII my grandfather was in a liberated city in which he found a Japanese sword. It has been handed down to me and I was hoping I could find out more about it. I’d like to find out if it’s a machine blade made or forged and who the made the sword. Is there any way to determine this information?

 

Post up some pictures of the sword and we can help you out

ChrisW Veteran

ChrisW

Posted
Posted

Yes, but you need to take some good pictures and post them there. If possible, get us the following kind of pictures:

 

In mounts, sheathed.

Unsheathed.


IF it has a retaining pin in the handle, gently remove that pin and take the following:

 

Bare blade, end to end, with the blade collar removed.
Close up of the tang (nakago), both sides.

Close up of the tip (boshi)
Close up of any activity in the steel (Hada and hamon, which is the activity in the skin of the steel and the hard cutting edge respectively.)
 

Pictures of the other fittings.

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Andy Spohn Apprentice

Andy Spohn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hello, thanks for the quick response. Attached are the photos I could get of the sword. I got on wooden peg out of the handle but couldn’t see if there were any others.

 

I wasn’t able to get the handle off with mild pressure. How hard should I have to pull to get it off? I don’t want to break the handle or cause worse shape then it is already starting to get in (as you can see by the wrap on the handle.

 

thanks,

andy

IMG_2395.HEIC IMG_2389.HEIC

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted

I can't see the image format unfortunately on Android so I'll have to wait until I'm at my pc

 

The handle can be tough to get off if it's rusted inside (had one recently)

 

If the peg is out and you can see through it. Make sure the button is pressed in and you can use a good amount of force. Obviously stop if you feel like you'll damage it

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, Andy Spohn said:

When I have the peg pulled out, I can’t see through it, what should I do? What button are you referring to?

 

The button would be from a ww2 sword but since it's not ww2 it won't have a button so you can ignore that.

 

I was hoping when you pulled the peg out you could see through so there were no obstructions to stop you taking the handle off.

Andy Spohn Apprentice

Andy Spohn

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Would I be able to use a rubber mallet to tap the tsunami and try to get it off?

 

I also found a few dings in the blade but I am unsure how to get a high quality photo of them.

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted

Well interesting. That looks like a folded nakago. Orikaeshi

 

It's one way to keep the signature when shortening the nagako.

The filled semi circles are the old mekugi ana

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted

The mekugi ana is the hole that the mekugi (bamboo peg) goes through.

 

The nakago is the tang of the sword.

 

The mei is the signature.

 

Someone who reads Japanese better than myself will be able to translate it.

 

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted
37 minutes ago, Andy Spohn said:

Do recommend me using something to try and clean up the area where the signature is or leave it alone and do my best? If so, what do you recommend me using?

 

No leave it alone.

 

Don't clean anything or touch anything In general.

 

Don't rest anything on hard surfaces of possible.

 

And try not to touch the sword with your bare hands.

 The oils on your skin are damaging.

 

There are some care guides at the top of the forum in the links. Definitely no rubbing or cleaning 

 

Some clearer photos of the signature would be good. Other people will be along though who can tell you more than myself

 

Can you also take a photo of the whole sword without fittings in one shot. So the shape can be seen

Lareon Proficient

Lareon

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Andy Spohn said:

When you say a picture of the whole sword without the fittings, you mean with all the handle gear off?

Yeah with everything off

 

The handle is called the tsuka.

The hand guard is called the tsuba.

The scabbard is called the saya.

The fittings all together are called the koshirae.

 

 

 

 

PNSSHOGUN Grand Master

PNSSHOGUN

Posted
Posted

You may get better results in the Nihonto section. This could be quite a good sword, the fittings are Tachi style and of promising quality. The folded Mei was generally done for better quality smiths, the first character could be 勝 - Katsu

SteveM Grand Master

SteveM

Posted
Posted

It says 藤嶋 (Fujishima). It is a name used by a school of sword smiths: some great, some not so great. Judging from the orikaeshi mei, the signature on this sword is (or is trying to be) one of the older Fujishima smiths.

Be aware - there are a lot of fakes in the sword world. 

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