Japanese sword taken from Iwo Jima

[Michael mahoney]

I’d like to get your opinion on this

[Robbin]

Looks intriguing.  I think better photos are in order...  Can you get more shots in focus and more areas of the blade / fittings etc.?

 

[Misconstrued]

This isn't a gunto. This appears to be much older than that. I can't translate the signature for you, others will tell you more. More photos would be appreciated!

[xiayang]

丹波守藤原照門 = Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado

[Geraint]

Dear Mike.

 

Forgive me if you know this alredy but don't clean anything!  Wipe the blade with some light oil and cloth but nothing more.  When you look up Tanba no kami Terukado you will find lots of information.  He was working in the 1600s.

However there is always the possibility of this being an incorrect signature so don't get too excited just yet.  Give us some more pictures and we will see where  this goes.

 

Welcome to the complex world of Japanese swords!

 

ALl the best.

[ROKUJURO]

Michael,

and when you post photos, please show them always tip-up, especially the NAKAGO (= tang).

[Michael mahoney]

On 6/2/2022 at 2:41 PM, Lanegan said:

Looks intriguing.  I think better photos are in order...  Can you get more shots in focus and more areas of the blade / fittings etc.?

 

[Michael mahoney]

[Michael mahoney]

[Michael mahoney]

On 6/3/2022 at 6:25 AM, Geraint said:

Dear Mike.

 

Forgive me if you know this alredy but don't clean anything!  Wipe the blade with some light oil and cloth but nothing more.  When you look up Tanba no kami Terukado you will find lots of information.  He was working in the 1600s.

However there is always the possibility of this being an incorrect signature so don't get too excited just yet.  Give us some more pictures and we will see where  this goes.

 

Welcome to the complex world of Japanese swords!

 

ALl the best.

[Michael mahoney]

On 6/2/2022 at 2:41 PM, Lanegan said:

Looks intriguing.  I think better photos are in order...  Can you get more shots in focus and more areas of the blade / fittings etc.?

 

I added pictures what do you guys think I was thinkin 

About getting the blade re-chromedAbout getting the blade re-chromed

[dschumann]

Not sure of your knowledge level, but the blades aren't chromed; they are polished in a special manner.

 

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Mike, right now is a good time to stop doing anything to your blade. There is a huge gap in your knowledge, & you need to fill it with some studying.

 

I suggest heading over to Amazon, where $20 will buy you https://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Sword-Handbook-John-Yumoto/dp/4805311347  which is a good primer for this very complex field.

[Jacques D.]

Mei reads Tanba no kami Fujiwara Terukado 丹波守藤原照門 but this sword is gimei (false signature). A proper polishing would be more expensive than the real value of this blade. 

 

Terukado used a particular nakago jiri even if it had different variants

 

http://world.seiyudo.com/product/swa-090221/

[Bruce Pennington]

After re-looking at your photos, I see why you are talking about chrome!  Looks like chunks of it have flaked off.  Better pics, more clearly focused of these areas would help.

 

There was a short period early in the war when they experimented with chromed blades.  I have one myself.  But they found it didn't prevent rusting, like they thought, so it was discontinued.  If this was in fact chromed, I'm not sure I would attempt to have it re-chromed, but that is a personal preference.  I simply oil mine to stop the rusted areas.