indentification

[CLM]

[SteveM]

藤原来國房

Fujiwara Rai Kunifusa

[CLM]

Thanks Steve

The sword is was described as a 1887 Pattern Kyu Gunto with old blade. It is an army  sword. In my very limited experience it appears to a hand made blade. So I'm guessing it it no so very old but 1920's, 30's or early 40's made sword but traditionally made?

 

Any luck with the other two?

[SteveM]

This is all I see. Are there others?

[Geraint]

Steve, if you click on Chris' profile the others are there.

 

Chris, for some reason your other swords show in your profile but not posted.  For best results try again with a new post for each sword.

 

All the best.

[CLM]

will do later in the day

thanks.

[CLM]

Can someone please help with identification with this sword.

[SteveM]

The visible parts say 備州長 (Bishū Osa-), then its cut off.

Bishū is a province name in feudal Japan. "Osa-" would be Osafune, which is a sword-producing region in Bishū province. 

[CLM]

Thanks Steve

 

The photo shows the complete notation. The tang has no other markings.

[CLM]

Steve

 

This sword has notations the length of the tang on both sides. This is the first of three photos showing one side, other two below. I'll follow with another post with three photos of the other side. 

 

 

[CLM]

Steve

 

Sorry you have become my go to expert. This is the other side of the tang, again three photos.

 

[SteveM]

Top one says

肥前國佐賀住藤原吉廣磨上

Hizen-no-kuni Saga-jū Fujiwara Yoshihiro suriage

Two possible meanings:

1. Yoshihiro of Saga in Hizen Province shortened this sword.

2. Yoshihiro of Saga in Hizen Province made this sword, and someone else shortened it (thus removing the original signature).

Hard to say without looking deeper into the sword.

 

Bottom one says

天明元年八月吉日
Tenmei gannen hachigatsu kichijitsu　
A lucky day in August 1781

[CLM]

Thank you Steve

Very excited if it dates to August 1781. The blade is 32 and 3/4'' and 26'' to the hilt/hand guard. Lovely to hold and a very active hamon. But also very clearly a WW2 handle and scabbard etc otherwise.

One last challenge for you is the picture below. I suspect a machine made sword in that the weight and feel are very different to the last two. That said I'm a novice.

With the last sword, when you say feudal Japan, Bishu Osafune, do you have any idea of age? suppose you need to see the blade?

Thank you again for your help. 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

4 hours ago, CLM said:

One last challenge for you is the picture below.

Chris,

Could I get some shots of the full sword and fittings on this one.  It is what we call a Java Sword.  The inscription saya "Shiyawaka Sumaran." If memory serves, we call 'Sumaran' Sumatra today.  Sumatra and Java aren't the same place, but they were close to each other.  They were making Japanese styled swords and the fittings are usually not as well made. 

 

[SteveM]

Shiawaka -> should be ジャワ刀　Jawa-tō (Java sword) 

 

I think "Shiawaka" is an error in Fuller and Gregory - it was discussed a while ago

 

 

[SteveM]

The sword dated Tenmei (1781) was probably a family heirloom sword that was outfitted with modern military fittings before the owner took it off to war. It was very common to do this. Could also be a forgery. At any rate, from what little we can see it looks like a real antique sword. 

 

For the sword that says Bishu Osa(fune), no idea of the age. Say 300+ years. 

 

 

[Kiipu]

These swords are practically nonexistent here in the United States so I am somewhat chagrined to see everybody else around the world owns one.  Fortunately, they show up in Indonesia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Australia from time to time.

Right Column:  ジャワ刀 = Jawa-tō = Java sword.

Left Column:  スマラン = Sumaran = Semarang.  A city 市 or province 州 in Central Java.

An Appraisal on Some Japanese Swords Please Sword Number 3

[Bruce Pennington]

10 hours ago, SteveM said:

Shiawaka -> should be ジャワ刀　Jawa-tō (Java sword) 

 

I think "Shiawaka" is an error in Fuller and Gregory - it was discussed a while ago

Ahhhh Sooo!  Yes, I forgot about that!  I've added the point in my files for future discussions!  Thanks Steve.

[CLM]

Thank you Steve

Very excited if it dates to August 1781. The blade is 32 and 3/4'' and 26'' to the hilt/hand guard. Lovely to hold and a very active hamon. But also very clearly a WW2 handle and scabbard etc otherwise.

One last challenge for you is the picture below. I suspect a machine made sword in that the weight and feel are very different to the last two. That said I'm a novice.

With the last sword, when you say feudal Japan, Bishu Osafune, do you have any idea of age? suppose you need to see the blade?

Thank you again for your help. 

 

 

[CLM]

ok, I'm attaching in a sequence of posts more pictures of the complete swords.

 

 

 

  

First up is the three older blades, closest to further away,

- Hizen-no-kuni Saga-ju Fujiwara Yoshihiro,

-Bishu Osafune,

- Fujiwara Rai Kunifusa

 

[CLM]

 

Hizen ....

 

[CLM]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hizen again

[CLM]

 

Bishu Osafune

 

 

[CLM]

 

Bishu Osafune

 

Bishu

[CLM]

Fujiwara Rai Kunifusa

 

 

[CLM]

Fujiwara Rai Kunifusa

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

The Hizen sword looks to be the pick of the bunch, good quality mounts, tassel and is there a silver mon on the handle as well? You have a fine beginning collection in one fell swoop.

[CLM]

 

 

The top one of these two is the Sumaran Java sword. The bottom one looks exactly like the example of the 1944 Shin Gunto on the military sword page of the www.japaneseworldindex.com/real/old.htm. But it has a really obvious Hamon so I'm thinking a gendaito blade. I haven't been anble to get the two screws out so a work in progress.

 

[CLM]

Two pictures here. both the Java sword.

 

 

[CLM]