ww2 Japanese officers sword this old family blade in ww2 mounts

[Swords]

I saw this sword and thought interesting provided price

Only draw back is there’s no signature and a short tang probably cut down to fit in army mounts 
The hada looks interesting 

Any comments welcome 

[Bruce Pennington]

Nice all brown tassel!  Also interesting to see how they put paper under the ashi.

 

@Bruce Pennington

[Swords]

Hi Bruce not sure what you mean? I looked along  near the cutting edge 

 

 

 

Steve

[Geraint]

Dear Steven.

 

I think Bruce is referring to the way that the hanger on the scabbard has had some packing underneath it.  Hard to tell very much from these images but I don't see this as cut down, rather just another mekugi ana drilled to work with the gunto mount.  Looks interesting but I would love to see what the boshi does.

 

All the best.

[Swords]

one of my concerns is there’s no locking device only a Tsuba for a strap

I’m trying to get some more   pictures 

 

 

 

 

 

Stece 

 

 

 

[Geraint]

Dear Steve.

 

Here's a thought, and it is just a thought.  Perhaps the saya was original to the blade and had fittings abd a combat cover added which would account for the need for packing under the ashi once the cover had disintegrated and also would account for the lack of a catch, just the leather tab originally?

 

All the best.

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, it even looks too big for the saya, I think Geraint is right.

 

Here's the padding under the ashi:

[robinalexander]

Hi Steve,

 

With respect, if you are seeking meaningful and accurate comments, then you really need to provide clear pictures.  No problem with the quantity, but the quality is just not good. 

 

From what I see, I love the hamon but I am a sucker for artistic expression.

 

Blade aside, is the saya metal or wood? .....weird colour....it looks wooden but pls correct me if I'm wrong.  If its wooden, it may mean the ashi, semegane and ishizuki have been 'stuck on'.

 

Whether metal or wood, it most likely had a leather combat cover...accordingly, snug habaki fit with holed tsuba for leather retention clip and no locking pin.  Fuchi appears to be normal design (albeit non-military) for a leather clip retained saya.

 

When fitted with a combat cover the ashi grips the wood or metal saya (under the leather).  Therefore, whether the saya is wood or metal, the apparent ill fitting ashi looks more like a 'post' add on.  Wood does shrink, but not that much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Rather than paper padding, it appears there are two zipties holding it on.

[Stephen]

  On 7/7/2023 at 2:33 PM, PNSSHOGUN said:

Rather than paper padding, it appears there are two zipties holding it on.

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Good eye. We all were concentrating on the padding I didn't notice a big nubs at the bottom

[vajo]

From the nakago i would say its an o-wakizashi or shortend Katana.

The hamon is interesting. 

Can we see the naked sword without the fittings? The lines are sharp and the polish looks fine to me. 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 7/7/2023 at 2:33 PM, PNSSHOGUN said:

Rather than paper padding, it appears there are two zipties holding it on.

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  On 7/7/2023 at 4:34 PM, Stephen said:

Good eye. We all were concentrating on the padding I didn't notice a big nubs at the bottom

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Dang!  I noticed the bulky-ness at the bottom, but was focusing on other stuff, and didn't pursue.  

 

Steve - @Swords - if these are zip ties, what is the structure of the hanger ring above, that they are holding onto???

[Swords]

Very interesting comments zip ties paper under hanger I missed that 

Im a little confused regarding the comment of ashi, semegane and ishizuki have been 'stuck on'.?

I agree with wood saya and no cover that would explain the added hanger via paper or ties

 and holed Tsuba for a strap Good detective work guys

Aside all that the hamon looks intriguing for a older sword If I get additional pictures I will post them

 

I was offered 1300 but now I’m not sure if it’s worth it with these issues 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Swords]

I meant 1500 not 1300 

[robinalexander]

  On 7/7/2023 at 7:58 PM, Swords said:

Im a little confused regarding the comment of ashi, semegane and ishizuki have been 'stuck on'.?

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Steven, In context, I said that if the saya is wooden "it may mean" that parts are stuck on. 

 

My reasoning for this possibility is that a wooden saya with a non-military kuchigane and fitted with a leather combat saya would typically be bare timber with no other fittings.  (I'm leaving wooden/ishimi saya's out of this).

 

But again, if the pics were better, I'm sure you would receive better comment.... for instance, many of us just missed two wopping cable ties in the first pic.

[Tensho]

Saya is strange to me. Looks to have a koiguchi of sorts? The haikan looks to be the kind that are usually found under leather combat covers(picture attached) so not sure what the zip ties are accomplishing??

 

The Semegane looks iron and is not one I'd associate with gunto mounts(there are exceptions usually on higher class ones) The ishizuke seems like a weird addition as well if it had a combat cover originally. 

 

Also, has 3 seppa for sure, maybe 4. An odd amount for something like this. I'm usually skeptical of people who sell several WWII mounted blades(If wanting it to be all original is a big deal for you) I would price it on the blade(which I like) more than the mounts. Just my 2 cents. 

[Swords]

Firstly I appreciate everyone’s feedback 

Im in agreement with the cover disintegrated or removed why who knows 

That  leaves the saya with added mounts 

and zip ties Or is this saya for a different sword?

But then it wouldn’t fit so maybe original 

The hada is remarkable I don’t like hodge pod parts added on 

I asked for pictures but never got any so I don’t think we should waste any more time on this sword unless someone is interested in pursuing it further

 

It’s not my sword and  I can’t get any additional pictures  from the seller 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve
 

 

[Ooitame]

Hard to say if the Saya was for another sword. Fittings can lose grip over time rather then re-attching in a traditional manner, seems Zip ties were their choice. I would take a closer look at the ware in the mune, shinogi-ji.