Any way to determine age of a Japanese Yari?

[harrison987]

Hey guys,

 

Not sure if this is the right forum.

I bought some items from the estate of a WW2 US Serviceman.  He brought a lot Tantos and other things back from Japan, and in the lot was this Yari Blade.

 

No markings at all that I can see, appears to be old.  I am trying to determine if this is something modern (made in the 1900s), or something older.

Thoughts or suggestions?
TIA

 

Mike

 

[Geraint]

Dear Michael.

 

This appears to be a perfectly genuine yari blade of a form that is usually called hira sankaku, that is triangular with one wide flat.  It is of course out of polish and please, whatever you do don't try to polish it as that will likely ruin it, it needs to be done by a properly trained specialist.  You might try rubbing the blade only with an oiled cloth, careful, yari are likely to bite!

 

As to age it is certainly pre 1900 but they are hard to date so a safe statement would be Edo period which covers about 1600 to 1850. One tip, pardon the pun, is that the part where the blade flairs out to the shoulder above the tang, called the kerakubi, is a little long which sometimes suggest an older blade.

 

I'm sure I speak for us all when I ask, how about the tanto?

 

All the best.

[Gilles]

The explanation given by Geraint tell everything. Yes, this yari is a real old one. I agree that it is from EDO era given the shape of the blade.

Can you post pictures of the tantos ?

[Jacques D.]

A classic sankaku yari, it could have been made in any era.

[harrison987]

Thanks guys!

For some reason, I did not get notifications of the replies, so excuse the delay.

is there any sort of reference for values for this sort of thing? Do not worry, I won't polish it...haha

 

The Tantos were not as interesting.  Photos are below

 

Bone one I assume is 1920s, the others maybe 1850-1945.  Quality not so good.

 

Mike

 

 

Mike