cju777 Posted February 25, 2024 Report Posted February 25, 2024 (edited) I recently had a blade return from Woody Hall. There is a bit of a wait, like all togishi, but his communication and work were fantastic and I would highly recommend him to those in the US. Now that it is back, sharing with the NMB. The blade has a history on NMB… it was first posted by a newcomer who stirred things up and to save Brian’s stress levels I won’t link to the old posts. Despite that... I was interested in the blade’s connection to the Burma-Thailand railway and how was taken back as a “war trophy” by a Dutch POW who worked on the rail. I spent a tour in Thailand and was fortunate enough to visit the Australian hosted dawn ceremony at a museum they have on the Thai side. The blade showed some promise, and was signed and dated, and had a good chance (IMHO) of being shoshin. So, I took a gamble on it. I reached out to Woody, and about a year later now have it back in hand! And to head off any concerns – I liked the old shirasaya’s character so I had the interior refurbished so that it could be reused, rather than a whole new shirasaya made—so no, it is not back in the “old” interior after a fresh polish. Without further ado- a wakizashi Bizen Osafune jū Yokoyama Sukesada-saku Tomonari 58 Daimago Ansei 7th Year (1860) 2 Month (February) Day 備前長船住横山祐包作 友成五十八代孫 安政七年二月日 Before… And after… For the militaria folks here – the current owner provided a copy of the original POW’s memoir of his time in captivity, with some hand drawings and a service ribbon from the Dutch military. Edited February 25, 2024 by cju777 Typos galore 6 2 Quote
atm Posted February 25, 2024 Report Posted February 25, 2024 That’s quite a history—thanks for sharing! 1 Quote
cju777 Posted February 25, 2024 Author Report Posted February 25, 2024 The mei and date - On my computer they are the correct orientation, I don't know why they keep turning here on the board... I turned, re-saved a couple times. I'll keep working at it... 1 Quote
cju777 Posted February 25, 2024 Author Report Posted February 25, 2024 Topic adjacent, but the trip that built my own connection to this particular blade. Hellfire pass in the early morning darkness, a memorial to the POW units, and the Bridge on the River Kwai. 4 Quote
David Flynn Posted February 25, 2024 Report Posted February 25, 2024 Australian Dawn Service, not Austrian. 1 1 Quote
cju777 Posted February 25, 2024 Author Report Posted February 25, 2024 22 minutes ago, David Flynn said: Australian Dawn Service, not Austrian. Always a typo - thank you Dave! I meant no insult to the Aussies - they were my best friends over there. My kids even went to the Australian School. 1 Quote
Stephen Posted February 25, 2024 Report Posted February 25, 2024 A school I study, defiantly their cut of the mei. 1 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted February 25, 2024 Report Posted February 25, 2024 Chris, is it really Bizen Osafune jū Yokoyama Sukesaka, or more likely SUKESADA ? 1 Quote
cju777 Posted February 25, 2024 Author Report Posted February 25, 2024 16 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said: Chris, is it really Bizen Osafune jū Yokoyama Sukesaka, or more likely SUKESADA ? All the typos! My eyes might be going. Quote
Michaelr Posted February 26, 2024 Report Posted February 26, 2024 Very nice. Your story just inforces what I have been taught, the blade picks you- you don’t pick the blade. Thank you for sharing and congratulations. MikeR 1 Quote
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