Translation Help: Battle Damaged Blade

[chgruener]

Hello all,

 

This sword is in my personal collection and I was wondering if someone could identify the smith and possibly the age of the blade. I’m assuming that this is a fairly “new” blade, being made in the 1940s, but it does seem to have been remounted once before being damaged. Based on the damage, it does appear that the blade took a direct hit from a bullet which was subsequently split in two. You can see the channels formed by the two halves, one exiting cleanly off to the right and the other to the left. 

See Imgur link for more detailed photos.

 https://imgur.com/a/Nrvm5ms

[Ray Singer]

Baba Tsugukiyo 

[Fusilier]

Thanks for sharing Christopher, great sword and very evocative. As I said on my own thread, I'm no forensic ballistics expert but that doesn't look like a bullet strike to me, its looks far more like shrapnel damage and unfortunately for the officer carrying it, he'd almost certainly have caught some of it.  I'm sorry I can't help with the translation but I'm sure one of these guys will be able to assist, they are guns when it comes to translating these inscriptions. 

[Bruce Pennington]

That's a gorgeous habaki, Christopher!  Any stamps above the mei or a date on the other side? or stamped numbers at the end?

[chgruener]

32 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

That's a gorgeous habaki, Christopher!  Any stamps above the mei or a date on the other side? or stamped numbers at the end?

Thank you, Bruce. Nothing else from my observations. Just the signature as photographed. 

[chgruener]

42 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

That's a gorgeous habaki, Christopher!  Any stamps above the mei or a date on the other side? or stamped numbers at the end?

Bruce, this is a photo of the other side. I also now realize that there may be a number “2”.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ok, no date, thanks!

[robinalexander]

1 hour ago, chgruener said:

Based on the damage, it does appear that the blade took a direct hit from a bullet which was subsequently split in two

Worth pics on thread 

[Bruce Pennington]

13 hours ago, chgruener said:

I also now realize that there may be a number “2”

Just saw this, Christopher.  Hm!  Is it an inked stamp number 2?  If so, I've never seen one like it.  Are the other metal fittings stamped with a 2?

[chgruener]

On 8/12/2024 at 8:37 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Just saw this, Christopher.  Hm!  Is it an inked stamp number 2?  If so, I've never seen one like it.  Are the other metal fittings stamped with a 2?

Bruce, it looks stamped rather than inked. I did not look for any other numbers but none stood out to me.

[Bruce Pennington]

54 minutes ago, chgruener said:

stamped

Ok, I see it.  Must have some yellow paint in it.

 

I just realized we are talking about the RJT smith Tsugukiyo.  I have a few of his blades on file, many without star, but many with stamped numbers.  Some have a "saka + number" on the nakago mune (back edge of tang).

 

Have you checked the back edge of the nakago for stamps?  As for a star, it would be above the mei (might have to remove all fittings to see it), however with no date, it's unlikely to have a star stamp. 

 

Let me know what you find!

[chgruener]

31 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Ok, I see it.  Must have some yellow paint in it.

 

I just realized we are talking about the RJT smith Tsugukiyo.  I have a few of his blades on file, many without star, but many with stamped numbers.  Some have a "saka + number" on the nakago mune (back edge of tang).

 

Have you checked the back edge of the nakago for stamps?  As for a star, it would be above the mei (might have to remove all fittings to see it), however with no date, it's unlikely to have a star stamp. 

 

Let me know what you find!

Just took another look, no star anywhere or other numbers.