Rob B Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Can someone please help me identify this sword? I found this in a house that I purchased along with many other WW2 items. It was in a wooden box. Trying to figure out the history and value of it. Thank you! 1 Quote
Polaria Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 It has shin gunto (army sword) style fittings. Tsuba and seppa (the stuff left in the box) seem to be all there. I cannot see the details on those but pommel and saya cap look like genuine items. Have you taken the handle of a looked if there are any markings in the blade tang? Also, I would much appreciate if you can take better pictures of the tsuba, seppa and the handle. 1 Quote
John C Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 The pierced tsuba could indicate it is a type 94. Type 94/98 swords were carried by officers. As to value, it would depend on the overall condition and the expertise of the sword smith (we need pics of the tang - both sides and any stamps). John C. 1 Quote
robinalexander Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Hello 'B' welcome , just need to remind you of Forum rules (from Home page under new members) .... Please note that we require all posts to be signed with at least a real first name. A name and initial makes it even easier. There are 2 ways to do this. Either remember to sign each of your posts with a name, or do what most do. Go into your profile, and edit your signature so that your name is automatically added to every post. 1 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 They look to be Suya Shoten fittings, so there's a chance of the blade being of decent quality. Clear photos of the tang & blade are needed for any further comment. 1 1 Quote
Rob B Posted November 18 Author Report Posted November 18 These are the only two I have right now. I will clean it up and take better pictures tonight Quote
ROKUJURO Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Rob, these photos are upside-down. Please take care NEVER to touch the steel of the blade with your bare hands! The carbon steel is very likely to develop rust (and lose value!). And please do not clean anything except with a dry soft cotton rag! 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 October 1941 Smith - Kanetoshi? 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Sword Care Guide: http://japaneseswordindex.com/care.htm 1 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Sword was probably made in october of 1941. 1 Quote
george trotter Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Smith's signature says NO-SHU KANE-TOSHI SAKU KORE (Kanetoshi of Noshu made this)...Noshu is the old name of Gifu Ken. I'm sure one of the members will give you some personal info on this smith. Regards. 1 1 Quote
mecox Posted November 18 Report Posted November 18 Murayama Kanetoshi, quite a good wartime smith. Pic from Slough book. 1 Quote
Rob B Posted November 19 Author Report Posted November 19 Some better pictures. Thank you all very very much for helping me with this. It is very much appreciated. 1 Quote
Rob B Posted November 19 Author Report Posted November 19 A little backstory on how I acquired this. I flip houses on the side. I found this box hidden inside of the duct run in the basement of a home. All I could see was the butt of the box. Great find! Acquired a good bit more WW2 items from this home as well. 1 1 Quote
Rob B Posted November 19 Author Report Posted November 19 20 hours ago, John C said: The pierced tsuba could indicate it is a type 94. Type 94/98 swords were carried by officers. As to value, it would depend on the overall condition and the expertise of the sword smith (we need pics of the tang - both sides and any stamps). John C. Got some updated pictures added. Thank you! Quote
Rob B Posted November 19 Author Report Posted November 19 19 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said: They look to be Suya Shoten fittings, so there's a chance of the blade being of decent quality. Clear photos of the tang & blade are needed for any further comment. I have some more pictures added now. Thank you! Quote
Rob B Posted November 19 Author Report Posted November 19 19 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said: They look to be Suya Shoten fittings, so there's a chance of the blade being of decent quality. Clear photos of the tang & blade are needed for any further comment. Thank you. Got them added. Quote
John C Posted November 19 Report Posted November 19 2 hours ago, Rob B said: Got some updated pictures added. Rob: Kanetoshi was an RJT smith, meaning some of his blades were hand made using tamahagane steel (we call these gendaito). Under a loupe or magnifier, does this mark look like a star shape? John C. 1 Quote
Polaria Posted November 19 Report Posted November 19 Thanks for the better photos. All the fittings look absolutely correct for officer shin gunto and seem to be a quite good condition, too. Congratulations on a good find! 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Tuesday at 04:55 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 04:55 PM Wow, John, you called it exactly right on the Suya shop! Rob, Suya Shoten was a quaility shop with a long history. You can read about them on the Nick Komiya thread: The Untold Story of Suya Shoten 1 Quote
Rob B Posted Tuesday at 09:16 PM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 09:16 PM 17 hours ago, John C said: Rob: Kanetoshi was an RJT smith, meaning some of his blades were hand made using tamahagane steel (we call these gendaito). Under a loupe or magnifier, does this mark look like a star shape? John C. I cant tell, unfortunately. It looks like something was there, but I can't make anything out whatsoever - so I don't know for sure. Quote
Rob B Posted Tuesday at 09:17 PM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 09:17 PM 4 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: Wow, John, you called it exactly right on the Suya shop! Rob, Suya Shoten was a quaility shop with a long history. You can read about them on the Nick Komiya thread: The Untold Story of Suya Shoten That's awesome! Quote
Rob B Posted Tuesday at 09:17 PM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 09:17 PM Any thoughts on possible value? Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Tuesday at 11:19 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 11:19 PM I am on my phone and will explain more when I can get to a computer, but I think that is an intentionally obliterated star. We have seen this before. Some people believe the star stamp is just another arsenal stamp and values the sword. Standard officer swords Are valued around $1200, but a star stamped JT blade is worth 1,800-2,000. 1 Quote
Conway S Posted Wednesday at 03:01 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 03:01 AM If Rob pulled this out of hidden duct in a house and it came with the bring-back box, isn't it safe to assume this came direct from a veteran and hence there would have been no attempt to remove a star stamp? Conway 3 3 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted Wednesday at 05:37 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 05:37 AM It does look like a spot of rust, also agree it's highly unlikely it was altered given the circumstances of how it was found. There is a character on the Tsuba: "中 - Naka", Suya are known to mark fittings with the officers surname. 1 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Wednesday at 01:44 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 01:44 PM Yeah, you guys a right. I do have a strong tendency to see things that I like looking for. There are a couple of "points" at top and to the right of the corrosion that looks like star points, but after comparing to several actuals, the points are out of proportion to be a star. 1 Quote
David Flynn Posted Thursday at 12:41 AM Report Posted Thursday at 12:41 AM I've seen a few Kanetoshi. All didn't have any stamps, and were very good swords. As far as I know, he didn't make Showato. 1 Quote
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