Horii Hideaki Kai Gunto

[Newsword1]

[Newsword1]

Hey everyone! Sword novice here with a sword to share and some questions to ask! This sword has been in the family since 1945 and that’s just about all I know about it.

 

i’ve seen some similar swords posted here and was curious if any of y’all knew anything else about this piece? I’m intrigued and would love to know more 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's what Sesko has on him:

"TOSHIHIDE (俊秀), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Hokkaidō – “Ōmi no Kuni Shiga Tarō Minamoto Hideaki” (近江国志賀太郎源秀明), “Minamoto Toshihide” (源俊秀), “Zuisen Horii Toshihide” (瑞泉堀井俊秀), real name Horii Kaneyoshi (堀井兼吉), he was born on the second day of the third month Meiji 19 (明治, 1886) in the village of Shimosaka (下坂) in Shiga Prefecture, 1905 he entered an apprenticeship under Horii Taneaki (堀井胤明), he signed in early years with Hideaki (秀明), a name that was granted to him in 1913 by the NBTHK, 1911 he married the daughter of Taneaki and was adopted into the Horii family, thereupon he changed his name to Shiga Tarō (志賀太郎), the name change of the smith name to Toshihide took place in December 1933 with the birth of emperor Akihito (明仁) because he refrained out of respect from using the same character of “Aki” (明), he died in 1943, shinpin no retsu (Akihide), Special Honor Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)"

 

Your blade is dated June 1929, so pretty early for a WWII smith.  

 

The sword is a Type 97 Japanese Naval officer's sword.  You can read about them on Ohmura's site here: Naval Commissioned Officers Sword - Ohmura

The tsuba (handguard) is civilian, so unusual to see on a Navy kaigunto.  Maybe it was something the officer brought from home.

[robinalexander]

Bruce @Bruce Pennington I'm a bit confused here.

 

What's going on with the 'kanji' on the blade?  Typically, non-Japanese?

 

Other aspects worry me too.

[Brian]

Not unusual for that time period to have kanji on the blade, usually patriotic saying. The sword is legit.

[robinalexander]

Tks Brian...enlightened yet again.

[Newsword1]

@Bruce Pennington @Brian— thank you so much Bruce & Brian! The entire family is geeking out over this info! 
 

are there any other sources yall could reccomend for research? We’d love to know more and translate the kanji on the blade

[mecox]

Jason, there's a good story here for the family. The blade is made in 1929 from steel (reworked) from the Japanese battleship Mikasa damaged is a 1904 sea battle with Russia.  War ended in 1905 Japan victorious. 

There has been good discussion around this as many swords and dirks made in 1928 to 1932 same metal to commemorate.   But its likely the blade and tsuba were refitted to the naval mounts as they were not introduced until 1937.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

This is a very good sword Jason, Hideaki was one of the very best smiths of the Taisho & Showa era's. He forged many special swords for Naval officers and your example is no exception, being one made using steel from the Mikasa gun barrel. The mounts are very good quality, there appears to be a family crest (Mon) on the handle if you could please take a picture of that? The writing on the wood of the handle may refer to this Mon, or if you're rather lucky, the Japanese officers surname.

http://ohmura-study.net/912.html

 

Do you have any further information about how your family member acquired it during the war?

[KungFooey]

2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Hideaki (秀明), a name that was granted to him in 1913 by the NBTHK, 

Hey Bruce!

 

I'm a little confused - I thought the NBTHK itself was formed in 1948?

 

Thank,

Dee

[oli]

42 minutes ago, KungFooey said:

Hey Bruce!

 

I'm a little confused - I thought the NBTHK itself was formed in 1948?

 

Thank,

Dee

i think this is a typo in the book from Markus Sesko, Japanese Swordsmiths 

Maybe another Organisation?

[KungFooey]

4 hours ago, oli said:

i think this is a typo in the book from Markus Sesko, Japanese Swordsmiths 

Maybe another Organisation?

Maybe the NTHK?

[Bruce Pennington]

8 hours ago, robinalexander said:

What's going on with the 'kanji' on the blade?

Brian and Mal answered it, but just adding that it is rare, but not unheard-of.  I've seen good luck slogans, Buddhist notations, horimono, even school graduation notations.

 

5 hours ago, KungFooey said:

I'm a little confused - I thought the NBTHK itself was formed in 1948?

Oliver got it.  All the high-tech spell checking, and other software can't help us if we type something wrong that's spelled right!  

[Newsword1]

@PNSSHOGUN — unfortunately, we have no information on how the sword was acquired. 
 

here’s a few pics of the crest found on the handle 

[Newsword1]

[Kiipu]

16 hours ago, robinalexander said:

What's going on with the 'kanji' on the blade?

 

It relates to the Battle of Tsushima.  The link below is courtesy of SteveM, who cited it in a previous Mikasa thread.

Z flag

[robinalexander]

Very interesting thanks Thomas.

[robinalexander]

Hi Jason @Newsword1 , this is the possible Mon (crest) John was referring to.

[Sam Smith]

Congratulations, Jason, this is a very rare Mikasa sword. According to Ohmura's records, only 229 of these swords were produced, and some sank in the Pacific Ocean. It's incredibly fortunate to be able to purchase one; I'm almost envious, haha. The Chinese characters on the blade roughly translate to "The rise and fall of the imperial was fought here." By the way, it's possible that the TSUBA of this sword has been replaced.