Bird's Head Tachi

[Birdhead]

Apologies if you've seen this kind of thing before, we're looking for some opinions on what this sword might be. 

My grandfather brought it back from the war. 

From my novice research, I would guess it was made during the war or shortly before.

It does have a signature, "Ippei Yasuyo." 

I understand that this was a smith of high renown and that the likelihood of this signature being genuine is small. 

My grandfather sent a rubbing of the engraving to the NBTHK in 1960 and they merely replied that it reads Ippei Yasuyo and gave some details about the era and place where he worked.

I'm not sure whether this was simply a literal translation of the signature or if it was intended to confer some kind of authenticity. 

Even if it's gimei, we're still excited to learn more about what the sword may be. 

 

I'm attaching some pictures and hoping to get some more detailed pictures soon. 

 

 

This thread - 

 

Has a very similar example. The handle looks virtually identical, suggesting the fittings at least were mass produced (although the tsuba looks slightly different.)

[Bruce Pennington]

You'll find several examples this this style Here:

Though, I cannot tell you the history of it.  I believe it goes way back in time.  The bird is a pheasant, I think.

[Brian]

Whether gimei or not, swords in these mounts have considerable interest, and it is definitely worth looking after and having checked out. I would see if I can take it to one of the various US sword shows, and get some eyes on it.
I would expect this predates WW2 quite a bit.

[Birdhead]

I've got some closer pictures. The condition seems pretty bad.

What do you think? Would this be worth taking to an expert to get appraised and restored?

Edited January 12 by Birdhead
forgot a picture

[Brian]

Condition is faaar from bad. Minimal rust (get some oil on that blade) and a visible hamon. Enough to enjoy as is, until someone wants to spring for a proper polish if it warrants it.
Where in the US are you, so we can see if there is someone near who can give an opinion?

[Birdhead]

  On 1/12/2025 at 4:34 PM, Brian said:

Condition is faaar from bad. Minimal rust (get some oil on that blade) and a visible hamon. Enough to enjoy as is, until someone wants to spring for a proper polish if it warrants it.
Where in the US are you, so we can see if there is someone near who can give an opinion?

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I'm in Oklahoma, sword is in Georgia. 

The ultimate goal for me is to get it properly restored by an expert if it's authentic.

[CSM101]

What do you mean by "authentic"? Is it a Japanese sword then Yes. Is it a Ippei Yasuyo then No.

[Birdhead]

  On 1/12/2025 at 5:08 PM, CSM101 said:

What do you mean by "authentic"? Is it a Japanese sword then Yes. Is it a Ippei Yasuyo then No.

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As stated in the OP, I'm aware the chance this was actually made by Yasuyo is slight.

In particular the 2nd to last kanji seems very incorrect to me. 

By "authentic" I just mean - traditionally made Japanese sword. 

If it was just a cheap forgery, then that probably would not justify restoration. 

I am curious to discover why someone would sign their work as someone else though.

 

If this is in fact a traditionally made sword, then one can be sure the smith, whoever he was, underwent a lot of training and effort to learn his craft.

It's strange that they would go through so much for their work and then sign it as someone else. 

I guess what I'm saying is I'd just like to know as much of this sword's story as possible. 

 

[Brian]

Definitely a real Japanese sword, hand forged and antique.
Adding spurious signatures is a tradition going back many hundreds of years, it is very very common. There are various reasons, you can read about them in the FAQ above the forum.

[Franco]

Although I cannot recall specific details now, I did run into a very similar sword with virtually the same style mountings some 30 years ago. Only both the mountings and sword were of better overall quality, and the sword had an elaborate lengthy script writing on the nakago. When presenting an oshigata of the nakago and verbally describing the piece to an advanced collector in the club, his thoughts were that this sword was most likely a (pre-war?) presentation piece for some occasion with an honorary mei. The sword itself he didn't believe would be of serious collector quality. The subject sword here, I believe based on the images, would follow along something of those lines. Try looking up; Japanese Phoenix.

 

p.s. due to exceptions, Japanese swords should be evaluated based upon their own merits.

[Birdhead]

Thank you everyone for your assistance, I appreciate being able to understand more about the sword.

 

  On 1/13/2025 at 8:03 PM, Franco D said:

Although I cannot recall specific details now, I did run into a very similar sword with virtually the same style mountings some 30 years ago. Only both the mountings and sword were of better overall quality, and the sword had an elaborate lengthy script writing on the nakago. When presenting an oshigata of the nakago and verbally describing the piece to an advanced collector in the club, his thoughts were that this sword was most likely a (pre-war?) presentation piece for some occasion with an honorary mei. The sword itself he didn't believe would be of serious collector quality. The subject sword here, I believe based on the images, would follow along something of those lines. Try looking up; Japanese Phoenix.

 

p.s. due to exceptions, Japanese swords should be evaluated based upon their own merits.

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Since the sword is not of collector quality, would you advise against restoration? I originally wanted to keep the sword in a healthy state (as you can see it has some deterioration in the pictures) but if it has no value then I would spare the effort. I understand there are not many people who can do this sort of thing professionally. 

[Conway S]

Hi Josh, 

 

I think you misinterpreted the comments here. No one said it is not of collector quality or indicated it has no value. Most people on this forum won't encourage restoration vs no restoration based on pictures alone unless the piece is obviously low quality. That is why it has been suggested that you should have someone examine it in-hand. 

 

Conway 

[Franco]

  On 1/17/2025 at 2:40 AM, Birdhead said:

Since the sword is not of collector quality, would you advise against restoration?

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  On 1/17/2025 at 2:55 AM, Conway S said:

I think you misinterpreted the comments here. No one said it is not of collector quality or indicated it has no value.

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Yes, my faux pas, sorry. This sword is collectible and has collector value.

 

In terms of restoration the decision typically comes down to value vs cost. To determine value and in order to justify the cost of restoration collectors often submit their swords (and koshirae) to a shinsa for certification as a first step. Based upon the results, it then can (objectively) be determined how to proceed (full restoration, partial restoration). If nothing else, you will be in a much better position to fully understand what it is that you have. 

 

[Franco]

 

  On 1/13/2025 at 6:46 AM, Brian said:

Definitely a real Japanese sword, hand forged and antique.

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Antique, yes. Hand forged from tamahagane and water quenched still to be determined. 

[2devnul]

  On 1/17/2025 at 9:55 PM, Franco D said:

collectors often submit their swords (and koshirae) to a shinsa for certification as a first step.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but sword should be in decent (even if old) polish when submiting. Not like that. Hard to tell anything if you can't see what's hidden behind rust.

[Franco]

 You are not wrong. 

 

This sword could be shown to a polisher who will be able to determine if it is a genuine nihonto or just an elaborate copy. If genuine, a window could then be opened to reveal its workmanship. This with the understanding that the sword could still fail to pass shinsa. 

Yes, this sword is collectible. But a collectible "what" still has to be answered. 

 

 

 

[Matsunoki]

These are usually Meiji creations aimed at Gaijin. They usually contain perfectly genuine old blades of mediocre quality but exceptions exist. 

[Birdhead]

  On 1/17/2025 at 9:55 PM, Franco D said:

 

 

 To determine value and in order to justify the cost of restoration collectors often submit their swords (and koshirae) to a shinsa for certification as a first step. Based upon the results, it then can (objectively) be determined how to proceed (full restoration, partial restoration). If nothing else, you will be in a much better position to fully understand what it is that you have. 

 

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I was laboring under the false assumption that Japan would confiscate the sword and destroy it if they determined it was fake/inauthentic/non-traditionally made. I'm reading now that this isn't the case and they will just return it to you.

That's why I was so focused on getting feedback on if it was "authentic" or not. I definitely would like to send it off to Japan at some point and see what they might say.

 

There is someone here who contacted me about a professional polisher here in the states that they know, so I suppose taking it to the polisher for an expert evaluation will be the next step. Thank you everyone. 

[Brian]

The sword is definitely genuine and traditionally made. There is zero chance it would be confiscated. Now whether the mei is gimei or not is uncertain, but that has nothing to do with the legalities of it in Japan.

[Franco]

  On 1/19/2025 at 8:09 AM, Brian said:

The sword is definitely genuine and traditionally made.

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Based on what evidence! It is irresponsible to mislead someone into thinking/believing that they have a true nihonto (made from tamahagane, hand forged, water quenched) without evidence that that is in fact so. 

 

  On 1/19/2025 at 7:47 AM, Birdhead said:

There is someone here who contacted me about a professional polisher here in the states that they know, so I suppose taking it to the polisher for an expert evaluation will be the next step. Thank you everyone. 

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Welcome.

 

There are a number of polishers available here in the States that you can contact. Shigekazu "Jimmy" Hayashi/San Francisco, Woody Hall/ Las Vegas?, Ted Tenold - ted@legacyswords.com, Bob Benson/ Bushido swords Hawaii, as well as Takeo Seki/BC in Canada to name a few.

Polishers can also be found in attendance at Japanese sword shows. 

 

Also,

Shinsa are held here in the U.S. periodically, so unless there is some urgency sending the sword to Japan is a choice.

Check this forum; Sword Shows, Events, Community News and Legislation Issues for show/shinsa announcements.

 

Good luck.

[Brian]

  On 1/19/2025 at 8:02 PM, Franco D said:

 

Based on what evidence! It is irresponsible to mislead someone into thinking/believing that they have a true nihonto (made from tamahagane, hand forged, water quenched) without evidence that that is in fact so. 

 

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No Franco. In this case, it is for someone to prove that it isn't traditionally made. How many Showato have you seen in these mounts? The sword is Japanese, it isn't a Chinese repro, we can see that much. Gimei maybe, but that isn't the point here. Do you think someone would take the time and effort to mount a Showato in these custom built mounts? For what purpose? When you look at a Japanese sword that is in non-Gunto mounts, do you assume it's oil quenched until someone proves otherwise?
What can be seen of the hamon also doesn't tie in with arsenal blades, and since this doesn't appear to be a Meiji period mass produced export sword, and the nakago is well finished and shaped, I don't think it's unfair to default to Occam's Razor until proven otherwise.

[oli]

isn't this a showato? https://www.samurais....jp/sword/22158.html

 

Regards

Oli

[Brian]

Oli,
It is indeed, and I stand corrected on the possibility. However that one is clearly signed as a Showato with arsenal stamp, so I still maintain that if it was a Showato...it would have likely been signed by a wartime smith, as we don't see many mumei Showato. But obviously the possibility is there, just have to weigh up the probability.

[Franco]

  On 1/20/2025 at 6:17 AM, Brian said:

No Franco. In this case, it is for someone to prove that it isn't traditionally made. How many Showato have you seen in these mounts? The sword is Japanese

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The question of origin is not in dispute. Further, mounts do not confirm the sword just as the mei does not confirm the sword! 

As I recall, unless things have changed, at both the first shinsa I attended and at the second shinsa that I worked at, all swords had to be stripped down of all mounts including habaki before being submitted and judged. Mounts don't confirm the sword! 

 

Showato??? Brian, did you forget to take your meds this morning?

 

After carefully looking over these images once again, my guess is that this sword is an elaborate copy. There is nothing in the images that suggests otherwise. Despite the fact that this sword is out of polish, it appears that this sword never received a "proper polish." The burden of proof is with the sword. Hopefully this turns out to be a traditionally made Japanese sword and I am wrong, but it will be the sword itself that confirms that fact.

 

Experienced collectors do their homework in advance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 20 by Franco D