A Favorite Sword

[watsonmil]

I'd like to relate a story about a Katana I own. It is a story with an important moral. Being an Antique Arms Dealer ( now semi-retired ), I used to attend many Gun Shows, or Arms Fairs as they are known in Europe. Back in 1983 I was attending a show in the USA. Being Canadian I was not allowed under American Law to sell ( at least not without a good deal of Bureaucratic Red Tape ), but I was allowed to buy. The US Gun Shows were and still are a good deal larger than our Canadian Shows, and consequently one could always find a few bargains. I used to rent two tables and display some high quality firearms and accessories as well as a nice selection of Nihonto and Matchlocks. In this way I often attracted people to my display and more often than not someone would show me an item they wanted to sell, or if not sell would ask for identification which I would always give if it were in my area of expertise. It never failed that I would be asked to look at a few WWII Japanese Swords ( veteran souvenirs of WWII ). At that time most of the veterans were in their 60's or early 70's. Probably 90 % of the times I was asked to examine a sword , it would turn out to be a mass produced arsenal sword of no real value. I would do my best to explain that the sword was not handmade, and although it looked like a Samurai Sword it was not. The clincher that would convince them was when they would ask if I wanted to purchase the sword .... sort of a layman's test to see if I were a crook. I would invariably say politely ... " no, I think it has more value to you as a keepsake, and perhaps something you might want to pass down to your children or grand children to remind them of your involvement in WWII, and the sacrifices you and your comrades made as young men ".

They would usually say yes, thank you that really is what I was planning on doing. Occassionally someone would bring me a real Nihonto to examine, or an ancestorial blade mounted in military mounts. Usually they would be in awful condition, and after advising them that .. yes you do have a genuine samurai sword, and do my best to place the sword by shape into a time frame. Once again explaining that what they had was of no great value considering the costs of polish even though the blade was 200 - 300 years old. Asked if I were interested in buying, I would always decline and advise them to pass the blade down to a family member.

 

After having done many of these two day shows over a period of several years, I was beginning to think I'd never see a really good blade for sale. I always came home with American and European antique firearms and accessories so the shows were always good to me. Anyways on the first day of this particular two day show with about 1/2 hour left before the show was to close for the day, a veteran approached me and complimented me on my display. He asked if I would have time to look at his sword. The only problem being that he lived 40 miles out of town, and I would have to drive out to see it. Being tired, hungry, and not feeling like looking at yet one more vet souvenir, I politely declined, but told him if he cared to attend the show the next day, I would be more than happy to examine and give an opinion on his sword. He thanked me and said if he could get away, he'd bring the sword the next day.

 

To make a long story a little shorter, it was exactly one hour before the show was to end, ... a time for me to make my rounds thanking those who put on the show, and saying my goodbyes to dealer friends, ... when my wife came running up to me to say a gentleman had a Japanese sword for me to look at. I wasn't running, but I was walking very fast, ... until I saw the gentleman from the day before holding what appeared to be a typical WWII Japanese sword in a combat leather scabbard. My fast walk was now just a slow tired shuffle. Never the less I was going to give my best assessment. As I slowly withdrew the blade, ... I nearly fainted. Slowly what was appearing was as nice an ancestoral blade as you could imagine. Although in need of a polish, it had not been abused. I could clearly see the Choji Midare hamon, the Ko Mokume grain, and oh yes the boshi looked just fine. Removing the tsuka, I could see it had been shortened a long time ago.

 

" Well what do you think ? " .... I told him this is not WWII, but quite possibly 16th century, and that it was by far one of the most beautiful Samurai Swords that I had ever laid eyes on. " Go ahead tell me what ever you can " .... I pointed out the features that I could see, and especially noted the hitasura in the shinogi-ji area. " Well do you want to buy it ? " ..... I'm sorry, but to be honest I cannot afford this blade. I believe it to be worth several thousands of dollars. It really should be polished by a sword polisher to bring out it's full beauty.

" Tell me what would you do if you did buy it, ... would you sell it ? " No .. I would have it restored to its former beauty, and re-mount it in the best fittings I could afford. I would have a new saya made to fit, but I would keep the WWII fittings to prove that it had seen action as long ago as possibly 500 years, and as late as only 50 years ago. " Well ... you see that son of a bitch over there ( indicating another dealer ) .... he told me it was a nice WWII sword worth maybe $ 300.00 tops. " " Young man if you promise to restore the sword and keep it rather than just sell it, pull out your wallet and give me $ 300.00. " " I don't have a lot of time left in this world, and I'd like someone to treasure it after I'm gone. " " Money I have, someone to look after my sword I do not have. " " Now give me the $ 300.00 before I change my mind. "

 

But I don't have $ 300.00 in cash. " Well you do have a cheque ... don't you ? " I promptly wrote him a Royal Bank of Canada cheque writing in big letters US behind the 300. " I must be a bloody fool taking a Canadian cheque made out in US dollars. " " You promise me one other thing, .... I'd like to see it one more time when it's restored. " Sadly by the time the sword was polished, and new tuska, saya and fine antique fittings gathered, ... I learned upon trying to make contact that he had passed on by several months. As promised I will keep and treasure the sword to the day I die. Here are the details of the sword. I apologize for the photography. The photos do not do this sword credit.

 

Sword signed : Yamashiro ( no ) Kuni Heianjo Ju ( Nobuyoshi )

Nagasa : 71.9 cm

Sword Shape : Hon Zukuri

Jihada : Ko Mokume

Hamon : Choji Midare

Era : Late Muromachi

Period : Sue Koto

School : Kanemoto School

 

Upon completion of polish the sword exhibits in addition : A boshi of Kaeri-Fukashi, with Mune-Yaki extending back over the mune for about 14 cm. Sunagashi is prevelent, ... as is the occasional line of Kinsuji. The Shinogi-ji has patches of hitasura spaced along it's entite length.

Respectfully submitted for the study and enjoyment of our NMB members, ..... Ron Watson

[estcrh]

Ron, I do not see any photos?

[watsonmil]

Photographs attached:

[watsonmil]

MORE PHOTOS

[watsonmil]

SWORD KOSHIRA

[estcrh]

Ron...thats a great sword and you did a good job on it.....your eyes must have popped out of your head when you saw it at that show!

[Jamie]

Beautiful blade.

Thanks for sharing the story.

[Amon]

Hi Ron!

 

Thanks for sharing a very nice story,

made my morning.

 

Best regards,

[Eric H]

A fine Katana has found a fine people!

 

Eric

[Richmond]

Respect and honour.

[Jean]

[huntershooter]

Wow.

"Fairybook" tale with a wonderful ending.

Thank you.

[Bugyotsuji]

Mmmm.... wonderful story. Just reaching the age where I can appreciate it!

[loui]

Very nice story, and a beautiful blade.

 

That "son of a bitch over there" sounds like someone familiar.

 

Regards,

 

Louis

[drbvac]

Ron:

 

Job well done - proud of another Canadian ! It really is about the blades and the history isn't it - money aside - preservation and appreciation are the main goals - it is very often hard to find dealers who wouldn't sell anything to make a buck so good on you !

[John A Stuart]

Yes, an interesting story. Too bad the fellow never saw it after the restoration. BTW, Ron, who is that appraisal done by? John

[watsonmil]

Dear John,

The appraisal was done by Kotken Kajihara. I attended a Shinsa in Toronto 1n 1984, and had the pleasure of having breakfast with him and a translator. He also examined a Mishina wakizashi that was in full ploish that I presented. He gave a Jo Jo Saku rating which he said was as high as he could go outside of it going to Japan for Shinsa. It is a sword by Kikumon Izu no Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi ... son of the first generation, and brother to Iga no Kami ( more famous ). He did say that the Izu no Kami was rare, ... and not only that but in this case superior in workmanship to his more famous brother. He said there is often one masterpiece to be seen in virtually all good swordsmith's work, and he advised I have seen one today ! I think he wanted me to buy breakfast ( which I did ) I must say however that the Japanese do have style, ... when it was time to return home, ... I was planning on taking the Hotel Courteousy Van. To my surprise someone had ordered me a strech limosine ( and I do mean big ) to drive me to the Airport. I enjoyed it, I must say ( a country bumbkin riding alone in a limo ), ... but I was a bit embarressed. He stayed in contact with me for a couple of years, ... always saying he would like to polish the Nobuyoshi. His prices were high, and I was afraid to lose the blade, ... paranoia. Unknown to him I had already had the blade polished by another gentleman. Never the less, .... I being a nobody in the Nihonto world, ... he still treated me with great respect. It's nearly become extinct this .... kindness, honesty and respect. The " old timers " had class, ... but the new up comers are strictly in it for the money, ... and display no class whatsoever. I once had a team of Japanese buyers wine, dine, ... and offer me the services of a lovely and very young Japanese lady just to improve their chances of buying a sword from me. I did enjoy the food, I did enjoy the wine, ... but I did not dare partake in the enjoyment of the young lady ( I certainly am no saint ), but was leary that they would use that indescretion to get their way with the dealing ! Kind regards, ... Ron Watson

[John A Stuart]

Excellent, and in my birth place as well!! That courtesy still exists, especially with the more established folk that have the time to observe the niceties. I always wished that attitude was more observed in the occident, even the levantine with all its' troubles has more of it. I guess having thousands of years of trade and commerce under one's belt teaches one the character best presented and appreciated. John

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Ron,

 

nice of you to share.

 

Sword signed : Yamashiro ( no ) Kuni Heianjo Ju ( Nobuyoshi )

Nagasa : 71.9 cm

Sword Shape : Hon Zukuri

Jihada : Ko Mokume

Hamon : Choji Midare

Era : Late Muromachi

Period : Sue Koto

School : Kanemoto School

 

What is the Kanemoto connection to this smith?

Thanks.

[John A Stuart]

The only Nobuyoshi I can find that signs Yamashiro no Kuni Heianjo Nobuyoshi is from Meio period and is NOB116. No mention of this smith in the Kanemoto Ha lineage and in fact in any Mino lists I have. John

[watsonmil]

Dear John & Franco,

When I got the papers from Kajihara, .... He had taken the Oshigata back to Japan along with all details and that is from where he mailed the papers to me. He had said at the Shinsa to me ( I showed him a letter I had received from NBTHK indicating the missing part of the signature might well be Nobuyoshi ) that he wanted to get a couple of opinions from collegues back in Japan. He seemed quite surprised that the NBTHK had offered an opinion by letter. I have always assumed that the Nobuyoshi he assigned the blade to was Hawley's NOB 116. I have no idea why he assigned Kanemoto School, ... but that is what it says on the paper. Just for interest sake, ... you can find an absolute twin to my blade ( as far as visual appearance ) in Harry Watson's translation Nihon To Koza Volume IV, page 119 by Ryohaku. I am not so an advanced student of Nihonto as to question Mr. Kajihara's judgement. I simply cannot answer your question. I do know that he would write me every so often to enquire about polishing that blade. .......... Ron Watson

[Mark Green]

Great story, and very nice sword! Thanks for sharing.

 

Mark G

[raven2]

That really is a wonderful story. I really enjoyed it.