Garage Find WW2 Okinawa Sword

[tokashikibob]

Fellas,

First, I really am thankful for this site and any assistance rendered. I'm not a expert in this hobby but recently picked up a sharp looking WW2 sword for my collection of Okinawa specific war relics. This relic may have been picked up off Sugar Loaf hill the most famous battle on the Campain. I sent the pics to a friend in Japan and this is what was sent back

 

syasin no kanji ha

①「氏房 高山刀 ？？？作」

氏房 = ujifusa → a person's name

高山刀 = kouzantou (probably) → a hunting knife

作 = saku → e.g. It was made by.

 

②「細川幽斉古今傳授？造之」

細川幽斉 = hosokawa yuusai → a person's name

sengoku jidai(about 1600) no busyou de ari kajin(tanka poet)

古今傳授 = kokindenjyu (now it's 古今伝授) → 古今和歌集(kokinwakasyuu)

an old Japanese book of poems

造之 = "kore wo tukuru" to yummi masu

 

The tip of the sword is completely covered in rust, However the rest is still combat razor sharp and still has places in polish where I can see my face.

Any information on any historical aspects and rust negation would be most helpful.

 

Semper Fi - Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com

[Jamie]

You may want to start by oiling it. Try Choji oil, or Mineral oil works as well.

[Henry Wilson]

This relic may have been picked up off Sugar Loaf hill

 

What makes you think this?

[tokashikibob]

The guy who sold it said his dad was with the guy on Sugar Loaf and they were two of the few able bodied Marines of thier company to get off unharmed. I'll never be able to tell where this Jarhead picked it up but you can wonder. The sword belonged to a J. Chaison who was on the History Channels "Shootout" show about Okinawa.

[John A Stuart]

氏房高山刀 鍛鉄(?居)作 Ujifusa Kouzantou Kitau Tetsu (?I) Saku ; Ujifusa alpine sword (? being) made with forged iron, missing the kanji by the mekugiana. I am curious about 高山刀. John

[Nobody]

氏房 高山刀鍛錬所作 – (Ujifusa, Takayama-To Tanrensho saku) – Made by Ujifusa at Takayama-Sword Forge

 

AFAIK, Takayama-To are swords developed by the Japanese navy under direction of Col. Takayama.

Ref. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4523&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=takayama&start=30

Ref. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4523&p=34771&hilit=takayama#p34771

[John A Stuart]

I completely forgot about those swords. Thanks, Koichi san. John

[tokashikibob]

氏房 高山刀鍛錬所作 – (Ujifusa, Takayama-To Tanrensho saku) – Made by Ujifusa at Takayama-Sword Forge

 

AFAIK, Takayama-To are swords developed by the Japanese navy under direction of Col. Takayama.

Ref. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4523&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=takayama&start=30

Ref. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4523&p=34771&hilit=takayama#p34771

 

Fellas,

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to my inquiry for information. I've read the links provided and should be able to come up with a decent information card for display. This piece will probably be offered to the USMC Museum in Quantico or sent back to Camp Kinser Okinawa when I get the info board finalized and some USMC personal gouge collected.

 

Does anyone have a bit more info on Col Takayama's forge I can include? Was he a martial arts specialist? Are his pieces usually in Naval fittings? Was his special stainless weapons highly sought after? How did the troops get his works open purchase or issued?

 

Again, thanks and Semper Fi - Bob

[cabowen]

I think it bears mentioning that there was also a sword making firm in Tokyo that made kai gunto and shin gunto during the war called Takayama Gunto Sei Saku Jo (高山軍刀製作所). It was run by a Mr. Takayama Kazu.

 

I wonder if these Takayama To might have been made there? Not all of the Takayama To signed blades I have seen have been made of stainless......and this one surely isn't either.