Stolen swords

[george trotter]

Sad to report that a friend of mine was broken into yesterday and part of his nihonto collection stolen. This is here in Perth, Western Australia. They rifled through his study and took a number of swords fully mounted, but left anything that was unmounted or partially unmounted, so they just seem like "uneducated" crooks.

Unfortunately he was not a great record-keeper...Just off the top of my head, I know they got a

AKIHISA (Yamagami Akihisa - star stamp) in Type 3 mounts

TSUNAHIRO in Type 98 mounts

I will post more info as he gives it to me just in case these turn up locally or interstate or on the web.

[sanjuro]

Hi George.

 

School holiday casualty????? Loads of bored kids with a yen for drugs and no money. These will most likely turn up locally in an antique shop or such like. I'll keep an eye out for them whilst I'm out and about in Perth and Fremantle. Email me the descriptions as you get the information please.

[george trotter]

Thanks Keith,

yes, will do.

[kusunokimasahige]

If the owner also has photos of the stolen blades please post them on here so the members who scour online auction sites can keep a watchful eye out.

 

KM

[cisco-san]

If the owner also has photos of the stolen blades please post them on here so the members who scour online auction sites can keep a watchful eye out.

 

KM

I agree, some photos would help!

[george trotter]

Hi guys,

I understand your point about sales on the web...I will watch these also, but I also don't know exactly what to look for yet, but I doubt if he has photos (a bit old fashioned), but I think he has oshigata...he is still checking his losses. I will let you know what I can get from him as soon as possible.

One other is

Echigo (Imai) Sadaroku in Type 98 mounts

Will be in touch.

[drbvac]

Amazing that this happens as little as it does - they, whomever the hell "they" are, but including local police say that many many times these young or old robbers are "friends or acquaintances" of the children/teenagers of the owners or in some way have actually seen the items in the house and passed the knowledge on to bad guys OR come back and take them themselves.

 

I know or at least I feel that these treasures are irreplaceable but photos, oshigata, written descriptions and valuations for identification if found OR insurance if not are essential in my opinion.

 

I feel badly for your friend but these damn new drugs - addicts would kill their grandparents to buy them - sad world we live in gentlemen. Almost to the point you keep everything under separate lock and key and can't even show them off to anyone

[george trotter]

Hi Brian,

You are so right. I immediately went and took my swords off their stands in my study and put them all under lock and key in the safe...damn! I really hate these guys dictating how I can live/enjoy my favourite treasures...now unless I outlay a fortune on security and electronic devices I cannot display my swords...craps me off, but I just can't risk losing them, they are so important and irreplaceable to me.

 

I also think you are right about friends of friends, I don't think my friends break-in was random, I think most likely a friend of a friend of his teenage children...the old "loose lips" thing. A pity indeed...he told me the b------s ignored a pair of Tanegashima that were sitting there.

Highly unlikely he will get anything back unless he has clear pics/oshigata etc...I'll keep chasing him for these.

[kusunokimasahige]

That is exactly the reason i am buying a Gun-Safe (bolted in the wall) as soon as i obtain a beautiful piece... when home it can be displayed, when not home it will be under lock and key.

 

Hopefully he can send images of the oshigata since not all of us can read all characters immediately on sight.

 

KM

[george trotter]

Hi all, I spoke to my friend yesterday and he said he has lost 10-11 swords. Also has oshigatas and pics of the swords just as mounted (not the blades),...the only problem is that as he has moved 3 times in 10 years he has to find the oshis and pics...I suppose there is nothing we can do until he finds them and I can post them.

One definite thing is that the (Yamagami) AKIHISA gendaito in Type 3 mounts (good quality lacquer scabbard) is marked on the tang with "circle and MATSU" stamp and numbered 61.

I'll get back to the board when I know more/have pics.

Thanks for your interest.

PS, although I have a large safe, I intend to get a smaller gunsafe also which I will bolt in the house, so I can enjoy my swords in a reasonably convenient way...I hate thieves!

[johnb]

Some years ago our house in Sydney was broken into in the middle of the day. My wife came in the backdoor and she heard the thieves run out of the front door. Quiet daunting for her.

They took cameras, jewelry and other small items. They didn't touch my swords, some of which were sitting in plain view on top of the chest of drawers where they live.

The police say that is was probably kids, they take stuff they can carry without it being seen and stuff they can sell quickly.

One wonders whether this sword theft was random or rather more purposeful?

 

Johnb

[george trotter]

Hi all,

I am afraid my friend is having no luck so far finding his pics and oshigatas...I will let you know if it happens...until then there is little we can do. Trouble is he has not actively collected for over 10 years and his verbal descriptions are not really precise.

I have told the local militaria dealers to insist that they hold any swords offered to them until " their guy" (me & my friend) looks at them before they make an offer...this will either get us a look at the swords or if they refuse, the dealers will get a look at who the crooks might be.

Sorry to bring this up before I had supporting pics etc...I thought they were coming.

 

Regards,

[Thekirsh]

George,

If it were me I would also start by placing ads in the local paper and supermarkets with "Top prices paid for Samurai swords"" instant cash".You never know.

Simon

[christianmalterre]

Dear George,

 

so only WWII swords or equally older ones(Koto,Shinto,ShinShin)????

(older blades but mounted in WW Koshirae)

 

(Just a stupid question perhaps which would but sound logic,too)

 

Christian

[george trotter]

Hi Christian,

you are right, there are some older swords.

 

2nd Gen Tsunahiro of Sagami ...in Type 98 shingunto (TK396, K212).

A signed shinshinto in excellent buke zukuri koshirae. Blade is rubbed and nakago has mei and a very long inscription (4 columns).

 

Not sure yet what else.

[george trotter]

I am still trying to get more info on this but my friend is quite despondent. He has found some pics and will send them and I will post....but when...well, when he does...we can only do what we can.

The only update I can add is that a gendaito by

IMAI SADAROKU (mei: Echigo kuni Sadaroku) is one of the 15 swords.

Also a gendaito signed by RAI KUNIFUSA (Pink book by F & G page 55 for oshi of THIS sword).

(tachimei: Tottori Ken ? ? Kaigan Sha Tetsu. Rai Kunifusa Tsukuru Kore.

Ura: O Motte Sha Tetsu Ko Jun Tetsu Sei Ko.).

Meaning Rai Kunifusa made this using sand iron from the coast of Tottori and also pure old iron and sacred steel. Very distinctive nakago and blade in shingunto mounts (maybe someone can post this oshi please?).

Sorry this is in dribs and drabs...guy is in a daze...

Regards.

[bluboxer]

This should serve as a lesson to all.Catalog your collection with photos and accurate descriptions.This would help with insurance as well as recovery of your items should this happen to you.

[Richmond]

Being a retired LEO and speaking from experience go around the Pawn Shops and have a yarn to them. Make it clear to them that the sword are easily identifiable(a small lie) and to hot for them to even think about buying, and perhaps offer a finders fee.

 

Cheers

Steve