I have returned to the mountain, once again, for Japanese sword ID from the gurus

t1mpani

t1mpani

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Hello again, generous founts of knowledge. It seems that acquaintances of mine have decided that I'm "THE GUY" to take their inherited swords to in order to get information on them, despite constant protestations on my part that all I've ever done is take pictures of Japanese swords and then shown those to people who actually know what they're talking about--something that they could easily do themselves. Still, the wife of a friend brought this to me, batted her long eyelashes and would-you-pleased me in her best feathery southern belle, so here I am again. I apologize for the lighting--my light box is not big enough for swords, and achieving diffusion continues to be a challenge.

First up, let me calm your concerns--I did not, ever, place bare fingers on the blade or bare tang, I always pick it up with a clean washcloth (having been scolded before for having NOT done so!). I can also take any additional shots or give any additional measurements you might require. The measurements I have taken are an overall length of 38", and blade length of 27 3/8", and a blade thickness which tapers from 7/32" to just under 5/32" before the pronounced taper to the tip. The mekugi appears to be horn, the spring-loaded scabbard retention piece is broken off even with the scabbard (probably somebody trying to un-sheath it who didn't know they had to press the button), and overall I would say the condition of all of the materials seems to be very good, very little shrinking or cracking in the rayskin, very little rattle when assembled, etc. The blade is still EXTREMELY sharp with only a few minor rolled places in the entire length, and doesn't seem to have suffered any well-intentioned touchups. I've tried to take pictures of what I think are key areas, sometimes from a few different angles, just thinking that different lighting may help clear up something for the more trained eyes here.

To me, I suppose, the thing that really sticks out (literally and figuratively) is the signature in the tang, which actually sits proud, reminding me of how many ancient European swords would have lettering chiseled in and then inlays on top. This especially I've tried to hit from a number of angles and play the light on to be as helpful as I can. Perhaps this actually means that it's a machine-made blade and not neat at all, but that's why I'm asking you guys! :)

Please, at your leisure, help me determine a possible age/idea of this sword for the owner. They're not really interested in selling it, more just knowing if it's something they really ought to make room for in their gun safe, even if it means knocking a rifle out. My thanks as always to you gentlefolk.



And more to come in the next post...
 
My guess is Chinese fake, we'll wait and see what the true experts say.
 
Yes, I wondered that myself just based on condition, but the blade seems to be covered in dried cosmoline, so it's possible that the care/storage have helped. The layered spacers around the tsuba have the very brittle feel of old leather/paper but I suppose it could also just be an old fake.
 
There are very, very few, if any, true experts outside of Japan.

The kanji read "Etchu no Kami Takahira". I have looked at it numerous times and everything looks ok except that raised inlayed kanji on the nakago(tang). The blade looks to be nothing fancy, but the nakago looks to have too much of a patina to be gunto/showato. The koshirae looks ok as well. I have never seen an authentic Japanese sword signed this way ie; raised kanji like this one. It is not uncommon for them to have a signature inlaid, but they are generally filed flush with the nakago.

The raised kanji would incline one to want to say "Fake", yet on most blatant fakes the signatures are just poorly chiseled jibberish, they shout FAKE. Perhaps it was never finished or something.
If it is a fake it is a pretty good one aside from leaving the kanji raised.

I can not explain the raised kanji and therefore my answer would be "Horyu' which means reserved pending further study.

Perhaps someone else will chime in and shed more light on this.
 
Interesting and appreciated---do you happen to know what the lettering was typically filled with? Like silver or pewter, perhaps?
 
If the price were right and I ran into this, I'd buy it. So much seems good, that's the thing, it's almost too good, if that makes sense. I wonder if perhaps the raised kanji could be from this being cast instead of stamped out of sheet steel..maybe somebody else would know? Perhaps at the very end of WW2, to save money? I'm absolutely no expert, this is all theory, still looks pretty good though and worth a couple hundred just to own it. My final thought would be.. "possible showato". Showato were military-issued gunto-style swords churned out by individual foundries and smithies near the end of WW2, made using non-traditional methods and without using tamahagane. Basically, if it passed the "looks close enough" test, it got issued. Showato aren't considered to be "genuine Japanese swords" in Japan, although they were made there, due to the methods, materials, and craftsmanship used, but they have some value.
 
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I ran this past a good friend who is more knowledgable than myself. He agreed with me that it looks legit aside from the raised kanji.
As well he brought up a good point in that perhaps the signature was added later and left raised to prevent altering the yasurime (file marks) on the nakago. ???

I don't think this is a gunto blade, again the patination of the nakago is much to old to be that modern.
The only Etchu Takahira listed worked c. 1624-46.

They were filled with a variety of metals such as lead, silver and gold. This was mostly dependent on the quality of the sword and/or the depth of the owners pockets ($$).
Note however, that they were neither cast or stamped out. The technique was to cut into the metal with small chisels, inlay wire, flatten and file flush.

To say yeah or nay on it's legitimacy without leaving some room doubt would be fool hearty. I do think the odds very high in regards to this sword being legit and not a Chinese fake.

Just my opinion, but I hope it helps. Mention my name in any coffee shop nation wide along with $5 and you are almost assured to be served coffee.
 
Actually, they'll probably tell me they don't sell liqueur-laced coffee. ;)

It's very much appreciated. :)
 
I see what you mean about the blade, Southern Comfort, but do you think the fittings look like a gunto? Not that that means anything, MANY Old swords were refitted and just the blade taken into battle with new military-approved furnishings. A relative of mine brought home two katana, (long since sold, sadly), both in all wood (Shirasaya) fittings. The story was that the original owner left the highly valuable furnishings at home and just brought his ancestors blade, whether that's true or not. No idea, i was about 11 at the time. As to the swords, could be anywhere by now.
 
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Yes, to me the koshirae looks to be typical type 94 Shin-Gunto mounts.

As far as your relatives swords you mentioned being in shirasaya, it very well may be that they were brought home in shirasaya.

However, if they were supposed to have been battlefield trophy's, then that would be unlikely. I am led to believe that is the case from your statement, "the original owner left the highly valuable furnishings at home and just brought his ancestors blade". Unlikely for a couple of reasons, first and foremost, is that if the original Japanese owner was in the military the sword carried would have had to been mounted in proper military mounts to conform to the rigid military doctrine. It is not uncommon to see older blades in military mounts, but again they had to conform to military uniform policy if carried.

Secondly, shirasaya are "resting scabbards" made to house the blade when not mounted in their koshirae. They would not be suitable for battlefield use.
I don't doubt that they were in shirasaya, just that they were battlefield pickups.

I learned a long time ago to never say impossible, but this seems highly unlikely.
Perhaps as you were very young, you missed or misunderstood part of the story. Perhaps your relative bought them while on R&R.
 
yeah. we weren't able to touch them or anything, and they were in wood. It wasn't pretty like like new shiris you see today, they looked old and grimy. He never really explained the exact provenance, just he got em during WW2, so for years I assumed, but now that you mention that, what you say makes perfect sense. I'm sure there was a ton of swords lying around, or he could have bought them during the "Occupied Japan" period as well, which would make a lot of sense too. I'm sure there were a lot of Japanese, that faced with the choice of "sell the swords or don't feed the kids.." ..well.. you know.
 
Yes, if he was part of the occupying forces after the surrender, there were tons of confiscated swords for the picking. Since they were in shirasaya, this would be much more likely.

Swords_confiscated_WWII_A.jpg

Swords_cofiscated_WWII_B.jpg
 
I've heard myths that they are all locked in a secret U.S. vault somewhere
Click to expand...

After the war, Dr.'s Junji Homma and Kanzan Sato were instrumental in working with General MacArthur's staff. They were able to educate them on the artistic and spiritual qualities of the Japanese sword vs. the pure military function of the sword. Thanks to their dedication and perseverance they were able to not only prevent the further destruction of confiscated swords, but were able to account for and return nearly all of the national treasure pieces. Save one, the "Honjo Masamune".

The Honjo Masamune is very famous (google it) and people have been looking for it ever since the war. Twenty plus years ago when I began my studies of Nihonto, the "old duffers" still talked of it a lot and they all hoped to find it. You don't hear talk of it too much these days aside from the occasional claim to have found it, which has never been substantiated.

Is it out there ? Was it stolen or destroyed, who knows ??? One day it may surface as did the Soshu Akihiro which turned up a couple of years ago in a pawn shop. While not a national treasure, its was listed as an important cultural property. I was able to study it in hand last year at the Tampa sword show.

So in summary, many swords were destroyed by various methods, yet the vast majority were saved. Saved, from destruction but not pillage, which is why so many are outside Japan.
 
WOW! I love a mystery, and the thought of that Honjo sword just collecting dust somewhere, waiting to be found, gives me goosebumps. Thanks, I had never even heard of this before today.
 
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