my katana/tachi do i dare remove the handle?

B

b-dogg

Joined
Jan 8, 2014
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Found this with a bunch of really old books in a storage container. Trying to decide weather to take the handle apart and find someone to translate the makers mark possibly destroying the handle. ...ok sorry no picture, how do I post a pic without an url? Id prefer not to link my fb but will
 
b-dogg said:
Found this with a bunch of really old books in a storage container. Trying to decide weather to take the handle apart and find someone to translate the makers mark possibly destroying the handle. ...ok sorry no picture, how do I post a pic without an url? Id prefer not to link my fb but will
Click to expand...

You could create an account with an image hosting site like photobucket. Otherwise you'd need to be a paying member to directly upload your pictures.
 
Send the pics to ljbray** at **hotmail.com
I'm fairly good with translating Japanese signatures.
 
It's not Chinese, definitely Japanese.
But that's as much detail as you'll get with those pics.
 
It is no big deal to gently drive out the wooden pegs that hold the handle on the tang. They will be tapered, so best to nudge out fat-end-first.
 
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Just upload pictures to www.tinypic.com It is free, quick and fairly straightforward. Copy the links with the img /img tags and place them in a post.

Cheers

GC
 
Thomas Linton said:
It is no good deal to gently drive out the wooden pegs that hold the handle on the tang. They will be tapered, so best to nudge out fat-end-first.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was able to remove the handle and transferred the writing to paper
the last link I posted has pictures and is viewable by public now
 
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Viewable but not readable, unfortunately.
Those characters need to be in focus. A little talc in the characters might help but shouldn't be necessary.

From what I can see, we're looking at a WW2 katana. First kanji reads Seki, which was/is a major steel/sword producing area for many years and last kanji reads Saku, which means 'made this'. Can't see the rest.

Is that a small stamp mark about an inch or so above the top kanji?
 
[QUOTE=Lee Bray;small stamp mark about an inch or so above the top kanji

Yeah there is didnt notice it till you asked
 
hi ya Brody - I am not some expert, but I have been around blades.

It looks like your blade might be possibly be a japanise WWII blade. Not one of the cheap NCO blades, but one of the first officer blades that were issued. I say that because you have leather on the suka (scabbard) which is a possible clue.

NOW... many officers used "family" swords, meaning that they swapped out the handles and such for military uniformity, but the blade itself was rather old.

Just looking at the picts you posted on facebook it looks like your blade has a "hamon" or clay markings where they hardened the sword. It might also be a folded steel blade. I think I see some crystalization in the metal, but it is hard to say. This is another clue.

I own a few old swords and have done some research on them. This is why I say that you might have an early WWII officer's sword.

If you are looking to maintain the value, don't clean it or anything. A good place to take it would be a local gun show. There are usually sword dealers there that might be able to tell you more. IF you can take of off the tsuka (handle) the sword should have markings. Those markings could tell you a lot.

Hope this helps.

Ray
CR
 
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