Samurai Sword

J

jfrank

Joined
Feb 24, 2022
Messages
1
Before the haters start yelling at me. This is the first time and first place I've found to ask the question. I'm not a sword guy. But it's a good story.

Back in the late 1970s, my father, a defense attorney, couldn't collect from a client. I remember him driving me to the client's house, leaving me in the car. He walked back to the car with this sword. You can't make this up. Until the day he died, eight years ago, it was leaning up against a wall in his basement. When he died, mom cleaned-out his stuff and I took the sword - not because it was real or fake, but because of the story and memory of him collecting a debt with it. The fact that he used it to collect a debt definitely doesn't mean it's real. So, like my father before me, the sword has been leaning up against the wall in a corner of the office collecting dust. I know nothing about swords.

I'm fully cognizant of the fact that they were making tons of replicas long before my dad got this sword. It's likely fake. BUT, I wanted to make sure it was fake before I pitched it. It's just been sitting in corners for 40 years.

Not looking to sell or identifying cost - just if it's real or not before I trash it.

Pictures here - https://frankportfolio.com/

The insight would be appreciated!
Thanks!
 
jfrank said:
Before the haters start yelling at me. This is the first time and first place I've found to ask the question. I'm not a sword guy. But it's a good story.

Back in the late 1970s, my father, a defense attorney, couldn't collect from a client. I remember him driving me to the client's house, leaving me in the car. He walked back to the car with this sword. You can't make this up. Until the day he died, eight years ago, it was leaning up against a wall in his basement. When he died, mom cleaned-out his stuff and I took the sword - not because it was real or fake, but because of the story and memory of him collecting a debt with it. The fact that he used it to collect a debt definitely doesn't mean it's real. So, like my father before me, the sword has been leaning up against the wall in a corner of the office collecting dust. I know nothing about swords.

I'm fully cognizant of the fact that they were making tons of replicas long before my dad got this sword. It's likely fake. BUT, I wanted to make sure it was fake before I pitched it. It's just been sitting in corners for 40 years.

Not looking to sell or identifying cost - just if it's real or not before I trash it.

Pictures here - https://frankportfolio.com/

The insight would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
It's a nice sword weather it's real or not I will leave up to someone who knows more than me .
 
Going back that far, even if it's a repro from somewhere other than Japan, it may still have some value. I am too ignorant of Japanese stuff to help, but it'll be interesting to see what our resident Nihonto fans have to say. If nothing else, it might be nice to hang on your wall to remind you of your dad. 👍
 
In order to verify authenticity you need to provide additional photos. Most importantly the tsuka (handle) needs to be removed and photos of the nakago (tang) provided. Seeing the nakago is crucial. The mekigi (peg) in the tsuka is tapered and can be pushed out and the tsuka removed. Holding the sword in front of you as if you where going to use the it the peg should push out from right to left. Don't worry, this was made to be removed for maintenance.

I think there is a good chance the sword is real as the fittings look real. Mismatched but real. Looks to be a gunto or military guard (tsuba) as is the entire tsuka. The saya (scabbard) is what is called Handachi mounts and is not military.

Be sure to show both sides of the tang. If there is any writing inscribed on the tang, get clear, close-ups of it.
 
Probably a machine made Gunto as noted by the tsuka sand tsuba. I have seen that type of saya, but it probably at one time had a leather skin protecting it. If you are game to remove the tsuka (handle) YouTube how to do it. Basically you push the peg out should be fatter on one end. Gripping the sword 3/4 way down the handle smack the hand holding the blade with close fist. This will shake loose the handle. Then take and post pics of the tang.
 
Looks like a Gunto with hamon. That increases the possibility that it’s an older blade remounted in Gunto mounts. I’m not aware of machine made Guntos with hamon. Nor NCO Swords or reproductions that are 20+ years old with hamon. Most repros back in the day were “surgical stainless” or junk carbon steel... even saw some in aluminum alloy that were blunt. But their hamon was sand blasted on.

So it becomes important to inspect the tang. Any markings there will tell it’s story. Try not to touch the tang with bare hands. Use like soft work gloves. And don’t clean the tang. Any rust there is part of its patina and is directly tied to its antique value. And most purists would insist you only clean the blade with choji oil and uchiko powder until it’s origins could be verified.
 
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