WWII Samurai sword tang interpretation?

Joined
May 19, 2007
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9
I recently acquired the subject sword at an auction and have exposed the tang which has Japanese figures which I cannot fully identify.

Is there a source one can send a pic or reproduction of the writings for proper identification.

I have several books but none fully help in this instance.

Thanks,

JRoger
 
Reading the Kanji on Japanese swords is not an easy task, especially if it is an old sword. A lot of Nihonto don't even show characters on the tang.
My advice is to take pictures of the tang and post them here and on Sword forum http://www.swordforum.com/
 
The correct way is to hold the tang over a candle flame and allow soot to form on it. Leave it to cool and then carefully stick wide Sellotape on the tang. Holding the tape taut, rub it with a cloth. Carefully peel off the tape and stick it to white paper. Then photograph it or even better scan it at double size - 200%.

Buying at auction is a bit of a nightmare as there are now so many Chinese fakes around, so also add a picture of tang and habaki in good light showing rust discolouration.

This guy, Richard Stein, PhD, is a forum member and you will be hard pressed to find a better expert!

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

He has a good section on repros and fakes
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/repro.htm
 
One of the safest ways to show the mei (signature) is to use baby powder. You sprinkle it over the nakago and lightly brush it off the surface. Try to leave as much as you can deep in the mei. Take you camera set it to macro setting and take close up pictures (make sure they are clear pictures). You may need to take a few at different angle if you use flash.
 
Called TSUKA. In 1996 collectable ones were selling for £900 UK Pounds. Often the swords were destroyed for some reason but the TSUKA is still a work of art.
 
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