Bring Back Japanese Sword Grandma's Basement

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wkumatt

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Well maybe, that is why I'm here. We found this going through my wife's grandmother's basement no one else wanted it so I said what the heck. The gun folks here have been super helpful so I'm hoping the kitchen utensil folks are as well.

I assumed it was a toy that belonged to someone in the family and it might be but for the sake of curiousity I dissambled it and took a peek at the inside. I'm particularly interested to know if anyone has a clue about the markings on the blade or the bushing?? in that goes in front of the grip. The grip is a material I'm not familiar with, kind of a bumpy leather. I know her Grandfather served in the Pacific Theater but this may very well be a toy one of her uncles bought. It for sure has some age on it. Any info you folks can provide is greatly appreciated.

Specs,
Holster, Wooden inside with thick black coating, tin or pot metal end cap

Blade, steel obviously not stainless, no visible temper line??

Scuba, (I know thats not it but it ryhmes with that I think) metal, with brass plate.

Tip to Scuba 20.5" overall 26.5" roughly

I found no plastic bits at all, its all metal or wood.
 

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Well, it's not a WWII military issue scabbard or tsuba, and it looks shorter than a katana, so I'd guess it's a wakizashi short sword. The markings under the ray skin wrapped grip should be the maker, and maybe year of manufacture, if you can find someone who reads Japanese. Traditionally, the grip would also be wrapped with decorative cord, with sculpted metal mounts called menuki to hide the holes for the pins that fasten on the grip. Only a member of the samurai class could carry the "daisho" set of a bigger katana and companion wakizashi, but ordinary citizens of the merchant class were allowed to carry a wakizashi for defense. If there's no sign of a temper line, I'd guess it's either of modern 20th century construction, made in a factory, or needs a proper polishing.
 
It's a wakizashi.

Ray skin is the "bumpy leather".

The black material is lacquer applied to the wood of the scabbard.

Oil the steel and don't do anything to it other than that for the time being.

Please set your camera on something so that it can see the whole tang with the markings on it and set it on auto with the timer set to something more than 3 seconds delay. Let it take the picture without flash and repost the image of the entire tang. Please do this for both sides. You'll get the best contrast and color if you do this outside without any direct sunlight on the sword. Best if you put the camera on a tripod and set it to macro.

I'm not certain, but the hole for the peg looks to have been drilled instead of hot punched. That would mean that it isn't old, but that doesn't mean that it is a toy, either.
 
Like most of the time I post here I'll become less ignorant as I go. Thank you for identifying the material as ray skin. And for reminding me of the term Tsuba, I'd heard the term but couldn't call it as I was typing.

Those photos were with my cell phone, but I'll follow your instruction and get something better tomorrow.

Ok well my wife is still up and she gave me more details. Grandad was in occupied Japan after the surrender. No one remembers this sword..but he also brought back several rings set with pearls and other gems. The story goes that several men of the men were either paid for some job they or won money gambling (no one remembers the source) but for some reason they couldn't bring the money they had back as cash, so they bought things that were easy to bring back and would still have value back home i.e. pearls. So is it possible the sword we found was purchased over there around this time as just a souveneir type thing? Or is still likely later than that?

Thanks for the feedback!
 
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There's every possibility that it dates from the '40s or earlier since the Japanese made "tourist trade" swords for sale to foreigners during the periods they were open to foreigners. This includes the post war occupation. I'll forward the images on to the real experts on Swordforum as I've just done with the markings.
 
I have one that is very similar, a bit longer blade. But I know mine is a WWII
bring back, as it has several buckshot embedded in the handle...
My Father was a Marine in the Pacific theater for a lot of the war. He carried a BAR, well he said he dragged one all over the place.
 
So I sent the photos to a friend of mine who works for a japanese automaker. His cooworkers identified some of the Kanji and a member here told me what the results actually meant.

The sword was made in Yamishiro Kuni by a swordsmith of the rank Fujiwara (Is this a high or low rank?). They also stated the style of kanji used is old not very commonly seen.

The Tsuba, Fuchi, and Habaki appear to be made of solid copper; painted with black lacquer, and gilded or plated (brass or gold?) See I told ya'll I'd get less ignorant, I even pulled up an exploded diagram to get all of the lingo down.:D

I realize its probably not valuable at all given the condition but is the kind of thing that would likely get passed down to my kids and I'd like to give them all of the info I can if the sword really was brought back by my wife's grandfather (even if only as a souvenir from a gift shop)

First time I've tried the flickr thing let me know if it doesn't work.

Thanks again for all the feedback,


http://www.flickr.com//photos/42682820@N07/show/
 
Man you made your first post a good one! Those guys translated in 2 minutes. HSO, let me know if your people agree. Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunikane, made by Nidai Kunikane in around 1680.
 
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wkumatt,

That's what I thought and now you have double confirmation.

You will need a professional appraisal. Based on that you may decide to sell it as is or have a professional restoration done. See the Fred Lohman company that rc has posted.

Take the time to look for the missing pieces I told you about. IF they were all authentic you'll be shocked about what each is worth and it will make sale or restoration much easier.

Now, here's the potential fly in the ointment. Counterfeiting was done by the Japanese themselves to enhance the cache, and price, to hairy barbarians. This was done at many times throughout history.

If this is evaluated and identified as real it could be worth a startling amount of money.

Now we need closeups of the tsuba and everything with kanji on it. Post it at the other site as well. Those folks are fast and knowledgeable. Don't be surprised in you get an offer on the sword from one of them.
 
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Well nothing has come up that seems to make anyone think its anything but real. There is some discussion regarding whether it was it was made by nadai or his father sendai. The blade appears to have been badly damaged by my father in law when he was a kid, he heated the blade over coals to use it like a wood burning kit. That's bad for these things. But if the family ever wanted to sell it apparently the fittings are worth serious money even without the blade.
 
I'd just keep it with all the parts. I see swords like that in the museums here all the time (assuming it's the real thing) and they call them national treasures. Badly treated or not it's still a seriously cool wall hanger.
 
Yeah, my wife's family is definitely giving me kudos for.figuring out its not junk. But its suddenly "our sword" haha. I don't mind; it really is theirs, but since.it had no sentimental connections for me that thing was gonna be my new safe and some new toys too! Alas, we are taking it back to wife's grandmother where it belongs.
 
Don't let them ruin it! People do the most foolish things out of ignorance and destroy the value of relics like this trying to "restore" them.
 
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HSO, I'm not certain what's next for it, either oiled and stored or sold. Either way no one is planning to molest it anymore. My father in law is sick over what he did to it now that he knows what it is.
 
I am going to bet it is worth as much as an average house. The last Wakazashi I saw similar to that in condition and age, sold for $65,000.00. You know Steven Segal is a HUGE collector, and has a website. He is always looking for rare and collectable swords and pays correct prices. I think he has a few worth millions.
 
TVtropes as a reference?

Are you serious?
Click to expand...

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley. I put the link up because it has a variety of swords described put into layman's terms and I find it to be a lot more user friendly than the Wikipedia articles. My point is that I really don't get or care about things such as tang, tsuba, fuller, or structure. I just want to know what the sword looks like and what it's called.
 
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mortablunt,

There are much better sites on swords and knives and what all the parts are is important when talking about antique pieces.
 
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