I would like your thoughts on this sword I received as part of a larger edged weapon collection. Not sure exactly what it is but it is the same length as other Japanese katana swords I have. The tsuba has some crude designs on both sides, the tang is unmarked except for something that has been marked on one side. Sorry for the mediocre quality of the pictures.
-
-
One of the guys more familiar with nihonto may correct me on this, but I think it's a blade made during WWII, but for the civilian market, that was later refitted for the war. Saya and tsuka look like they were made for an all leather-covered style, but the leather is gone.
The painted numbers are typical of assembly numbers painted by assembly teams and/or fitters. There is a faint hamon. I don't know if it's oil-quenched or not. Better pictures of a section of the blade would help; but first guess is oil quenched showato.
Let's see what the other guys say. -
Originally posted by BruceP View Post
I agree with Bruce that is Japanese. Not sure if it was originally made for the civilian market, though ... the officer could have had the tsuba replaced.
-- GuyComment
-
Here are some additional pictures taken indoors in sunlight. The number 140 (?) is clearly green paint. The tsuba looks much nicer. There is a faint hamon that I just can't photograph well enough. Hope this sheds some more light on the quality of this blade.Comment
-
The number is, I think, 一九〇 (190).
— GuyComment
-
Thanks for the better pics. Agree with Guy - 190.
We'll just have to hope some of the nihonto guys chime in on the blade. It's just something I don't study and can't really help you with.Comment
-
I think someone has made a crude koshirae out of a shira saya.Difficult to
tell from the photos,but it looks like a not very well forged civilian showa-to.Comment
-
I agree
Oil quenched showato in home made adapted shira saya
Can you post photos of any hamon showing ?Comment
-
This about the best photo I can get of the hamon. It is there, but faint.Comment
Comment