Some Japanese stuff: flags, swords,....opinions please

[Budo45]

sorry

cant help with the flags, and i really think the swords are repo's

[Paul G]

The flags ae actually "going off to war" Banners I believe. They were hung to celebrate a family member joining the military. The long one is in a pretty common configuration, and the other, I have not seen one exactly like that. Prices are hard to evaluate on these, as I hav seen them all over the board. Dealers sell them for a few hundred, and they sell for less on e-bay. The thing about these banners is they are hard to display, as they are so large. The NCO sword looks odd to me. The tip looks off shape. The handle color seems to be a bit darker than others I have seen, and the painting is all off. Maybe it was repainted, the sword experts will know. Maybe its a Chinese repo. The officers sword, has some issues as well, I believe. The scabbard looks like it has been scrubbed of all its paint, and polished up a bit, the end peice is missing also. It should be painted steel. The whole sword looks very odd to me, It looks very much like a modern Chinese repo, but If you have really had it for 20 years, then ????. It may just be a heavily used and messed with example. In any case, the officers sword will be a hard sell.

PG-

[Steve Flanagan]

Swords

Id pass on the swords if offered as genuine, particularly the shiny scabbard Shingunto,,,has every appearance of repro.

[Nico C]

Thanks for the opinions already, guys.

Like I said, I got the stuff from my father for some 20 years ago (1988 orso).
I know that when I started to do some martial arts in 1989 (I was 12 years then), I could take them with me to show off to the sensei.
He acquired them at the Arlon military fair, where he was a regularly visitor.
Were there already chinese fakes then or is it a phenomenon of the recent years?

It would be a real pain in the *ss if they would be fake...., since I counted on the money for buying some other stuff.

[Paul G]

I don't think the mass produced Chinese swords were a real problem back then, but.....you never know. Have you had the handle off the officers sword? And better close up pictures of the NCO would confirm fo sure. Pics of the makers mark, serial number, blade tip, Tsuba (hand guard) , and the same for the officers, with an extra pic of the area under the handle, with the handle removed.

PG-

[zachb]

I agree with some of the things said. The first "going off to War" banner actually looks like someone patched several together to make a tent or blanket, groundsheet, etc. The second off to war banner (typical as Paul said) would probably be worth $80-$120.00 (just my humble opinion). The "banners" might have names on them but I haven't seen the kind gentlemen that used to do translations participating here for a long time.

I'm leaning toward original on your swords, especially the NCO. The problem however, is the NCO handle has been repainted. Even though the Japanese used a myriad of colors on scabbards etc., that just doesn't look period. I would think (and depending on other factors, e.g., the blade condition and if the sword and scabbard having matching numbers) that could lower the value as much as 55%+. The other sword...one would need to look at the tang. The value is going to be on the blade and some for furniture. The scabbard looks to have had a run in wit some naval jelly or chemical paint remover.

[Nico C]

Paul and Zach,


I never had the handle off. A bit afraid of ruining the sword

I will make tomorrow some more and better pics (it is dark now overhere).

Thanks for the advise!


Nico

[ROBB]

The Nco sword looks like it has been repainted and the officers appears to have been heavilly scoured both on the blade and scabbard . Rob