Theater Mod damaged Japanese Sword

[Mr. Scratch]

Okay, the sword is pretty busted as Japanese swords go, but kind of interesting anyway. Probably worth more as a US Theater Knife type piece.

It was battle-damaged, struck by a bullet at the point where the scabbard is broken. The bullet dented and cracked the blade. Somewhere along the line it was stripped of it's furniture, then outfitted with bits of aluminum and plexi (allegedly from a downed Japanese aircraft), and embellished as trade bait.

[Mr. Scratch]

Bullet strike to scabbard and bend in blade:

[Mr. Scratch]

Bullet strike point and crack on reverse:

[greyman]

Dead

Story's are good and this one may have a tale to tell.......Cannot see an Hamon or nakago, post a picture of the Tang please.
Roy

[Mr. Scratch]

Story's are good and this one may have a tale to tell.......Cannot see an Hamon or nakago, post a picture of the Tang please.
Roy

Can't get to the tang. The plexiglass handle has been set in place with 8 screws (4 on each side), then the screws polished down to the point where there is no slot by which to remove them. The habaki (a modified kashira?) has also looks to have been brazed in place.

[Papa Nambu]

Wrecked aircraft were a favorite source of material for trench art projects like this, and probably the only source of Plexiglas out on Pacific battlefields, so the story is likely true, although damaged plexigas from an American plane would be fair game too. It is pretty much ruined as a Japanese sword, but an interesting piece of trench art. I've seen bayonets and even Nambu pistols that had this sort of treatment, but this is the first sword I've seen like that.

[kaigunair]

Dead as nihonto, but interesting as a post war, how gi's messed with blades example. I'd kinda like it as a conversation piece if its ever for sale (and the price is right).

[Mr. Scratch]

I'd kinda like it as a conversation piece if its ever for sale (and the price is right).

It's available!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT