Samurai Sword

[Steve Ritter]

Am I correct in thinking this is just a military sword with very little value?

[Stu W]

Hello Steve,

It appears to be a Type 98 IJA Officer sword.

As to value, at first glance I'd say around 700 USD in that condition. Looks like a couple seppa are missing. How's the blade edge? Any nicks? Is the blade straight?

Regards,
Stu

[Stu W]

Has the other side of the nakago (tang) got any kanji or perhaps very small stampings?

Regards,
Stu

[Steve Ritter]

Samurai Sword

Thanks for the information. The blade does not have any nicks and appears to be straight. There is also a visible line along the sharp edge. I do not see any other characters except for one close to the front end of the handle on the side with character markings.

[Stu W]

Can you provide a clear close photo of that other mark? I'm not able to see it. It's likely an arsenal stamping of some sort and may tell us a bit more about the piece.

Regards
Stu

[gunto]

It looks like showa stamp ( cherry blossom with kanji)

[Steve Ritter]

Samurai Sword

Photo of mark. Maybe it is not a mark at all. Thanks to all for information.

[Stu W]

I'm not able to pick out any specific characteristics but would be inclined to vote for a Seki stamp given the perimeter shape.

Regards,
Stu

[GHP]

Ishihara Naotane

石原直胤

Seki smith

直胤 (Naotane) 石原 鑒市 (real name)


直胤 石原鉴市 S16.12.26
source

I have no idea how his real given name is pronounced!

--Guy

[gunto]

I saw something that looked like showa stamp
There is 2 types of Seki stamps , the one on the sword is the second one.

[tokashikibob]

Some of the seki blades are quite desirable, you need to take a close look at the hada, the blade from tempered edge to ridge line under a little magnification to see if it has some characteristics of a hand made blade. Could add a few hundred more $ to the 700. Nice pickup!
http://meiboku.info/guide/form/hada/index.htm

Semper Fi,
Bob
http://www.okinawarelics.com

[Stu W]

Some of the seki blades are quite desirable, you need to take a close look at the hada, the blade from tempered edge to ridge line under a little magnification to see if it has some characteristics of a hand made blade. Could add a few hundred more $ to the 700. Nice pickup!
http://meiboku.info/guide/form/hada/index.htm

Semper Fi,
Bob
http://www.okinawarelics.com

Hello Bob,

Are you thinking that this blade, through the presence of hada, could be something more than a non traditionally made gunto?

Regards,
Stu

[tokashikibob]

Hi Stu,
Those Seki and Showa stamped blades have to be checked closely when you come across them as there are stamped blades that have the characteristics we are looking for in a quality hand made blade. Some especially in Japan take off the stamp to wipe out the stigma and then declare the blade a Gendaito. Nobody's really sure on how rigid the standards were for the stamp during the war.

[Brian Robinson]

The standards for using the stamps during the war were actually VERY rigid. Discussed many times on the NMB. Fact is, with a Seki or Sho stamp, the sword can be considered a Showato and not a Gendaito. Yes..sometimes the Japanese authorities can be fooled, but you can be assured that with an arsenal stamp like this, the sword will not be fully forged and tempered from tamahagane and water quenched. Most of the Seki blades are inferior to the other areas too, although certainly not all.
I think the price of around $700 is about right imho.

Brian