Japanese Sword - what is it?

[nickn]

Hello stu
I have owned quite a few of these "civilian" swords including a couple with the officers club label still on the saya for this reason I believe they were still connected I some way to the japanese army and not bought by civilians
Nick

[Bob Coleman]

I have also encountered a number of these swords over the years. Some with leather saya covers and ring attachments for military usage and others in their original state. All have had the Seki stamp leading to me that it was more than a military acceptance stamp but a regional craft guild acceptance stamp. The oddest one I encountered was a military conversion with a double leather hanger attachement and the blade mounted with cutting edge up so as to be drawn like a katana. I bought it from a vet who took it out of a stack of surrendered swords in the Phillipines.

[GHP]

... The oddest one I encountered was a military conversion with a double leather hanger attachement and the blade mounted with cutting edge up so as to be drawn like a katana. I bought it from a vet who took it out of a stack of surrendered swords in the Phillipines.

Bob,

Do you still have it, or if not, a photograph to share? It sounds very interesting and unique.

--Guy

[Bob Coleman]

Bob,

Do you still have it, or if not, a photograph to share? It sounds very interesting and unique.

--Guy

This was back in the mid 80's and I was only interested in true Nihon-to. I sold it to a friend who collected unusual military mounts. I do not know if he still has it but will inquire. If he does, I will request pictures. It certainly was a very unique military mounting.

[GHP]

This was back in the mid 80's and I was only interested in true Nihon-to. I sold it to a friend who collected unusual military mounts. I do not know if he still has it but will inquire. If he does, I will request pictures. It certainly was a very unique military mounting.

Thanks.

Didja ever see anything like this:



It belonged to the "adoption" father of the man I was visiting. As a boy, he was adopted by a general to be groomed as an officer. The war ended while he was still in Seinen Gakko; he was eventually guided into the Air Self-Defense Force from which he retired as a pilot Lt. Colonel. He was working as a Japanese civil servant contractor at Camp Zama when I knew him. Can't remember if 廣田 Hirota was his birth name or his adopted family name.

Cheers,
--Guy