Japanese Sword - Today's Yard Sale Find

[Alan Smith]

Visiting my parents in my hometown of Oxford, MS today, and my father stopped by a yard sale. Upon spotting what he termed as a "possible Japanese sword", he called to alert me to the item. I headed over and, $100 later, the sword was mine. Young guy that sold it claimed that his dad "got it from some old man who was in WWII"; no other history could be obtained.

Any thoughts/observations would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Alan Smith]

Sword 2

[Alan Smith]

Sword 3

[Alan Smith]

Sword 4

[Alan Smith]

Sword 5

[Alan Smith]

Sword 6

[Alan Smith]

Sword 7

[Alan Smith]

Sword 8

[Alan Smith]

Sword 9

[Alan Smith]

Sword 10

[Alan Smith]

Sword 11

[Alan Smith]

Sword 12

[juoneen]

Looks like the handle is made from a human femur bone piece. The swastikas on this are not Nazi origin, but long before. This tang may have been a BODY TEST blade. Usually they are done with longer swords and the tang being short , may not have had enough room to put the usual test lines, but let's see what the people who can read the carachters say. Good score, can you show more of the blade . Someone has drilled a hole in modern times not there originally, may have been to add the handle presently on it. So it is likely the handle has been changed , not sure the reason. Did the seller have any story about where it Was taken from? Occupation of Japan, or on an island ?

[rajko84]

Interesting find Alan

[reeder3]

I'm sure someone will finish the translation. ?shu (province) ju (from) ?? Kuni Yoshi tada (smiths name). Not sure if signature is genuine or not, but the blade is genuine.