I found this Katana and I wish if anybody can translate what is on the tang.
Any help is appreciated.
Alf.
Any help is appreciated.
Alf.
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Its actually an officers sword. Signed No Shu Seki Ju Yasu (might be shige) Saku. Need larger pictures to be sure Dated Showa 17.
Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN -
As Bill says, an Officer sword.
In Type 98 mounts.
These are NCO swords here ...
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=495813
Regards,
StuComment
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Alf, that's a beautiful gunto! Where'd you get it? Any history on it?
Showa 17 is a dating system that adds up to 1942, and if I'm reading it right, it is March ? 1942. Definitely a war sword, though it looks pristine enough that it doesn't look like it was ever swung at anyone!
The little stamp above the signature is Seki where 70% of the war swords were made.
The all-brown rank tassel is a late-war style used by all Officer ranks, so my quess is that the original was damaged and replaced with this by the owner, or was missing when the G.I. got it and this was added later. All original equipment though.Last edited by BruceP; 10-18-2016, 03:34 PM.Comment
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Thank you BruceP, as much as I always wanted one of these, these is the first one, bought and I am still waiting to be shipped.Originally posted by BruceP View Post
It is my intention to try and find anything about it with the help of members like you who are willing to share their knowledge.
As soon as it arrives I will photograph every corner of it and share it for others to comment.
Alf.Comment
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Thinking about it, all this information from which side of the tang was extracted since both tangs have markings.
And; I bought the sword from a dealer in the Nederlands.With little information except that it is a ww2 Katana. which I hope to expand here on the forum.
AlfComment
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Fake tassel.Comment
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This side is the date. You can check this site for the way the date breaks down:
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/nengo.htm
The other side is the smith signature and often the province they worked in.Comment
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濃州関住清宣作
Nōshū Seki-jū Kiyonobu Saku
Made by Kiyonobu, Residing in Seki [City], Nōshū [today it's Gifu Prefecture]
BTW, his first name is Kiyo-nobu
昭和十七年三月
Shōwa jū nana-nen san-gatsu
March 1943
Here's another by Kiyonobu:
Looks like his civilian name was
長村 松市
Osamura Matsu'ichi
Source page
Hmmmmmmm .... "Matsu'ichi" could also be pronounced as Shō'ichi ..... dunno.
--GuyLast edited by GHP; 10-18-2016, 08:44 PM.Comment
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Not a fake tassel ,I was looking at my phone. Sometimes Im little to fastOriginally posted by gunto View Post
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Wow...You all amaze me with all this information, it seems that I have a lot to learn and it is going to take time. Thank you very much and I am happy that I think I bought a good sword after all.
So is this sword made by hand or machine made?
Again thank you for helping me.
Alf.
PS why this sword has one ring to hang from while other have twoComment
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Originally posted by gunto View Post
Do you mean fake as in modern reproduction intended to deceive or simply a modern reproduction?
My understanding is that brown tassels that were originally only used on naval swords (kaigunto) but were more generally used on army officer swords (shingunto) towards the end of the war.
It seems that you are stating that the tassel illustrated is a modern reproduction intended to deceive. I am wondering how you reach this conclusion.
I have 50-60 or so brown tassels that I acquired over the years. I am not at all sure that I could spot a fake from a single somewhat blurred photo. I am wondering what made you come to such a conclusion.
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Originally posted by Michael Downey View Post
Gunto. Please disregard my post. I see that you have now clarified.
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