Sword for your review

[luftwaffenkopf]

thank you

[Death-Ace]

Beautiful blade! Shape is shobu-zukuri and appears to be wakizashi size. As you probably already know, it is in traditional mounts with the leather cover over the saya as utilized in WWII for usage. Thoughts are for tankers and fighter pilots as well as other specialities that had them in closed spaces. The blade itself appears -koto (pre-1596) in the shape of a nagInsta-naoshi (either forged as such or cut-down from one). Doesn't appear to be in bad shape with just a bit of rust in the ha.

Would love to see closer pics of the edge, as well as if you are able to take out the mekugi-ana in the handle (tsuka). Will get more information out! The tsuka, signed tsuba, amd fittings are gorgeous and appear high quality with wither gold leaf or pure gold menuki. I am a sucker for remounted wakizashi and have one koto era in these types and a Shinto period one in Type 98 mounts!

Hope this helps!
Lev

[GHP]

Can't tell much without seeing the tang. It is a wakizashi made in the "naginata" shape.

The tsuba signature is very faint, but on the right side is

長州
Chōshū

And the tsuba-maker's name, on the left side, appears to be
正道
Masamichi

--Guy

[Bob Coleman]

As said, this appears to be a naginata naoshi. The menuki are not gold as Japanese gold has more of an orange color to it. It appears to be a decent blade and likely not signed.

[Death-Ace]

As said, this appears to be a naginata naoshi. The menuki are not gold as Japanese gold has more of an orange color to it. It appears to be a decent blade and likely not signed.

After taking a closer look, I agree about the menuki. Does there also appear to be an extra mekugi-ana inlet right over the fuchi to you?

[Bob Coleman]

After taking a closer look, I agree about the menuki. Does there also appear to be an extra mekugi-ana inlet right over the fuchi to you?

Yes there is. For me, this would indicate a replacement tsuka not done by a Japanese. I have run in to this several times when the vet broke the handle looking for the fake rumor of hidden jewels

[Lampwick]

"rumo(u)r of hidden jewels "... You intrigue me Young Man. Please expand.

[GHP]

"rumo(u)r of hidden jewels "... You intrigue me Young Man. Please expand.

Ach! That was the rumor when I was a mere lad in the 1950s: "jewel-encased sword handles" and all that tripe.

Quote:
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset"> Originally Posted by panzerzacker
A widow who lives up the street from me has one in her basement, not for sale. I've never seen it, but from what her son tells me it's still in great shape with the exception that the jewels in the handle have been popped out by somebody (period theft).
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Actually, this is one of those "urban myths" (OK, GI myths) that these swords came with jewels in the handle. I have even seen handles unwrapped or the cords cut off where the veteran or his family was looking for the jewels! I have no idea where the myth started, but it is wide spread among WWII veterans. When you look at the diamond shaped openings (where you see rayskin) on the handle, lots of times the veteran will assume that there were diamonds in there that have been popped out.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard about the diamonds in or under the handle of a Japanese sword.
WAF Post Source

--Guy

[Lampwick]

Ah. So. (As the evil Japanese officer with big teeth says in the movies.) Thanks for that Guy.

[BruceP]

"rumo(u)r of hidden jewels "... You intrigue me Young Man. Please expand.

While my dad was still in the marines, someone stole the saya band, end cap, and tsuba. The mekugi was gone after that, and my Dad said he thought someone took it all looking for jewels.

[oldhonda]

Let's see how's the tang look like.

[Bob Coleman]

I once bought a katana by a student of Naotane. The widow of the man who brought it back told me her husband had taken the tsuka apart looking for the famous hidden jewels. After not finding them, somewhere he found another tsuka that almost fit so he cut about 1" of the tsuka to get the new tsuka on. Barbarians handling treasure and not even knowing it. The widow must have really disliked the sword as she sold it to me the day after burying her husband!

[luftwaffenkopf]

here are some detailed pics. the scabbard wood is broken at the place where you see the cloth wrinkle/fold towards the tip. the sword goes in this far into the scabbard and is loose at the scabbard's opening. there is no signature on the handle and the tip is missing but has been this way for a long time as can be seen from the pitting/patina there. all three holes also have patina.
certainly looks like this long scabbard is not original to this short sword, which is most likely why the wood broke where it did... what do you think? thank you

[Bob Coleman]

The saya undoubtedly had a leather field cover at one time. I have seen short blades mounted with longer length scabbards to give the appearance of a katana within. Much would depend on how comfortably the blade enters and sits in the saya.

[GHP]

*NOW* I can read the tsuba:

長州住 正定
Chōshū jū Masasada
Masada, residing in Chōshū

....tsuba is signed Choshu Ju Masasada. Masasada was a member of the Kawachi school living in Choshu-kuni; he died in 1800. Tsuba by Masasada go for at least $375 (about £230 at the current exchange rate).

source

Another of his:
http://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/s372703024?lang=chs