Older katana find

[rajko84]

This is where they removed it

[GHP]

This is where they removed it

Well I’ll be hornswoggled! You’re 100% correct, that’s where the kurigata used to be. Definitely this sword was donated to the war effort; the kurigata was removed, a new haikan attached, and a (missing) leather combat scabbard fitted.

Wish it was my find!

— Guy

[oldhonda]

I'm curious what the size of this sword is.

[rajko84]

I will get you the size

[Luis22]

I think the nakako is older than Showa era; the brown color, coupled with the groove that goes way down, plus the second mekugi-ana. It appears to me to be suriage -- shortened.

The fittings are handachi -- i.e., "half-tachi" sytle. This sort of fitting was popular in the early 1900s ~ 1930s, though my time-line might be off.

I see grain in the steel shown in photo #4 (post #6); though I cannot see the hamon.

I think the both original haikan have been removed; the image is not clear enough, but I think I see residue of where the lower haikan used to be. I suggest that both original haikan (which would have matched the semegane -- scabbard ring--) were removed and replaced with the single WW2-era haikan, then the original lacquered scabbard was covered in a leather combat cover. I think this method of lacquer is called Tatake Inden nuri, but I'm not certain -- it reminds me of chrysanthemum leaves.

Dunno about the slight red coloring on the tsuba. It could be a "Bubba" job as Bruce posits, but I think "Bubba" would have left it gaudidly red; this red is very understated. Still, coloring on a tsuba is not anything one should expect. (Could it be a subtle lacquering?)


--Guy

[Luis22]

that type of cut in the nakago is typical of Koto era swords,,,IMO a very old sword...

[Luis22]

that type of cut in the nakago is typical of Koto era swords,,, also the blood groove IMO a very old sword...

[rajko84]

Blade is 27 1/2 long

[GHP]

Blade is 27 1/2 long

Are you measuring in a straight line from the munemachi to kissaki? If so, that's a just over 2-shaku, 3-sun (+0.5-bu).



--Guy

[rajko84]

Are you measuring in a straight line from the munemachi to kissaki? If so, that's a just over 2-shaku, 3-sun (+0.5-bu).



--Guy

Guy
Yes that is what I did. Also what is 2-shaku, 3-sun?
Thank you

[GHP]

Guy
Yes that is what I did. Also what is 2-shaku, 3-sun?
Thank you

Shaku-sun-bu are the units of measure used by the Japanese. Still used by carpenters, etc., for traditional work.

One shaku is approximately 12"; a sun is approximately 1"; a bu is 0.11"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaku_(unit)

According to my teacher, Nakamura Taizaburo, who was a fencing instructor during the war (see photos), the gunto was "standardized" at 2-shaku 2-bu (ni-shaku, ni-bu), but there were variations, depending on the height and preference of the user.


--Guy

[rajko84]

Shaku-sun-bu are the units of measure used by the Japanese. Still used by carpenters, etc., for traditional work.

One shaku is approximately 12"; a sun is approximately 1"; a bu is 0.11"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaku_(unit)

According to my teacher, Nakamura Taizaburo, who was a fencing instructor during the war (see photos), the gunto was "standardized" at 2-shaku 2-bu (ni-shaku, ni-bu), but there were variations, depending on the height and preference of the user.


--Guy

Thank you.

[nickn]

Shortened to comply with 17th century sword laws

[rajko84]

Shortened to comply with 17th century sword laws

So from what era is this sword originally?

[nickn]

Before 1640
It’s only a guess but 1450-1550