Rough But Beautiful

[Kwakernaak]

Hi fellow collectors.

 

Got this sword in today. One of those with that "been to war" feel to it. Just love that.

 

It also came with the leather cover for the Tsuka. I think the maker is Kanemichi, as I found the signature on page 47 in the book of John Scott Slough.     

Not so sure if its more valuable because of this?? The blade is original polish, but the hamon can still be seen as is quite nice.

 

A couple of things I noticed that I did not see before (but might be common??). On the tang there is a painted mark. I found exactly the same mark inside the mounth of the Saya, and in the month of the Tsuka. I assume that the bades were sent to saya makers to get outfitted, and they marked each item with their own number/mark to keep things together??

 

More unusual to me is the mark on the tang under the Habaki. Can anybody tell me what the mark means, or why it is there?? I have never seen this before..

 

On last question: Can somebody translate the reverse inscription on the tang? Is there a year and place of manufacture?? Any help appreciated. Hope you like the pics.

 

Thanks in advance, Peter Jan.

 

[Stefan]

Seems to be a name.

Wada ?

Greets

Stefan

[Stegel]

I hate this what i call chicken scratchings for kanji, typical of mass produced ww2 blades, not as clear and easy to read. (at least for my eye)

I'm sure someone will be able to read it and get back to you... my gueass is showa 12 (1937) or possibly 13??

[Bruce Pennington]

Peter,

 

The small stamp at the top of the nakago is the "Showa" stamp, put on military blades made during the war in the non-traditional manner.

 

The painted kanji are numbers - 5701 - and like you said, were used to keep parts together, since almost all officer gunto were of varying sizes and shapes. So once parts were fitted to each other, they were able to keep them together even if seperated, like for final polishing.

 

I can normally read date kanji, but this one has me stumped!

 

Nice find. the complete leather set is fairly rare!

[David Flynn]

Kanemichi Saku.

[nagamaki - Franco]

.

 

 

 

More unusual to me is the mark on the tang under the Habaki. Can anybody tell me what the mark means, or why it is there?? I have never seen this before..

 

 

 

Thanks in advance, Peter Jan.

 

 

Hello,

 

My guess would be that these are assembly marks.

[Bruce Pennington]

I think it is a name on the nakago mune! I've posted it on the "Translation help" forum and will update as soon as I get word.

[george trotter]

The date is KIGEN 2 thousand 6 hundred and 1 year (1941) a system used to proclaim the number of years since the foundation of the Empire 660BC.

The name? behind the munemachi is Wada something (can't tell if the next character is one character or two)...I think this is one for Morita sensei.

Hope this helps,

[Bruce Pennington]

From SteveM on the Translations forum:

 

Members

659 posts

LocationTokyo, Japan

Posted Today, 12:43 AM

和田護

Wada Mamoru

 

↑ My best guess. The Wada is obvious. The bottom name, not so much due to the balance being wrong for 護. Still, its the closest I could find without digging into the really obscure kanji.

 

 

George - Thanks! I keep forgetting about that dating method. Do you think there is significance when this method is used, like the blade is made special by it? Or was it just the popular method of dating leading up to the war, then as the production demands increased, it became quicker to use the Showa dating?

[george trotter]

Hi Bruce,

No, it is just one of three dating systems seen on WWII period tangs

KIGEN, and KOKI both use the 2600 year = 1940 cycle and of course the most common is Showa (current Imperial reign) cycle.

Koki is shown in Slough p.164 and others and Kigen is shown on p.79 and others.

Regards,

[Kwakernaak]

Gentlemen,

 

Thank you all very much for your comments. Highly appreciate the feedback and translations. Nice to see the blade is marked with name. I assume its the name of the former owner. Makes the sword just a bit more personal..

 

Thanks again,

 

Peter Jan

[David Flynn]

Not the owner, the maker.

[Kwakernaak]

David, I was referring to the name Wada Momura on top of the tang. I assume this is not the maker. That should be Kanemichi right?

I am assuming the second name would be of the owner, or would this assumption not be reasonable?

[Bruce Pennington]

It is most likely the polisher, but no way to really know. You can read the full discussion your inscription here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21519-name-on-nakago-mune/