Death-Ace

Appreciate the comments again, gents! After viewing the blade, I see what you mean. Like you all said, a nice blade, good to study. Hopefully someone will be able to here in the future. But until it sells, I'm still gawking at it. Haha.

Reduced to 850.

Even though I just posted this blade, unfortunately I just ran into some troubles tonight (car wise) and figure I need the cash quick before I leave my current duty station. A bit embarrassing, but has to be done, especially with another sword in polish. This blade appears to be a very old boys day sword, emulating a tachi or wakizashi. Measurements: Nagasa: 17 1/2" Nakago: 5" ( Motohaba: 3/8" Kissaki Width: 3/4" Width: 15/16" (Will take more detailed measurements aa I forgot a few!) Shape: Shinogi Zukuri Sori: Koshi-Sori Mune: Iori Mune Nakago: O-suriage; Furisode Gata (?), two mekugi-ana Mei: Mumei It appears that the hamon is a suguha/midare with sunagashi leading up to choji and into the boshi which is wide with much hakikake. Will take a better photo tomorrow! The hada is masame with what appears to be itame mixed. As can be seen, there are a few delamination and ware/loose grain. There is also a very minute amount of rust that has been stabilized, but also, the hadori on the omote almost appears a bit muddy, and I can barely see any details without good lighting. Still, when held in the proper light, a good great amount of detail is seen and is truly a beauty to hold. The mounts are nice and decent and appear to have been done in the recent past! Unfortunately it appears the slot for he kozuka is slightly damaged as well as the Kurigata. The tsuba is a nice open work design but appears have been overcleaned from a decent amount of rust but is still presentable! Will add more pics soon. Asking what I have in it at 900 including shipping for a nice in polish mounted blade with a sword bag! Discussion and full set of photos here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23768-fukuoka-ichimonji-wakizashi/?p=240769&do=findComment&comment=240769%22%5D

Ahh, Ive seen that one before! Looks like it is still a nice blade and some definitely were better made. Definitely a good reference piece. Appreciate it! Looks like everything here is solved for the most part. I appreciate everyone's help and comments. Definitely helped to solve the mystery. Still a nice blade to study, however...as embarrassing as it is to state, even if I just posted this, I'm going to have to list it. One of the reasons I didn't get to the storage unit was due to car problems, stuff that needed to really get sone before I leave my current duty station. I'm going to put it for what I have in it. I seem to can't catch a break...

Wasn't able to make it to the storage unit today, but I have some pics prior to the blade's purchase.

That's actually something that has been on the crossed my mind, but hearing you all say it sounds better, haha! It seems a little wider than some boys day swords, but I can see that with this trying to emulate a tachi. Even if o-suriage, the the nakago does seem oddly shaped for a cut down. Even so, the hamon appears to continue long past the hamachi. Ill post some pictures of the koshirae here later tonight as well.

I I saw that one and it reminded me of the post Andrew is stating. Lo and behold, here we are! It was unfortunate that Matt had to have the blade and koshirae were seperated, even if the blade was in bad shape. Still, I heard the seller in Richmond is a stand-up guy and couldnt see him putting sets together without mentioning it? There have been a few of theae sighted, so wouldnt surprise me if this is a new find, but it is oddly familiar.

I really need to double check the autocorrect before I post. Thank you! The only indication I wpuld have thought, if even, was the choji hamon in the monouchi. But in any case, the seller had it noted as one, which would have been nice, but figured that it probably wasn't. Still like the blade though!

They call me the George Foreman of our times! Haha, kidding aside, nada, my hands are regular sized...lol. The blade really is slender. Thanks for the comments so far! From the blades I've seen here on the net, I cpuld not see any resemblance to any Ichimonji school blades due to the characteristics that y'all stated, but figured I'd post it up here for the viewing pleasure and some kantei. Ill have to check again, but I honestly could not see any utsuri. Thought some details looked a little similar to some ko-Bizen blades, but as said, I really don't see anything to could confirm it as one. So the search continues to evaluate it! The polish is a bit murky and kind of blinds out some of the details, especially with the omote side. The hadori polish wasn't done by any of the known polishers in the states, it seems, but looks rather well done, but like some girls, has a bit too much "make-up". In either case, I do like the blade and for whatever age it is, still a bit healthy. I bought it mounted in a nice, decent koshirae for a good price. Definitely one of the better blades Ive picked up from what y'all can see from my past buys and with my loan paid for, I'll be keeping this one to study for awhile. Possibly send to shinsa if I can figure out what it is I'm exactly dealing with and see if I'm close.

I saw a Juyo Token Hosho Sadakiyo on Daddy's site. On the description, one of the previous owners when first encountered noted it was in poor shape, captured on Indonesia in Gunto mounts. When seen next, it was polished, but no mention of the mounts. We know how many of the Gendaito we see today were originally in gunto mounts, but when they became collectible, the mounts were considered a novelty and weren't kept when they were remounted or put into shirasaya. Like the koshirae of the old, these represent the last line of military usage for the blades, new and old by 1945, and it is a bit of a shame that they were discarded and piecemealed, but no one thought how collectible these would become. We also must think that many saw a hard life outside their home country and campaign areas once brought home, so they were most likely discarded anyways, thinking restoration wouldn't be worth the hassle. Even so, at least some fittings see new life, but one must wonder what mounts they were originally used with and the blades housed. Even today, we see some pieces on eBay or an auction being paeted out to make more moolah. Hell, sometimes I've seen Arisaka parts on eBay that all cane from the same rifle, but was being sold piecemeal since "they couldn't sell the receiver on the site, but the furniture they can." Sometimes, some fittings are taken off because they are considered to be more valuable individually. To me, that is a crime to the person who mounted the blade, but it is just human nature. It is a chivalrous thought to try to find them, like how some collectors of Imperial and Third Reich Lugers and such seek the two matching magazines or consecutive number pistols, but this would be more of an endeavor. At least with those pistols, the magazines used are identifible with the model and year. With the gunto koshirae not having anything to hold them together, most would be parted out, I would think, making the 500,000:1 odds even larger! If you do have a blade that is for sure originally in Gunto mounts, it would be neat to have one made using original fittings, even for display, though! As for your current situation, I honestly think it would be better to keep them as is, with the tsunagi for display, I love your enthusiasm, but it may be a lost hope to attempt to find the original blade, though no one could say you didnt try! Does the seller know anything about the original blade it housed?

Depends on how corroded. My Kashu Nagatsugu had a decent nakago, still legible mei and taurine, but you could see where corrosion was stabilized! If it is thin and feels and looks as if the nakago could snap like a Kit-Kat, I'd have some doubts!

Hi guys! Sharing a blade I picked up last week from a very nice old collector and martial artist who was selling a few. Is a bit of a puzzle, so hope you enjoy! This blade is a very old wakizashi that appears to have been o-suriage from a longer tachi in the past. Measurements: Nagasa: 17 1/2" Nakago: 5" Motohaba: 3/8" Kissaki Width: 3/4" Width: 15/16" (Will take more detailed measurements aa I forgot a few!) It appears that the hamon is a midare with sunagashi leading up to choji and into the boshi which is wide with much hakikake. Will take a better photo tomorrow! I believe the hada to be masame with itame mixed. As can be seen, there are a few delamination and ware/loose grain. There is also a very minute amount of rust that has been stabilized, but also, the hadori on the omote almost appears too muddy, and I can barely see any details. The kicker? Apparently he had it noted as belonging to the Fukuoka Ichimonji school and I definitely see characteristics in the blade of one, I don't believe I could rightly call this one or a Ko-Bizen at that. Possibly a Bizen school of the Nanbokucho period? Either way, it is a gorgeous blade and must have quite the stunner before it was cut down.

Honestly, I think maybe a 5/10 or so, but it also depends on the owner. Probably more with the mounts. I personally, if in full polish, would rate it higher even mumei, but that's because I love guntovmounted blades and koto wakizashi, and it looks that has an ubu nakago and still healthy! Is it worth a shinsa submittal and a full polish? That depends on you! Are you planning on keeping the blade to cherish and pass on to family, or study as much, enjoy it as long as possible, With the details visible, the blade is really nice! And as stated, the mounts are the icibg on the cake, especially for wartime collectors. But rhe cost of polish, shirasaya, shinsa can bring the price to be more than the blade, but if you intend to keep it, definitely worth it, if not financially. As for the polish itself, I agree with the others, possibly someone used acid to bring out the details quick. Unfortunately, that can be a bad thing as it seeps into the porous steel of older blades and can eat the steel from the inside out. Most recommend a sodium bicarbonate bath to neutralize the acid, but should see what others say. Agree with the statements, although surely some wakizashi probably did end the hands of those who served in closed quarters. When one looks at it, it isn't really much shorter than standard sized daito. But every inch counts, and some true, some not, some carried smaller pistols as such. I think its true though that the crew gunto statement could be a marketing term, the same as how the last Mauser Lugers with their deep dark bluing and black grips came to be known as "Black Widows."

I thought they were all short? Haha, sorry, couldn't resist. But agreed, not all sub/fighter/tanker/paras carried wakizashi, even though it is understandable why they would. There was a picture either here or on the WAF recently that showed a surrender at Yokosuka with one naval officer holding a wakizashi in traditional koshirae in the leather saya cover. I would think he would be on a staff, but I need to reread it. As for the blade, definitely has some good activity, although it does appear to be chemically enhanced. If so, and by acid, I would suggest a possible sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) bath to remove any acid deposits before it works further on the steel!

Man, thats a shame that someone would try to do that. Shows there are collectors, even experienced ones who'll try to cheat someone out of a good deal. We all know them and I've had my run-ins with a few. My policy, even if its someone wanting info or prices, being truthful is the best thing to do. Very nice first piece! These crew mounted wakizashi are definitely my favorite, having had three (one was a low quality koto blade, the next a Shinto Kashu O-Wakizashi, and the current being a possible Uda school O-Suriage). Any way we could get anothet pic of the blade's hamon and hada if you get the chance? Definitely high quality Type 98 mounts with a nice mumei, ubu nakago. Great deal! Isopropyl Alcohol of the highest percentage and a good oil utilizing a microfiber cloth is definitely recommended! I'm sure someone will pitch in shortly to help with the mon, but in the meantime, enjoy! And welcome to the world of nihonto! Lev

I do remember that one! Really gorgeous blade if I recall correctly and that was when I was first becoming interested as a kid in true Nihonto. The one I regret the most is a Chikuzen Nobuhide that was dated to 1867 that I purchased at an auction in 2012. It was wide, meaty with a nagasa of 27.5 and an elegant sori. I bought it for a song and really wanted to send for a window with its choji/notare hamon but no hada could be see through the scratches. Only real flaws were two microchips in the center of the ha and the light surface rust with micro pitting near the kissaki. Was most likely gimei I but reminded me of Ishido work. Sold it in January before paying off my loan last month, would've been my first blade to send off as this would've been the three year mark of ownership. Ive bought a few other blades since, selling most for the same reason after studying them, but the silver lining(s) are the two I've purchased in the past few months. May check with the guy to see how it's been. 1) Possible Uda Muromachi O-Suriage Wakizashi with traditional koshirae remounted for WWII that I traded a few items for thst once I was cleaned off brought a beautiful hada and hamon with activities that is now with Mr. Tschernega and will be heading to Takeo Seki for assessment and polish. 2) An in-polish O-Suriage Wakizashi in koshirae from a good friend that he believes to be attributed to the Fukuoka Ichimonji school. Has a few open layers/loose grain but is abundant with activity. Will post in a few days for opinions. As stated in the previous posts, you can always replace some things, even sentimental ones knowing they're to be enjoyed and studied by others as has been done for generations. But the "What Ifs?" are always what get to ya! The one blade I wonder about is the blade I saw the first time I took leave and was in Dallas. I was in Oklahoma for a camping/fishing trip and we took a trip to Dallas to meet with a collector who wanted to see the FJ and SS camo smocks I had. Through our emails, seemed a well to do guy who had connections to the veteran Fallschirmjagers in Germany. He had quote a few items to trade, including an SS Degen and a Black Widow Luger (but "couldn't get to his storage unit"). Bit what caught my attention was a T98 mounted blade. The blade was in high quality Type 98 mounts with a cut off tsuba and family mon. I couldn't take off the tsuka and he looked nervous that it would break, so I didn't want to frighten him. However, the blade had an elegant sori, small width with a gorgeous and tight itame hada with I believe no loose grain? The hamon was a well done suguha with fine nie and a few other activities. It seemed reminiscent of a late Kamakura/early Nanbokucho tachi, but whether o-suriage, ubu signed or mumei, I don't believe I'll ever know, but if it was. If it was shortened, it must have been slightly suriage or even longer than I believed as it was a long blade. We couldn't come to a deal then, him trying for the FJ but really bargaining. The other reason was wife (guess it could be also life) issues. We tried again for a few months after, but with the unknown condition of the nakago and the trade values not evening up close, we lost contact. I eventually sold the SS Smock to a collector in Virginia and the FJ to one in Normandy, France. After I sold them, he contacted me again, but after I told him what happened and inquired about just purchasing the tachi, contact was cut. So in retrospect, the blade I miss the most really is the Nobuhide that I wish I could have sent to shinsa with the NTHK to prove the gimei theory. But sometimes I wonder if I lost more sleep from that or the Type 98 mounted Tachi?

Thanks again, guys! Definitely easier than looking in a book for signatures just to get the characters alone. Guess now, I'm going to research more on the dozens of Nobukunis, haha. Unfortunately, not much can be seen in the pics the auction has, even with the other wak, which is in worse shape, but beautiful mounts. Like this one though because of the handachi type mounts and the possible Owari School tsuba and surely in person, can see more, so if I get it for cheap, Ill leave the other blade. Can't get too greedy!

Thanks Stephen! Really appreciate it, this is definitely a tool I'm saving. Nobukuni?

Hey guys! Thinking about bidding on a few wakizashi in auction. One is signed, but can't make heads or tails of it. Anyone have anything? Thanks in advance! Lev

The Type 3 parts look to be original, I haven't seen many fakes of those and don't see a reason to fake them for this unless for a niche market. The blade though I believe is 100% fake as the Nagoya arsenal mark is out of place and poorly done and no serial numbers were on Type 30 bayonet blades that I know of.

Haha, this is what I get for posting on my phone with autocorrect on the hunt and not checking before posting! Lol! Yes, definitely meant to say choji. From what I've seen after reading about it, it does seem to absorb into the crack and can be an indicator of hagire. Also, if there was such a thing as a hagire polish that somehow "uncracked the blade," I'd say give that man a Nobel Peace Prize for getting us some sound sleep! Haha. But it does appear to be a hagire covered by the hadori polish, but will need further pics for investigation if possible.

Zooming in on the right picture, I can see a line in the hamon as well, but not sure as it looks to go the slightest bit diagonally. Possibly covered a bit by the hagiri polish? I'd put a bit of chili on each side and if it looks to be absorbed quicker than normal, Id hate to say it, but might be a hagire. If not, I'd lean towards a scratch, hopefully.

Its possible that the koshirae was ordered as such. I'm seen examples that appear to have been katana length for wakizashi. One example I had that I sold recently was a Shinto Kashu Nagatsugu ao-Wakizashi that had the saya refinished. However, the mounts were otherwise original with the tsuka at least three inches longer than the nakago and the saya five to six inches longer than the nagasa. I've heard from some threads and sources that it was either by service members of the IJN and IJA taking their family's wakizashi or one that was bought because it was cheaper than buying a katana length one. To ensure that they wouldn't be the brunt of their peers' jokes and to make it appear regulation, they'd have the mounts ordered to appear as regular katana. With my wakizashi at 22 inches, who could tell the difference at a distance? To the average soldier/sailor, they probably appeared to be ko-katana or just one that befits their height. From thr looks of the koshirae, it looks just fine, maybr the ito was redone or just buggered with? We all definitely know how some mounts like excellent or dang near pristine but the blade scratched up to hell from abuse or good natured attemptd to clean it.

Thats pretty neat! I've seen a few on the web and in the person that could be attributed to bullet strikes. One I saw on the WAF has a .45 lodged between the tsuba and fuchi, wrecking those and lodging it self between those and the mune of the nakago. There was a Mantetsu on sale once that had a strike in the same place, obliterating that area of the tsuba and fuchi, but leaving a moderate dent on the nakago. Guess those blades definitely have a reputation they uphold!

Well, actually in hiragana on the axe, it says "Break, in case if emergency," explaining all the shortened yari we see! Haha! All joking aside, that is weird. Depending on the age of the yari, didn't even think that axe heads of that design as such existed or were created in the Far East in that time? Almost looks of a European design, could have been in trade from the Dutch or the yari a "younger example?"