matthewbrice

It would be difficult to believe that a showato sword, a tired old family blade with flaws or one with missing temper, or a gendai by a low-ranking smith would have been carried by a General.

I suppose that's true, but everything tracks--Samurai mon on the fuchi, early mounts from approx. 1936 since it's a Type 94, a family blade. Things like that.

How many WW2 swords have provenance anymore after 80 years since the war--0.5%? 0.25%? They would have to have a surrender tag attached to them still--or would have to have a photo from during the war or during the occupation. Or a letter perhaps. I was at the Orlando Japanese Sword Show this past weekend. I saw one surrender tag attached to a sword. And I bought the only other sword with provenance in the show that I saw. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

Some more photos showing the reverse side of the sword, and some more hamon photos.

An exceptionally difficult to find Army General's shin-gunto sword w/General's Tassel being auctioned off this weekend. Here is the link to St. Croix Blades' auction of this Army General's sword: https://www.ebay.com/itm/116636445564 Many more photos are in the listing. The mounts are early Type 94 mounts. Notice the elongated kabutogane with pins used to affix it to the tsuka. This sword also has an oversized pierced tsuba, early reddish brown saya lacquer, and a silver Samurai mon located on the fuchi. All military fittings are of the highest quality. This sword was never messed with by a collector or dealer. It is just as it was brought back from the War. The 16th/17th Century signed old family blade measures 24 3/4" (62.9 cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine. The nakago is signed 'Inshu ju Kanesaki'. If you use Hawley's book as a reference, there are several 15 pt smiths who signed 'Inshu ju Kanesaki', and there is one that worked around 1596 A.D. that was a 40 pt swordsmith. The hamon on this sword is best described as Hiroi haku gunome midare togare, or wide box bead shape irregular pointed. A beautiful hamon. The 40 pt smith used a gunome hamon similar to this sword. Also, the blade has no openings or other flaws. This sword was possibly (or likely) made by the 40 pt swordsmith Inshu ju Kanesaki. Condition: This sword is in beautiful condition. The General's tassel is in excellent condition with honest signs of carry. The blade is in old Japanese polish. There are no mentionable-size nicks. The blade has scattered spots of very light pitting. Since there aren't any mentionable-size nicks, the scattered pits are shallow, there are no openings or other flaws, and the hamon and boshi are perfectly healthy, this sword would polish beautifully. St. Croix Blades can refer the buyer to a polisher if desired. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

An exceptionally difficult to find Army General's shin-gunto sword w/General's Tassel being auctioned off this weekend. Here is the link to St. Croix Blades' auction of this Army General's sword: https://www.ebay.com/itm/116636445564 Many more photos are in the listing. The mounts are early Type 94 mounts. Notice the elongated kabutogane with pins used to affix it to the tsuka. This sword also has an oversized pierced tsuba, early reddish brown saya lacquer, and a silver Samurai mon located on the fuchi. All military fittings are of the highest quality. This sword was never messed with by a collector or dealer. It is just as it was brought back from the War. The 16th/17th Century signed old family blade measures 24 3/4" (62.9 cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine. The nakago is signed 'Inshu ju Kanesaki'. If you use Hawley's book as a reference, there are several 15 pt smiths who signed 'Inshu ju Kanesaki', and there is one that worked around 1596 A.D. that was a 40 pt swordsmith. The hamon on this sword is best described as Hiroi haku gunome midare togare, or wide box bead shape irregular pointed. A beautiful hamon. The 40 pt smith used a gunome hamon similar to this sword. Also, the blade has no openings or other flaws. This sword was possibly (or likely) made by the 40 pt swordsmith Inshu ju Kanesaki. Condition: This sword is in beautiful condition. The General's tassel is in excellent condition with honest signs of carry. The blade is in old Japanese polish. There are no mentionable-size nicks. The blade has scattered spots of very light pitting. Since there aren't any mentionable-size nicks, the scattered pits are shallow, there are no openings or other flaws, and the hamon and boshi are perfectly healthy, this sword would polish beautifully. St. Croix Blades can refer the buyer to a polisher if desired. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

St. Croix Blades' Japanese Swords featured in Online 1-Day Auction TODAY at Sofe Design Auctions Bidding is easy… Step 1: Copy and paste the address into your web browser (or click on the St. Croix Blades logos at the top and bottom of this email). Step 2: Make sure to REGISTER for the auction. Step 3: Plan your max bids. Sofe Design Auctions uses a number of online Auction platforms—so the bids you see on Sofe Design’s platform are likely only half or one-third of the max bids placed on other platforms. Step 3: Place your bids. You can place your bids early before the auction starts so you don’t have to worry about participating in the live auction if you have plans for Saturday. Or plan to BID LIVE in the auction. Here is the address link to participate in this auction: https://sofedesignauctions.com/auction/261-spring-antique-art/ Some of the lots not to miss in this auction: Lot 7554—One of most MASSIVE Japanese Samurai Swords you will EVER see! Lot 7530—One of the EARLIEST post-Samurai period Japanese Army Swords, PUBLISHED in the Plimpton book Swords of the Emperor Lot 7507—A World War 2 Japanese Army Shingunto with Engraved PRESENTATION to a U.S. COLONEL LOT 7506—An Army General’s Dress Sword w/Engraved PRESENTATION from his men Lot 7550—a RARE Japanese Samurai sword w/Court-type Tachi mounts Lot 7508 —An EXCEPTIONALLY RARE Japanese World War 2 ARMY AIR FORCE Dirk w/STAR handle mekugi (as seen in Ken Banks’ book Japanese Pattern Dirks) …and so many more!

SOLD

Ok. I'll have to take another look at the date. Thank you, Volker. --Matt

SOLD

Yasukuni Shrine Army General's Sword by (Kotani) Yasunori. Dated July 1937. With original General's tassel. $8900 plus shipping. (if paying by Paypal or credit card, add their fee). More photos available if you have serious interest. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades http://www.StCroixBlades.com

Yasukuni Shrine Army General's Sword by (Kotani) Yasunori. Dated July 1937. With original General's tassel. $8900 plus shipping. (if paying by Paypal or credit card, add their fee). More photos available if you have serious interest. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades http://www.StCroixBlades.com

https://www.ebay.com...icSeller=1&_saslop=1 If you don't have an eBay account, just contact me direct to purchase. Thank you. --Matthew Brice www.StCroixBlades.com 715-557-1688 info@stcroixblades.com

Here's the link: https://stcroixblade...hop/Japanese-swords/ Thank you to my repeat (and new) customers! --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades