matthewbrice

This menpo has a mustache, and cherry blossom chin vent. The inside of the mask is in red lacquer. CONDITION: This antique Menpo is in excellent condition. The silk lacing is in excellent condition. This is a fine piece. $1850 https://stcroixblades.com/product/antique-Japanese-samurai-menpo-armor-mempo-mask-old-sword-collection/ --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

This beautiful kozuka depicts a hawk or falcon. This kozuka is signed. This kozuka has shakudo and gold work. This fine kozuka measures 3 15/16″ (9.9 cm) by just over 9/16″ wide (1.4 cm). CONDITION: This fine antique Japanese kozuka is in beautiful condition. $800 plus shipping (and Paypal/credit card if choosing to pay that way) --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

A fine papered 16th Century Katana by (Heianjo) Nagamitsu. This Koto period sword would make an important addition to any collection. This katana is in excellent polish. It is accompanied by beautiful mounts. The fuchi and kurikata have a matching gold floral motif. The kashira is polished horn. The tsuba is very interesting–it is made of lacquered wood. The plugs in the hitsu-ana are fine textured gold. A complementing silk sageo is threaded through the kurikata. A wood tsunagi (with habaki) was made for the mounts. The blade is in a handsome shirasaya. The shirasaya is wrapped with bamboo accents. The blade measures 68 cm (26.8 in). The 2-piece habaki is wrapped in gold foil. This Koto period sword is accompanied by NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho papers. CONDITION: The blade is in excellent polish. The hamon and boshi are healthy. The koshirae is in exceptional condition. $6650 View additional photos by visiting http://StCroixBlades.com --Matthew Brice

St. Croix Blades has added new swords, tosogu, and armor to the site. https://stcroixblades.com/product-category/Japanese-swords/ Thank you. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades 715-557-1688

SOLD

Sale PENDING

An important and exceedingly rare Japanese efu tachi made by Imperial Household Artisan Kanenori to commemorate the Ascension to the Throne of Emperor Taisho. This sword is dated August, 1912. Emperior Meiji passed away on July 29, 1912. Yoshihito, his son, ascended to the throne in August 1912. Emperor Yoshihito was later awarded the name Emperor Taisho, 123rd Emperor of Japan. Efu Coronation court tachi were made in very limited numbers–often just 12 were made. Another such example was returned by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Japan in 2016. It was presented to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. That sword was made for the ascension to the throne of Emperor Hirohito (Showa). A quick google search will bring up an article about that sword. This sword is signed ‘Teishitsugigeiin Sugawara Kanenori’ (Imperial Court/Household Artisan). The reverse is dated ‘An auspicious day in August, First Year of Taisho Era’ (1912). The nakago is also marked ’83 Okinasaku’–which refers to Kanenori’s age of 83 at the time he made this sword. The koshirae is adorned with the Go-shichi no Kiri (5-7-5) Paulownia crest. The blade nagasa is 63.8 cm. This fine Coronation tachi comes with shirasaya as well. Each piece (tachi and shirasaya) comes in a silk sword bag. CONDITION: This important and exceedingly rare Coronation tachi is in quite perfect condition. This sword was well cared for. SOLD --Matthew Brice StCroixBlades.com

25% off all Japanese swords and tosogu through Sunday. (with payment made by Paypal, Zelle, Venmo, Wise, bank transfer before midnight Sunday, September 14th). http://stcroixblades.com --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

New swords just added. Click on the link to take a look: https://stcroixblades.com/product-category/Japanese-swords/ If you have any questions, need more photos, etc., just let me know. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

St. Croix Blades' new site is up and running! New swords and tosogu just added. Click on the link to take a look: https://stcroixblades.com/product-category/Japanese-swords/ If you have any questions, need more photos, etc., just let me know. --Matthew Brice St. Croix Blades

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.