raaay

just to jump in , here is a few pics if my one . no saya cover unfortunately . very nice tapering Oak pole 7ft long counter weight - 7" long -weight ? blade - 7" x 5" signed -Fujiwara Hisayuki saku .

Brian just google the Token society of Ireland . you can also try there face book page ,

Hi Brian , there are a few Irish members here on the NMB , I take it you know about the Irish Token Society ?

hi Craig the photos are not good , but the grain pattern you are looking for " Masame Hada " looks more like scratches from an abrasive clean on the surface to me , i hope i am wrong ! sorry just my two pence worth , but it may be the magnification that is causing it to look like that ?

Hi Nobody , many thanks for the link , a very interesting read about the Suya Company . Bruce, the info on the other swords with the lions apart from the star shaped Mon , looks nothing like mine, i am still convinced it is in the Japanese style , but we might never know , but thanks to all for there input. as previously said i have seen this sword before on eBay , copied the info , just now need to find it !

yip, Mike IS your guy ,

I was always convinced it is Japanese , could it have been made or commisioned for another country's arm forces ? somewhere i have copy from a few years ago , of the duplicate Kyu-Gunto sword that was sold on eBay , i am going from memory i am sure they suggested it was for the Korean or Sino -Russian campaign ? But it looks like it is an interesting and Rare model ! also i see there is in the translation section, An excellent reply about the Japanese company and the company history that made these parade sabers.

Bruce I edited my last post , but not sure if you seen the comments , shishi / Lion Dog is on the back strap , as i said you see them on many sword fittings .

Hi Bruce the only other one i have seen and it had an identical Kyu Gunto hilt , was on eBay 2/3 years ago it sold for $1800.00 ! if i remember correctly,. which surprised me at the time . it was supposed to have been used during the Korean campaign ?? but who can believe everything you see or read on eBay . as you can tell i could not get a good clear pic of the Kanji which is presumably the manufacturer of the sword guard ! maybe someone will recognize it on here . shishi as in Lion Dog , just as you see in many menuki and sword fittings .

Hi Bruce the only other one i have seen and it had an identical Kyu Gunto hilt , was on eBay 2/3 years ago it sold for $1800.00 ! if i remember correctly,. which surprised me at the time . it was supposed to have been used during the Korean campaign ?? but who can believe everything you see or read on eBay . as you can tell i could not get a good clear pic of the Kanji which is presumably the manufacturer of the sword guard ! maybe someone will recognize it on here .

And one from me . A rare one i think ! i have only seen one other with a shi-shi as part of the back strap , also i am not sure what this Mon is if purely a military issue sword , cutting edge - 27 & 3/4" gold bullion sword knot Ray

just to be flippant , i see a running man carrying a triangle under his arm

Mark if you live in the UK and have been collecting Japanese swords for sometime , it is easy to recognize that type of lemon juice / acid polish , i believe he has retired now .

Hi Mark , if you are not a member of the Token Society yet , that would be my advice , as you will get all the advice and more.

100% fake , lots of these around .

Hi Paul apologies , i hope all went well with the meeting , but due to issues at work yesterday , i missed the AGM and the meeting. regard's. Ray

Mantetsu - obviously many years ago an antique dealer tried to sell me a Mantetsu blade , the dealers translation was it said , leaping tiger in the spring time

sorry to disagree but, IMHO 100% fake you can see the burr marks on the Ana tang hole are still fresh looking , plus the Fuchi is signed upside down, the tsuka ito wrap all going in the same direction , the Habaki looks very suspect too ,, looks like a Chinese fake to me . just my two pennies worth

Sorry 100% Chinese copy

please sign your posts it the forum rules, The mounts are of the theme - Shoki the demon killer , Shoki is the one on the Tsuba .

i am just wondering looking at the second photo what all the little indentations are just above the Ana on the left hand side , a stamp removed ? ?

kanbun , if correct ? kaneshige ?

Hi Bruce that would be good to post elsewhere for an other opinion , sorry i meant to like your post pressed unlike by mistake ,Oop's

Hi Dean in the nicest way , please clean all the finger prints of the blade ASAP , they will become a permanent mark if not wiped off ,

Hi John 30 plus years ago, was it really worth faking basic officer tassels , i am not sure why they would bother back then , just my two pennies worth The tassels i have never came through any dealer or auction sales , they were acquired through private sales , so i had know reason to doubt they were not original to the swords , i just thought they were some sort unrecorded tassel ? but it will be interesting to find out .