aeisentrou

I inherited a sword brought back to the US by my father at the end of WW II. Forum members have helped place the blade in the 1600's. I am curious about the mounting. I assume the large sectioned stalks on the tsuba are bamboo. Not sure what the other plants are, the significance of the brass dots, or what is represented by the cutouts. Same goes for the kashira and fuchi. Any insights would be appreciated. Bruce E https://www.dropbox.com/s/1mnxqwgr748y1d5/tsuba%20front%20side.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/a79m79z68ywn8os/tsuba%20back%20side.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/b4t0oicmypk48dz/fuchi.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/dwnoy7yd02y1g6a/kashira.JPG?dl=0

Once again, thanks to those who have responded. I am astounded at the amount of knowledge possessed by you. I'm feeling a burden of responsibility to learn enough to see that this sword is restored correctly. I inspected the Sada character as Ed suggested. It took about four tries to get the light at the correct angle, but I think that the eighth stoke crosses the seventh. However, it's so faint that if you weren't looking for it, you might see nothing more than the random imperfections in the metal. I'll experiment, but I doubt I will be able to capture it in a photo. I think Steve M's advice is good. Any suggestions on dealers/collectors to see or people to clean the blade and make a shirasaya in the northwest U.S.? Bruce E.

SteveM Thank you for the additional information. Things were much simpler when I thought I had just an early 1940's blade. I am learning more than I ever wanted to, just trying to identify what I have. Can you offer an opinion as to the presence of Kozuke on one side and Bishu Oshafune Junin on the other? Seems like there is a reference to two locations, one on each side. It seems as if I have a pleasant dilemma. Do you have an opinion on which of the fittings might be original and/or worth saving? Would it be a travesty to outfit this old blade as it was in the WWII era? Obviously it needs wrapping and menuki as these are missing. If I aim at restoring as original should I use old menuki? I'm sure there are other questions that I don't even suspect. Bruce E

Thanks for your response. I know so little about this subject that I am going to have to read some to understand it. As to your question, I posted pictures of both sides of the tang. If there is a date, I guess it would be in the second picture. If not a date, I would like to know what it does say. After reading your post, I read through John Yumoto's book and the physical characteristics of the blade and handle seem consistent with an old sword. There are a couple things that seem inconsistent, though. The loop at the base of the handle is not centered and is not connected to the kashira. It is fitted into holes in the wood handle. The WWII swords I have seen in pictures all seem to have a loop for a tassel and older ones do not. The scabbard is lacquered, but it has the remains of a leather cover on the tip and there is a brass loop attached by a leather binding at the top. Are these signs that an old sword was refitted to meet Japanese Army standards so that it could be taken into combat? I realize that I have strayed somewhat from translation. Let me know if I am too far off topic. Bruce E.

I'm looking for help translating the inscriptions on a sword I inherited from my father, who brought it back to the US in 1945. He was a captain assigned to weapons collection duty in the Okinawa area. I'm thinking of having it restored, as the menuki and wrap are missing, and the ray skin is shrunken and missing sections. The blade is covered in cosmoline, but it appears to be in excellent shape. I am interested in restoring it with historical accuracy, so any additional information or pointers to background material would be also appreciated. I have been told that it is likely to have been made in the early 1940's. I have not found any stamps or serial numbers on the tang or tsuba. I'm hoping these Dropbox links work. Thanks, Bruce E https://www.dropbox.com/s/6oxal3087f2shoa/sword%20and%20scabbard2.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/7xyuj57lqjk2wn0/Sword%20tang%20long%20inscription4.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/3q6mpfdnt37ex5y/sword%20tang%20short%20inscription.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/9mny5cdv3b3awf9/sword%20parts2.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/3ogh0sfczivysp1/sword%20tip3.JPG?dl=0