Paul G

Thank you Bruce! PG-

Hello again, I could not find any contact information for David McDonald. Can someone please share that with me, Thank you!! PG-

Thank you Grey! PG-

Hello everyone, I want to have a Tsuka built for a sword I have. I have looked online and have found a couple of places. Which builder do you recommend? I have found the following: Tsukamaki.net - Dr. Thomas Buck Shining moon 13 Or is there a member here that can do this? I am looking to have a new wood Tsuka made, same added, and new Ito wrapped. Thank you for any recommendations or advice you can share. PG-

Agreed, bad tassel. Aside from the wrong colors, the knots on the tassel heads are non-existent really, just a bunch of cord looped over and tied. On real examples, there would be a braided knot at the top of each tassel. As well, the cords on the end of the tassel are just cut off cord. Real examples have a little loop on each end which is barely noticeable, unless you are looking for it. In addition to all that, there is no slider for it, its just tied into a knot. PG-

Thank you everyone for your input. I can say with certainty the sword came out of a footlocker, but the family had very little information about their relative who served. I was able to see most of the stuff in there and picked this sword up pretty cheap. I got another sword and a type 14 Nambu as well. All they said is that he served in the Pacific, but who knows. They stated that there were other swords that they had sold already. I was not the first person to get access. Its very hard to tell, but the hamon looks real, but very hard to photograph. Its only visible in certain light. Does not look like other fake acid etched sword hamons that I have seen. Bruce, I tend to post over at WAF and WRF. I am the Paul G who found the ebay auction with the "NLF /souvenir sword" and PX sales paperwork. Matt, I dont see any extra holes inside the Tsuka In any case, it looks like its been modified a bit, for any number of reasons. Where, who knows, Why ?? , possibly by the Vet, but am very confident it was not by the family. At worst, they may have shined up the blade a bit, but not sure. I just always had that feeling. I am going to move this along, and will give this link to the new owner. I got it cheap, so I will move it along for what it is. Thank you everyone,

The Kissaki

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Another picture of the ito.

OK, Good to know. Thanks for the input .I guess there is no telling what the GI did after he got this sword. There were a few others with it, as well as other items. Maybe he got some things mixed up when took them apart (seppa) . The ito and knot look so old and soiled, I'm scratching my head. Is there any way the ito could have been wrapped in the period by the koshirae maker? A less skilled wrapper? It really feels in hand like its been this way forever. Thanks

In hand you can see the blue brown a lot clearer. Also, to me the ito looks original. Its very dirty and has been well used. Its easier to see in hand. Thanks for your comments!

Thanks for your input Rob. I couldn't get the habaki off and didn't want to cut myself trying. I put the end of the tape at what I felt would be the notch in the blade, so the nagasa is really close to 23 5/8. I always thought a Katana was roughly over 24 inches. Good to know. Thanks for your thoughts!

Here are a couple more pictures of the nakago.

Hi John, Its hard to see, but the tassel is original to the sword. You can tell with these better pictures. Thanks for your comments