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Kiita

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    Male
  • Location:
    WA USA
  • Interests
    Traditional metalwork and carpentry (Western and Japanese), post-Meiji Japanese history, militaria in general.

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    Aaron

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  1. Japanese cultural influence via video games, anime, etc. in America and, I think, the Anglosphere broadly, increases greatly the younger one is and is almost overwhelming in generation Z and generation Alpha. I can't see the desire for and interest in nihonto dropping much over time as a result of this. The real issue however is money, put simply, we're pretty broke as a generation and the prospects seems unlikely to improve long term at the moment. I know I for one would like to own a real Japanese sword in the future, especially after an older friend of mine asked me to help him identify a wakizashi he inherited and the excellent gentlemen here translated the mei for me, but right now all I can do is spectate as an enthusiast. When I had that sword in my hand, as rough as it was, I understood exactly why all of you are so obsessed with them, it was a powerful and fascinating thing. Some day. You see this in a lot of areas, not the least of which is cars and car enthusiast culture, though that has a few other factors (namely that the cash for clunkers program basically murdered the lower level of the used car market), but if you've ever wondered why younger people are putting off getting driver's licenses lately, it's because no one can afford a car or gas at the moment. That and there's not really anything to do these days, so there's little reason to go out. Interestingly, the only local car organization or club I've seen with an average age under 30 was inspired by Japanese Touge driving. As far as other collectibles in general, I think it's a safe bet that interest in anything involving weapons or military surplus is likely to stay reasonably strong. Beyond that, I think they're significantly less popular. Anything to do with mid to late 20th c. popular culture is probably going to be utterly worthless when the Boomer generation begins to disappear. This is of course only my opinion as a member of the "younger people", I can't quote any data to support it, but it might at least provide a little insight into the general sentiment as I perceive it currently.
  2. Interesting. It doesn't seem very solid, either from damage or poor original construction, one side flexes and pops like a jar lid when pressed. Here's a closer view of it, plus the tsuba, which I thought was pleasantly subdued looking. Any guesses what the inlaid metal forming the pattern is? Silver or copper alloy maybe?
  3. Hello, I'm fairly new to Nihonto, I've read Sato's The Japanese Sword, as well as various collector websites, but this is my first time actually handling a Japanese sword in person. A friend of mine asked me to take a look at an old sword he had inherited from his grandfather, with the usual story that he had picked it up circa the Second World War, possibly in Japan. Unfortunately someone, probably the grandfather, had attacked the blade with a coarse sharpening stone at some point, but luckily while the blade is scratched not much metal was removed and the shape is the same as under the habaki. What I can distinguish about this piece (this is essentially all guesswork, I'm not certain about any of it and I'm curious if you think I'm right or not): The hole in the nakago may be be punched, as the metal is slightly distorted around it, there are no round drill marks, and the hole tapers from both sides. There appear to be at least two small cold shuts from forge welding on one side of the spine, implying that this is tamahagane and not a modern steel gunto. There is a hamon, though it's difficult to see in person due to the scratches, and even more so to photograph. There are filemarks on the tang. It is about 7mm thick at the top of the spine, so about 8mm at its thickest point. The nakago is signed. All this predisposes me to speculate that it is not an arsenal made gunto, though I may be wrong. There are two additional kanji chiseled somewhat crudely on the top of the tang, I would guess having to do with its last refitting The fittings, though unimportant to the blade itself, lend some provenance, so I will describe them: The habaki is a layer or silver over some other metal, possibly copper, and seems very crude, though it fits the blade and sheath well. The tsuba is iron, no casting seams visible, base texture is filed, with an intricate vinelike inlay of metal that has tarnished to a deep blue-black, no signature I could find. The seppa are copper or brass with a coined pattern around the edges. The remaining fittings are brass, well made but simple, with a basketweave type pattern carved into them. The sheath shows hand carving on the inside and tip, made to fit a kogatana, and originally had a kurikata, though it came off at some point. The brownish paint and place where a metal cap once was glued on make me think it was military. So, all that in mind, I would like to humbly request a translation of the signature if anyone recognizes it, and general thoughts on what the thing actually is and its age.
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