Bridges

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185695182519?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=NrWr9WSdQp2&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=5b5Igx0HQ7e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY The Bo-hi groove does not extend all the way to the edge and the brass does not look very aged. Thoughts?

I have noticed of late that Kyu-Gunto Type 19 parade Saber Seppa in my collection are either rough or non-existent. Did Japan use crappy materials during the war for these Seppa? As many of you know, these blades were typically peened which makes the Seppa, as well as everything else on the handle, irreplaceable. I have a few Type 19s where the end caps are missing or tang unpeened which makes me wonder if this was done to replace the Seppa but was just never accomplished. I will attach a picture, the top two blades have Seppa while the bottom two do not. The blades on top have a leather and iron Seppa. The iron Seppa is in rough condition and the leather Seppa is quite aged. I figured Japan would use brass as they had for all the other blades but did this change with the Type 19 parade saber? Just a topic that had me thinking! Let me know what y’all think

I bought these two swords knowing that I would probably never resell them but wanted them in my collection as although they are in less than ideal condition, I know an acceptable grade for the Commisioned Kyu-Gunto blade is several and I mean several thousand dollars and the command saber maybe 4 times what I paid for this one. I paid $225 for the commissioned Officer Kyu Gunto. The issues are the hanger mount slides freely off the scabbard and the blade has let’s just say, a dark patina 😂 yea the blade is shot. But, i offered the same seller $125 for the Type 19 command saber and he bit. The issue with it, is the end cap and seppa are missing. Other than that, blade is in fair condition. I know it’s not ideal to fill collections with crappy blades but even worn out blades need a home!

@Dave R I agree

@vajoSome people value stories whether they are true or not, who knows

Update, I asked the seller yesterday for pictures of the tang. I even explained how to go about it but he never responded :/

@Dave R Did the Chinese do the same thing with the type 19? I saw this piece the other day and it threw me for a turn

@francois2605couldnt agree more, although the shadow box it’s in is nice. Still a gamble

@Brian seems like a gamble

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134359115492?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=chq2eSgTQOG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=5b5Igx0HQ7e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY the tsuba looks very old and the tsuka is destroyed. Check out the sellers description

@waljamada the bowling green drummer seems to be a good deal but the website is absolutely archaic. I’ll check out the NMB for sale section! A flaw of mine is putting stuff on layaway and paying it off in a month. I’ll have to save up my patience and coin and hit the NMB section in January!

@Bruce PenningtonDo you think this one is real?

@BANGBANGSANthats identical HOWEVER, when they mass forged it, there was no temper line….so this sword was either privately made which is a possibility as outlined by Ohmura or, it’s a Chinese fake. But I will note, ruptured duck is selling this blade and I have heard much praise about them

@Bruce Penningtondropped a knowledge bomb on me Bruce, they only contracted 8,000 “souvenir “ swords right? That should make this fairly rare

@PNSSHOGUN my resources are coming in tomorrow. Relying pretty heavily on Ohmura study and you all. I’ve got my eyes on a type 94 I believe which I’ll link here. https://www.therupturedduck.com/collections/edged-blades/products/Japanese-samurai-sword-still-available-1?variant=40339782172745 but it has a bohi which I thought was associated with only Chinese blades? This is a nice example I’d like to purchase but I’m still very critical of authenticity as my budget is limited

https://www.therupturedduck.com/collections/edged-blades/products/Japanese-samurai-sword-still-available-1?variant=40339782172745 I did not think type 98s had bo-hi?

@John C you’re right, I just need to be patient. Part of me is just worried wartime NCO blades will be going up in valley past the point of my budget due to military surplus being just about totally dried up. The whole milsurp market is on a bull rush

@John C with that said, I could possibly restore it I’m just greatly concerned of the marks on the swords spine that the seller describes as the sword being used as a hammer at some point. That spine is the “soft “ side correct? The possibility of Internal damage turns me off

@Briangoing off @vajoincluded essay penned by @Bruce Pennington would make this sword legit but this sword is a direct match to all the photos listed with a ?…I’m wondering if @Bruce Penningtoncan take a look, the plain iron tsuba and naval stamp were what threw me off. What a confusing piece lol

@vajo reading now

@ROKUJUROthanks! I started with parade swords and I’ve bought several that I will post next week. Now I have arrived at type 98s and other WW2 Katanas carried by the Japanese. Finding one at the right price point is the catch lol but in short, my collection will be strictly limited to 20th century Japanese Military blades

@Brian thanks Brian, I don’t know if you saw my other post on Simpson LTD but man, both Simpson and Legacy are rocks in the WWII community I’m stunned this stuff is on their website. Makes me wonder about the higher end NCO 98 that Legacy has with COA for 1800…

@Brian @GeraintThats what I was afraid of…thanks

https://www.legacy-collectibles.com/edged-weapons/102622-26.html I really like this Naval officer type tachi that is, for whatever reason labeled a NCO 98. The blade is signed but damaged…my question is, will this damage on side of the blade and on the top adversely affect the structure? The “strike marks” on the side look like they can polish out. The blade looks nihonto to me but I’m new to this. The tsuba is not right for this sword type. Considering the damage, incorrect fittings and type, is this a fair buy?

@Bruce Penningtongreat point Bruce, I didn’t even notice the obvious!