George KN

Hi Dan, thanks for the reply! I sadly don't have the wakizashi in my possession just yet, so I can't remove the tsuka (it might be a few weeks knowing most auctions and couriers). Very much looking forward to finding out what it is hiding - although I at least can tell it is a genuine nihonto from the faint hamon shown in a few of the photos. And good eyes on the missing nodes - I actually have an o-wakizashi with this same problem (pardon the pun) too: Is it possible to get them repaired without having to have the tsuka rewrapped?

Thanks for the replies, always good learning more - and just for clarity I should add it wasn't the only thing wrong with the tanto: The ware just happened to be the final straw that made me think even if I did rewrap the tsuka and get the blade polished, it would still not be a great example. I am trying very hard to learn from past mistakes and not buy things with issues that need addressing... This is the one I did go for though:

So I was auction diving again, and found this wakizashi for sale with yet again no information. I won the lot, but haven't got it back from the auction yet (so unsure if mumei etc), but I've already got a few questions on the koshirae. I primarily bought it because it looks to me like it is well put together and fairly high decent quality - and of course because I like the dragon theme. I've also always wanted a Chrysanthemum tsuba after having read several threads here on them (like https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/47308-16-petal-chrysanthemum-tsuba/), so this was a win-win for me. My primary question is what age do people think the koshirae is? Shinto? And secondarily is there a name for the geometric pattern on the fuchi and fuchi-kashira? Any other thoughts good or bad are more than welcome - I've also never had a kogatana so I'm looking forward to having that in hand too (No pictures of the actual blade, so hoping it's actually there!) Thanks, George

I don't know much about mine, but I have often thought my gunbai tsuba could be early and made for war rather than art: It is only 8cm in diameter though, but feels very practical. I do wonder why you would need tsuba any larger than this, as extra weight feels like it would be a disadvantage, and I can't see much benefit of a wider tsuba if its primary purpose is to prevent an opponents weapon from sliding down your own and attacking your hand. So I also agree with the opinions that larger tsuba are likely for show rather than utility.

Thanks Jeremy - that's good to know - the splitting just seemed excessive for such a small blade, and I'm not sure whether it continued even further beyond the photo too. Out of curiosity, are ware immediately this bad after the smithing process, or is it something that gets worse with age and poor storage? And does the many wire-like ware in the first image indicate steel that has been folded more times than in the tanto?

I was once again auction diving for Nihonto, and came across two blades, both with ware on the mune. One of them I've actually bought (and will probs raise another thread about when I get my mitts on it), as it doesn't look too severe to me, the splits are very small and wire like, and generally I don't mind some flaws (the koshirae is also very nice). (Please correct me if you think this is a problem though): However, the second blade, what I think is a tanto (the auction described it as a wakizashi), is much more beaten up. Again, I don't mind tired blades, but after seeing the severity of the kizu I felt it was a lost cause: Am I right in thinking that about the tanto? Can a ware become so bad it is considered fatal?

Since receiving the sword, I think I've spent almost every evening doing at least some piece of work on the Emura, mostly trying to clean out the darned mould, and it became increasingly obvious that the black paint wasn't meant to be there, nor most of the other colours for that matter - it was applied really thickly to both the saya and the tsuka wrap, often with large drips, and covering other fittings. It was a real mess - and whilst cleaning the mould from everywhere I could, I realised the original gunto green was still under the fittings on the saya: So long story short (unless you guys want to see the stage by stage saya photos?), this is what she looks like now: I know it is not a perfect job, that some of the colours still aren't right, and it is still a battered piece that has been messed around with (not like many of the other awesome swords I see in the other threads!). However, it is obvious now that someone decided they didn't like the old rust damage (which is genuinely black with age) hence all the paint, but I know I much prefer the more honest look. I also learnt from the auction house that it came from a deceased estate, so I won't hold its current condition against the previous owner too harshly - after all, I've definitely made at least a few mistakes with the cleaning - but I am hoping it seems slightly less of a Frankenstein now P.S. Yes, the ito wrap is still a mess - I can only take off the top level of black paint for fear of bleaching the material - and try as I might I can't remove the red/purple paint on the rayskin with the wrap still there, so I guess it has to stay. I'm currently hoping that with many hands and many years one day the remaining black paint will wear through quite well.

I'm not sure about European markets, but if this was for sale in the UK at £1850 (380000 yen), for an in-polish katana with papers and Koshirae, I'd say that's a good deal. Although I haven't done it yet myself, it would probably cost that much just to get an ok polish done and shirasaya made in the first place... The one thing I'd say is I'm not a big fan of the tsuka wrap - it does almost look new? But still better to have than not! My other question (and more for other members), is if this description of the hamon is correct? Does this really count as Midare? And I can't see any pointed shapes either... Is this not rather Suguha? Edit: Colin is right, I've mistaken the edge of the polish for hamon - showing my inexperience with polished blades a bit!

@Bruce Pennington Thanks for the above, and here's some more pictures of the suspect area of the nakago - I do think you're right though - it's more like two small pits that have some black rust or paint on them for some reason: I do wonder with regards to the seppa if it isn't a proper kanji, whether it could be a tally mark of some sort. I have also found another mark related to the above roman-ish numerals, this time on the inside of the koiguchi: With that I think we can safely say these slashes are not just down to chance. It is fun how many counting systems seem to be in use at the same time with these swords.

Another Welsh member! Noswaith dda Also absolutely beautiful hamon on that gunto, and what looks to be a really nice saya as well. Very jealous.

Thanks both! I know it doesn't look like much John, but those two are the only errant chisel marks on the whole thing, and they do stand out more in person than in the picture. Also Thomas thanks, that link is super helpful, I hadn't seen it before: My marks aren't an xi though, more like a /i or \i depending on which way it is read. Not sure if that completely rules out it being 11 like the seppa and tsuba are marked? It really would be great if I could link the saya lining to the other fittings. These aren't the only other mystery markings on the swords though. There are also a further two/three marks on the tsuba (that is stamped 11 on the other side as shown in a previous picture): And on one of the seppa, this kanji?: And although I don't think it is related to the fitting marks, I think there could be a very small stamp of some kind on the nakago: If anyone has any thoughts as to those too, that would be awesome!

I've been working on trying to clean the koshirae a bit, because I can't really just leave it all moldy like it is, even if I'm still not sure it can be used for the Emura... So far I have been able to remove the wooden liner from the saya, split it open, clean it, and then glue it all back with rice glue. Whilst I've been working on this though, I found these markings on the wood: Are these assembly marks? One vertical one diagonal line (maybe 11?). I have seen similar notches on the nakago in some posts here, but not sure if that applies to the saya as well?

She's a beauty - and in the UK with a good polish too! If only I had better wartime swords to trade 😅 - but do let me know if you ever want a rather beaten up Emura... (In the meantime I'll keep trying to acquire better swords)

Just to follow on from what others have said, the hamon is still there, it is just obscured, and its original wartime history and fittings are still very much intact. This is very likely what's happened - even the tang looks to me like it has been cleaned, which is very bad practice if so. But it's still a really cool piece! And even if it isn't economic to restore it now, it's only going to get rarer with time 🙂 (Also please don't try sharpening it yourself, uchiko is the only diy option I have ever seen recommend here, and even that is debated)

Looks to me like a nice sword, and welcome to the forum! There's a bit more details on the late war variations here: https://www.Japanese...dex.com/military.htm I'm not really qualified to say any more (although other people here definitely are), but I'd definitely like more pics, since I've never seen one of these in person yet My only initial thoughts is the habaki and other fittings look like they've been cleaned possibly a bit too well. Also, Is there no wooden lining inside the scabbard/saya? (A pic of the inside would be good) Other people can hopefully help with this, as you definitely don't want to damage the fittings, but I have a feeling late war swords like this one have not just one mekugi peg, but two - I think I can see a wooden one further down the handle?

Hey Jamie - the first sword I bought was a complete fake too, and I've also ended up buying a few fake tsuba after that as well! Each fake or bad situation I've ran headlong into has taught me so much because I've been honest enough (or stupid enough) to post about it on this forum and learnt from all the feedback I've got. Its definitely not always easy and yes, Jean is right, I don't like paying fakers either, but at this stage I think it's just the price of tuition on the subject

Honestly though, thank you all for your help with this - the only reason I was even able to identify this sword as one to bid on was from the things I've learnt from this forum - and I've learnt so much more just from this thread and reading up on all the loose ends. 😄

Ah sorry, I seem to have muddied the waters a bit using the word slave - I meant unpaid labour by people that couldn't leave of their own free will 🙃 (although I am glad there is still pride in the work, this does help explain the quality of the swords made) The Emura is already teaching me much though - like I did not realize the mune could be a different, wider shape near the kissaki, as it isn't like that on my other Nihonto: Still much to study - and Uchiko is already enroute from https://www.bushidoj...ds.com/supplies.html so I hope to be able to remove at least some of the stains on the sword.

So 1938 to 1945, likely 1943/44 - I can work with that thank you! I found other examples of the two character signature too, not even from that long ago: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/31267-emura/ The fact that this blade could have been partly or wholly made from slave labour is quite sobering - I didn't know that was a possibility with Nihonto, since I assumed it was a protected and revered profession... Interestingly the blade does feel much more dangerous than my other two Nihonto. It's certainly a lot sharper. And I'm not sure how, but the entire edge seems to be rather jagged. It's strange because I can't see any other evidence of cutting or heavy rust, but there are also two nicks to the back of the blade: After further investigation, I'm also not happy putting it back into its original koshirae - there are quite a lot of scratches that I think could be from the saya somehow, and worse, the saya is *very* mouldy: I do think your recommendation Klaus and Brian of a Shirasaya is the way to go - for now, it can live safely in this box (I've wrapped the kissaki and will store it only horizontally) - at least between periods of me studying/admiring it: Does the mould mean the saya and tsuka are lost causes? If so, there's a chance it might actually have been the last time it was drawn from and fitted with its original koshirae today 🥲

Not even the tsuba remains unaffected - on one side some dirty grey/black coating, and on the other what looks like white trim: Only the seppa remain (mostly) unaffected - all with matching assembly numbers Edit: I just noticed the tsuka under the loose fuchi also has the same 11 assembly number - so I'm now pretty certain this is all one coherent koshirae (albeit in pretty bad condition)

The saya is a right mess too - it looks like it it has been painted brown, red, blue, and black - with the fittings also having most recently been painted silver? Even for a post-war job it feels like an unusual array of colours

Thanks guys! I'm over the moon at finally having a real piece of wartime history in the house, let alone another Nihonto If there is no date mentioned, is it possible to work out what year it was made based on just the signature? I've noticed Emura has quite a few different signatures. And as for the koshirae... Well, it looks like almost every owner its ever had has painted it a different colour! Multicoloured tsuka aren't common are they? (purple/red/purple/red) Not sure what to do about the fuchi just falling off...

Whhhoooop! When I saw the signature I thought for sure it would be Showato/factory made, just because there were only two characters... What does the mei literally translate as? Is it just "Emura" and nothing else? Most importantly, does this mean it's a 100% Nihonto, and would be able to be registered, polished, shinsha etc in Japan if ever needed?

The sword has finally arrived today! Better late than never. Also, it's mekugi was missing, which is the second time this has happened from an auction... It is strangely a very colourful sword - I'm still at work, but will try to post more pics when I can.

Point taken, I shall stop trying to whittle them with a knife 😅 Also, as to boiling the tsuba, these were my primary sources of information (just so people don't think I'm completely insane): http://www.japaneses...m/tsuba/tsubacln.htm