Jon MB

Apologies, only just seen. No nakago mune markings.

Correct, Jacques.

Thank you Okan for the input

Thank you David. That based on sori? I thought it could be an older piece in Yamato tradition.

Hello Folks, Does this look like a Yamato piece? Maybe Tegai? Sorry if it's a silly question. Needs a polish, but I like it. More used to seeing Bizen style hamon. Silver covered habaki. Mumei piece. Thank you in advance Jon MB Nagasa: 68.5 cm Sori: 0.8 cm

Just as a technicality, you did buy, which is why you wanted to cancel the order. What you did not do is pay.

Hi, just to add something here, I am the seller. Steve negotiated a reduction of price and made the purchase. He then came here to ask questions, post purchase. Steve then asked to cancel after a 24 hr delay. I have now indeed cancelled his order. If it seems like strange behaviour, I would add Steve has done this to me before. He previously placed an order for a sword, asked to cancel, I was then somewhat backfooted and had to relist cheaper, and then Steve bought the same piece again. Some issues with this person. As to the piece in question, it is very nice in hand, only issue other than the signature is the nagasa was a bit crudely shortened, hidden by the habaki. Item relisted.

Polisher Les said based on pictures he felt the 'crazing' appears superficial and would polish out easily.

Reference to the regulations will of course be interesting, but not conclusive, if regulations were not seriously enforced and manufacturers / retailers offered variations. As was the case with Kyu and Shin Gunto.

Colonial officials' swords were probably not stored and refurbished in arsenals like other ranks' cavalry sabres, so swopping scabbards seems less likely.

It seems that if the 'heart' design on the fittings is not an exact match to Dawson's illustrations on these swords, some feel it must be incorrect. My own feeling is that like Gunto, there were minor variations in decorative features over time, (based on seeing a few examples in person).

Charmingly put, minus the punctuation. So let's hear your assumptions regarding the mismatch.

Respectfully, I had a Nan'yo example and people said the same thing. Not sure I agree.

This item is still for sale. BTW.

Nice to add to the list of known swords from the North China Transportation Company, or as we like to call it, the North China Railway / NCR. Good gateway to resources on the general NCR topic here: https://digitalorientalist.com/2020/11/27/visualizing-north-china-under-Japanese-occupation-digitized-photos-of-the-north-china-railway-archive/

Nagasa: 39.5 cm Sori: 1.3 cm Motohaba: 2.3 cm Motokasane: 1.8 cm Hi Folks, Do you think this wakizashi is made as such, or is it a cut down earlier piece that is thin from many polishes? Or something else.. I don't see fumbari, and the nakago patination looks not too old, so I am assuming it has been shortened. I know it's not a treasure, just want to understand it a little better. Many thanks in advance, Warm regards, Jon B

Hi Bruce, pics added to the railroad swords thread.

There is patch on the scabbard where there has been a bad repaint over corrosion from where the sword was carried. Overall, the fittings and saya are of fairly good quality. With regard to the partial removal of the railroad company logo: Maybe the NCR / Kwantung army officer was sent south and removed the NCR logo at that point. Thanks for looking. Jon MB

Peter Bleed very helpfully suggested that the smith is Kanekado.

The NCR logo was also erased from the kabuto-gane.

Here is what appears to be a decomissioned North China Railway Sword. The wings have been carefully filed away to make the logo less obvious.

Thank you Peter. It's from a North China Railway sword.

Hello, Hope everyone is well. Could I request assistance with this somewhat incomplete meI? Many thanks in advance, Jon B

Thank you Geraint, much appreciated. Grey has already suggested that he thinks this piece is better left as is. In the long run I would have been been tempted to try have it polished, but it would be tough with the deep pitting and intricate horimono.

Yes, very interesting. Thank you Geraint. So is the piece I have shown an imitator or the imitated then... The Christie's example is appears directly related conceptually, with the habaki and the nakago clearly being of very similar forms. I don't know enough of the evolution of Ken over time to evaluate further.