JCB Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 Hello all, I just stumbled across this site going down the internet rabbit hole. I inherited a couple swords from my Great Grandfather and I was doing some google image searches that led me here. Any help/info is greatly appreciated. 1 Quote
JCB Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 I have no intention of selling this sword. I am purely on a hunt for history as it relates to my family. Quote
ChrisW Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 Based on the custom fittings, the two-piece habaki, and the length/shape of the blade: I believe this is a pre-war wakizashi blade mounted for use in the war by someone of captain or lieutenant rank. To know more, you'd have to remove the bamboo peg in the handle and show us the tang of the blade and the blade itself without any fittings on it. Just by appearance alone, it appears to be a decent sword. Is there any visible metal pattern on the skin of the steel or a hamon (cutting edge pattern) present? How long is the cutting edge length? If you're in the midwest, I'd be able to give you a more in-depth assessment than by pictures alone. Quote
JCB Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 Thank you for the info, Chris. Unfortunately, I’m in PA, but I appreciate that a lot. No visible patterns on the steel but I removed the handle and will send pictures. Blade length is approximately 21.5 inches. Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 Your sword is signed 豊後住藤原輝行 - Bungo jū Fujiwara Teruyuki. I believe few generations of Bungo Teruyuki worked from c. 1650 to 1750. 1 Quote
JCB Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 Can anyone help me with the translation on the tags? I’ve gathered it was from someone in the 16th Infantry Regiment Shibata of the 2d Division. Quote
ChrisW Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 Just to caution about the surrender tag in case you were thinking of returning it to the original owner: It is unlikely that the family of the now likely deceased veteran will want the sword back; even if they do receive it, it will likely be sold to an antiquities dealer and separated from its current mounts. I've seen this happen several times before. My advice is to treasure the sword and take care of it as it is now part of your family's history and would make a lovely heirloom to pass along someday! Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted June 5 Report Posted June 5 Run a swordsmith search on: Bungo Ju Fujiwara Teruyuki (Fujiwara Teruyuki living in Bungo in Kyūshū) 豊後住藤原輝行 (Oops, I’ve just now noticed Jussi’s reply!) 柴田福蔵 Shibata Fukuzō The name on the tag Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted June 5 Report Posted June 5 The tag is smudged, making it hard to read. Name places have changed and fallen out of use so everything needs double-checking. I’m guessing several people are attacking it right now, though! Quote
Nobody Posted June 5 Report Posted June 5 I tried to read the tag. 天津特別市第三區大□路三一九號 – Tianjin Special City, 3rd district, 大□路-319 柴田福藏 – Shibata Fukuzo 1 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted June 5 Report Posted June 5 Moriyama San, thank you very much! This has been bothering me all morning. No wonder there was no such address in Japan! Quote
JCB Posted June 5 Author Report Posted June 5 20 hours ago, ChrisW said: Just to caution about the surrender tag in case you were thinking of returning it to the original owner: It is unlikely that the family of the now likely deceased veteran will want the sword back; even if they do receive it, it will likely be sold to an antiquities dealer and separated from its current mounts. I've seen this happen several times before. My advice is to treasure the sword and take care of it as it is now part of your family's history and would make a lovely heirloom to pass along someday! Thanks for the advice, Chris! Quote
JCB Posted June 5 Author Report Posted June 5 14 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said: Moriyama San, thank you very much! This has been bothering me all morning. No wonder there was no such address in Japan! Quote
JCB Posted June 5 Author Report Posted June 5 Thank you for the translation! I wasn’t expecting it to be a Chinese City. I have more research to do. 1 Quote
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