I have 2 old Japanese swords that I would like some information and advice about. Photos of inscriptions on one of them attached

[Babyboomer1]

[Babyboomer1]

Photos of 2nd sword charaters. Please note second sword tang is difficult yo decifer as it is pitted from age although the blade is in good order and clean.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[mecox]

This may help.  Tenshozan Tanrenjo naval, date Showa 17 (1942) Nov

 

          

[mecox]

@Babyboomer1     Ken, here are the pics correct way up, but they dont show much.   One shows part of name "Mitsu"  the other part of date "16" which likely is 1941.  Unfortunately the cleaning/polishing of tang has ruined the value.

You  need to show the rest of blade and fittings.

 

   

[Babyboomer1]

Hi Mal, Thank you for the information. I will take so photos of the blades etc on the weekend and post them here.

Regards

Ken

[Babyboomer1]

[Bruce Pennington]

Ken, 

You Tenshozan blade has navy tsuba/seppa (hand guard and spacer) but an army saya (scabbard).  Don't know who matched them up that way, but it wouldn't have been that way originally.

 

The second is in army fittings.  The wooden saya originally would have had a leather cover.  Check the brown tassel for any signs of faded blue or red.  If none, then this sword was carried by someone in the Gunzoku, the civilian branch of the army. 

[Babyboomer1]

Hi Bruce, thanks for the information. I don,t know anything about the swords history. My Father saw front line action at Kokoda in WW2 and I assume the swords came via New Guinea.

I have added 2 photos of the tang of the blade that does not have a handle. Perhaps the inscritions may provide more information.

Many Thanks

Ken
 

[mecox]

@Babyboomer1    @Bruce Pennington   Ken as I note a few days ago this is a naval blade, it is dated 1942 November and inscription (mei) is 

Tenshozan Tanrenjo kitaeru kore     天照山 鍛練場 鍛之     ("forged at the Tenshozan naval forge")   it would be stainless steel and mostly machine made.
The date is   Showa ju shichi nen ju ichi gatsu      昭和十七年十一月日   ("A day 11th month Showa 17 (November, 1942")
above the date is the anchor stamp of the naval forge.      the hamon (along the cutting edge) is artificial straight suguha

The two round pieces are a tsuba (guard) and seppa (washer) which are both naval.  The metal saya as noted by Bruce is army, so not original. 

You need to show some detail of the blade. 

[Babyboomer1]

Thanks Mal and Bruce for the detailed information regarding the Naval Blade.

Please see the attached photos of the blade.

I will send separate photos of the other sword blade in the hope that you might know something about that one.

 

Regards

Ken

[mecox]

@Babyboomer1   Ken for sword 2,  based on pics it could have  some interest.  Mei appears to be "something MITSU" .  I wondered if a rusted stamp above hole (maybe not).   Well made and fitted habaki,  looks to be well done bohi, and the hamon is of interest. 

What is the total length of sword, and also the length from tip to "notch" on tang (nakago).  That is length in straight line of the cutting edge.   

 

              

[Babyboomer1]

Hi Mal,

 

Full length (incuding handle) is 925mm.

Length of blade (tip to notch) is 685mm

There does appear to be an indentation above the hole but I cannot make out what it is.

 

Do you think these two swords have any monetary value?

 

Thank you for your interest

Regards

Ken