Scogg Posted June 20 Report Posted June 20 Picked this up at a local military show for a good price. If someone could please assist with the translation I would be very grateful. All the best, -Sam Quote
Scogg Posted June 20 Author Report Posted June 20 Much appreciated Ray; we are blessed to have you around. That was fast! Thank you again. -Sam 1 Quote
Scogg Posted June 20 Author Report Posted June 20 Looks like I found the exact same blade on eBay from a few months ago. I should mention that is not the price I paid https://ebay.io/m/1sz8Q3 2 Quote
John C Posted June 20 Report Posted June 20 1 hour ago, Scogg said: a few months ago. Sam: Was it in the same condition? Seems odd someone would hold onto a blade for just 3 months then sell it at a loss. John C. Quote
Scogg Posted June 20 Author Report Posted June 20 (edited) 11 hours ago, John C said: Sam: Was it in the same condition? Seems odd someone would hold onto a blade for just 3 months then sell it at a loss. John C. Indeed strange, It’s actually in better condition than the eBay photos make it look. Still has a distinct yokote, hamon and boshi visible throughout. Can’t find any big chips, it’s totally straight, and nothing fatal as far as I can tell. That said, it’s far from perfect, and is scratched up and clearly neglected. Missing the tsuka and seppa. Some isopropyl and light oiling removed the fingerprints and made the blade look a little better. As many of you know, I have an interest in the militaria side of things. I was intrigued by the ishizuke with patent numbers and stamps, which is an unusual but not unheard of feature. That said, it’s clear that this scabbard, or the habaki, and blade are not an original pairing (habaki is chunky copper and does not fit into the opening of the saya). With a bit of impulsiveness and $300, I felt it’s better I take it home and look it over. Can’t make sense of that price difference from eBay to now -Sam Edited June 21 by Scogg Spelling 3 Quote
The Blacksmith Posted June 21 Report Posted June 21 The ebay link doesn't work for me. But anyway, it is agood thing that it has finally found a good and loving home at last! Hope that we will see picture of the entire sword. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted June 21 Report Posted June 21 16 hours ago, Scogg said: I was intrigued by the ishizuke with patent numbers and stamps, Wakase Co. made these. Usually very good quality fittings. 1 Quote
Scogg Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 10 hours ago, The Blacksmith said: Hope that we will see picture of the entire sword. Thanks Russ. It always feels good to rescue something from a gun show. Even if it’s not pristine. Im going to relocate my own thread to the Military Swords of Japan section now that we have the translation, big thanks to Ray. Apologies on my amateur photography. I’m not the best at it, and the sword is not in a great state of polish. An ugly palm print remains near the machi. 3 Quote
Scogg Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 Here’s the ishizuke that caught my attention. And some photos that demonstrates why I believe the habaki and/or saya not an original pairing with the blade: 2 1 Quote
Scogg Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 Nagasa: 645mm Sori: 24mm Nakago: 210mm Kissaki: 38mm motohaba: 33mm sakihaba: 24mm motokasane: 7mm sakikasane: 5mm 1 Quote
The Blacksmith Posted June 21 Report Posted June 21 Thank you for that Sam. We have certainly all seen much, much worse blades than this one, so again, well done. On page 30 of Military Swords of Japan 1868-1945, by Fuller & Gregory, it mentions this type of ishizuki, and says that they are quite rare . I wonder of something like jewellers rouge might possibly take some of the palm print off, while not damaging the surface of the blade. I have also heard that Duraglit works quite well, though have never tried it. As regards the habaki / saya question, well my money would on the habaki being a replacement, it doesn't seem to fit the blade either. 1 Quote
Scogg Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 I agree that it’s likely the habaki that does not fit. Amazingly… I have quite a few orphaned parts, and a tsuka core. I could probably make this sword “complete” fairly easily. I just don’t like the idea that, if I were to pass away unexpectedly, people might think this “pieced together sword” would be wartime. And we all know how frustrating that can be. I’ll likely slap it together, and maybe put a little tag on it that says “assembled with found orphaned parts in 2026” or something. For now, I’m just enjoying it and looking into the smith. -Sam 4 Quote
rebcannonshooter Posted June 21 Report Posted June 21 Hi Sam, I have a drawer full of Shingunto parts (tsuba, fuchi, kabutogane, seppa, and menuki) that I will happily donate to your project. I, too have a passion to save abused swords. Give me a call with your needs, Tom 1 2 Quote
Scogg Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 Thanks Tom. Let’s talk soon. It’s not perfect… far from it. Pretty ugly, and fairly "frankestein" if I say so myself - but maybe it's good that it's clearly pieced together until someone professional can address its issues. I'll attach my note of "pieced together from orphaned parts, 2026" also. A few too big seppa + a slightly too big tsuka core + an almost just right habaki = something reminiscent of a type 98 . The ito is just wrapped around the core for now; no samegawa or menuki. It all “fits”, with only a little rattle. At least this way I can handle it with a little more familiarity and the habaki sets nicely into the saya. Thanks guys! I’m off to my books to try to locate this smith now. All the best, -Sam 4 Quote
John C Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 8 hours ago, Scogg said: if I were to pass away unexpectedly, people might think this “pieced together sword” Sam: I have a solution to your problem...since I know what it is, you can always leave it to me John C. 3 Quote
Marcin Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 (edited) Guys, tsuba should have marks too. I saw some repro of wakase ishizuki already. Number 4 at ohmura http://ohmura-study.net/906.html also seppa and chuso should be numbered but I don’t know if numbers were always obligatory. I would put my money of saya being legit yet not original with this blade. Great job You lucky b. :] I would like to have gunshows. Edited June 22 by Marcin Quote
Scogg Posted June 22 Author Report Posted June 22 Not all gunto fittings were marked or stamped, as far as I know. But anyway, this only came with the blade, tsuba, habaki, and saya. I added the seppa from a lot of seppa I bought years ago. There is no chuso. I also added the tsuka core from a different lot of parts I once purchased. It’s my belief that’s this sword was a hodgepodge of mixed up parts when I found it, and it remains that way. The tsuba could be a repro; I’ve seen several late war Tsuba look this way. Ohmura’s website is really awesome, but it’s not entirely comprehensive. There’s no way any of these parts are originally matching. The saya and blade are genuine, everything else is “put together”. Jokes aside @John C, you would give this blade better justice than I can, with your proximity to craftsmen and collectors, or if you were to make shirasaya. If you’re truly interested, I’d make you a good deal without profit in mind. Feel free to message me if interested. -Sam 2 Quote
Marcin Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 I don’t know what just happened :D I had saved as favourite 2 separate auctions consisting of parts from one wakase set. Same seller, 2 auctions at once with same number. Sadly catawiki cleared all observed at once :/ That’s why I’m sure that tsuba from omura was offered with matching set of seppa and chuso. Please have it in mind. When I find another one I will drop it as I always do. btw. I bought for 4$ cheap endoscopic camera with 1,5 m soft cable with flashlight etc. I will try how it works but I think that using it first before removing wooden part of saya should be another point in sword maintance guide. Marcin Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Marcin, Remember the saying “with World War II Japanese swords, never say never or always.“ I agree that we have seen some sets where the stamps are found on the drag, as well as the tsuba. But we have also seen plenty where it is just found on the drag. Now I will admit that maybe not all cases show both parts. You would have to run a search and a survey to collect data and find out. 1 1 Quote
Marcin Posted June 23 Report Posted June 23 14 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: Marcin, Remember the saying “with World War II Japanese swords, never say never or always.“ I agree that we have seen some sets where the stamps are found on the drag, as well as the tsuba. But we have also seen plenty where it is just found on the drag. Now I will admit that maybe not all cases show both parts. You would have to run a search and a survey to collect data and find out. As long as I remember I will dig out sufficient examples. Wakase as sword shop owned patents so as it wasn't cheap they stamped probbly whatever they could. Quote
Scogg Posted June 23 Author Report Posted June 23 Perhaps, I have struggled to identify this smith. He does not appear in my Sesko swordsmith books, or on any of my Fuller/gregory/slough oshigata publications. The TOSHI is signed different than the one above, on the nakago, TOSHI is signed like this: 利 1 1 Quote
John C Posted June 23 Report Posted June 23 3 hours ago, Scogg said: TOSHI is signed like this: 利 Ah. Didn't look closely enough. John C. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.