Magic Rat Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 Hi folks my Dad has given me a couple of Japanese swords, he has had them for 30+ years. I'm after some info on them,how old and a valuation(not that I'm selling them). This is the bottom one the better of the two. Top one. Cheers Quote
Surfson Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 These are two WWII army swords. The surname on the signature is Kanetada, but I can't make out the given name - ___hara I believe. This sword was made during wartime. One of the swords appears to have been buffed. A photo of the tang of the second sword might help in establishing its age and value. Assuming that it is also WWII vintage, each of them are worth around $1000 to $1500 I would say. B Quote
Magic Rat Posted July 2, 2011 Author Report Posted July 2, 2011 Years ago he wrote to the Victoria and Albert museum and sent them some faxes of the signature of the bottom one they said it may be made by Bishu YOSHIMITSU of Bizen province,(modern day Okayama).Number of smiths using this signature,earliest dates,Dated 1350-1688 -but all seemed to sign using a longer signature with honorific titles. The curator goes on to say the blade above the habaki hamon resembles the sloping style of the Yokoyama school. Not that that means much to me! at this stage. Rohan. Quote
drbvac Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 Both blades are in WW 2 mounts but the lower one is probably older than the 1900's - It does indeed seem fairly nice from what I can see. Please sign your posts with your real name Quote
Nobody Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 They are 藪下義光 – Yabushita Yoshimitsu and 石原兼忠 – Ishihara Kanetada. Both of them were WWII smiths in Seki. Quote
Magic Rat Posted July 2, 2011 Author Report Posted July 2, 2011 A few more photos,of the older one. Thanks Rohan. Quote
pcfarrar Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 It's not older both swords date to WW2, the VA museum attribution is nonsense. You would likely get £400 to £500 each if you sold them to a dealer here in the UK. Quote
Magic Rat Posted July 2, 2011 Author Report Posted July 2, 2011 Thank you Peter. The V and A Curator is Gregory Irvine,can you suggest some one in the UK that could examine them. Rohan Quote
Clive Sinclaire Posted July 4, 2011 Report Posted July 4, 2011 Mr Barker As requested, I have sent you a private e-mail. I am in the UK if you want me to take a look sometime. Clive Sinclaire Quote
Magic Rat Posted July 4, 2011 Author Report Posted July 4, 2011 Thank you Mr Sinclaire,I would like to take you up on your kind offer. e mail sent. Rohan Quote
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