Japanese sword tang stamp?

Fred.Rowe

Fred.Rowe

Joined
May 2, 2004
Messages
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A customer left two Japanese swords at my shop asking if I could refurbish them. When I removed the handles I noticed one of the blades had a stamp on the tang, where the other did not.
The swords were identical in appearance other than the stamp. The owner of the swords said he purchased the pair from an estate and they were marked second world war with a date 1939-1940.
Both swords had surface rust and were heavily patina-ed. He wanted the blades refurbished to as close to original condition as possible. As the surface crude was removed I saw that there was a beautiful hamon running the length of the blade.
Both swords appeared to be of a lesser quality by the look of the hardware; brass castings and fittings; such as would be given to lower ranking troops.

I have two questions: is the hamon out of place on a sword of this manufacture?
Does any viewer have knowledge of the tang stamps?

Fred

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I can't read kanji, but recognize the showa stamp. You can do some more research here: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

Dr. Stein sometimes hangs out in the sword subforum here; it would be worth asking there. Also, the guys on the nihonto forum have helped me in the past, and seem knowledgeable. http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

If no one has screamed this at you yet, do not mess with the blade's finish. You can clean it with cotton balls & strong rubbing alcohol, but at least until you've identified what you have there, do not take any abrasives to it. I trust you know what this could do.
 
The sword is signed "Seki ju Kanenao saku" with a Showa stamp. Seki is the city in Gifu prefecture where most WW II swords were made. "ju" is "living in". Kanenao is the smith's name (his family name was Ishihara). "saku" means made this. (Actually I hang out on the Scandinavian knives forum at Knifeforums mostly :-) While I do check Sword Forum, the best message board for Japanese sword info is IMHO the Nihonto Message Board at:

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php


Rich S
---------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
NKCA Life Member

Japanese Sword Guide
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm
 
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Sorry, impossible to accurately evaluate a blade based on a couple of pictures. Especially one which is being "polished" by an amateur; sort of like do-it-yourself brain surgery. Certainly doesn't help the value; at least not to a knowledgeable collector or student of Nihonto.

Rich S
------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
NKCA Life Member

Japanese Sword Guide
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm
 
the possum said:
If no one has screamed this at you yet, do not mess with the blade's finish. You can clean it with cotton balls & strong rubbing alcohol, but at least until you've identified what you have there, do not take any abrasives to it. I trust you know what this could do.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Until you have an idea of what you are working with here please do not do anything to the blade.
 
Rich S said:
Sorry, impossible to accurately evaluate a blade based on a couple of pictures. Especially one which is being "polished" by an amateur; sort of like do-it-yourself brain surgery. Certainly doesn't help the value; at least not to a knowledgeable collector or student of Nihonto.

Rich S
------------------
Richard Stein, PhD
NKCA Life Member

Japanese Sword Guide
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm
Click to expand...

understandabe.....I guess I should have asked what your "run of the mill " WWII gunto - non traditionally made blade with mei is-- all things being equil.

300-500?
 
A nice Showato (non-traditionally made sword with tang stamp) in good polish and mounts in good condition can range anywhere from about $500 to $1000 depending on the smith, quality of the blade and mounts, etc.

Rich S
 
not that I've noticed, I recently been working on a Kanetsugu, only 2 characters, no stamps, no date, I believe it's the smith, Maekawa Genichi, maybe 41-42, picked up in New Guinea in 44.
 
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