Long time lurker and 3 year member. I don't post much but, I've got the bug again.
Blade Enthusiasts,
My magic swords, for your consideration.
http://imgur.com/a/NgUDs
Where I am what they might be:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guntō
I originally believed these swords to be made from damascus steel but, I now believe they are period Tamahagane steel. Cut down from antiques/family heirlooms, in Japan in or around 1943. Japan had lost much of its industry, and steel was scarce. And, the wikipedia bits about cheaper, brass ornamentation is spot on, so is the painted wood scabbard. These were done late in the war, closest to defeat so perhaps desperate times are cause for desperate measures? I believe that whoever was tasked with cutting down these blades, knew in doing so, that the original makers marks would be cut off. And perhaps, for historys sake, these blades were resigned in an area that would never be cut away, and last as long as the blade itself. Perhaps they are names of clans, swordsmiths, towns/cities, or just sir names for the man who would carried them. I can not find that information. A friend recently returned from China and gave me a loose translation for the characters on each sword might mean.
1.) Tagawa
2.) Abe Yoshihiro
I wont go into detail on what google has to say on either of these, the possibilities are too much to write about. But, i will say, having Yoshihiro on a swords that my be a period sword, is worth looking into. Go Yoshihiro = The real life Hitori Hanso.
Abe = An old promient Japanese clan
Tagawa = Sir Name, City founded in Japan in 1943.
About the swords
Exquisite quality blades that had been constructed to carry and edge. In fact, they are dirty-razor sharp in certain sections. There exist on portions of both, areas that have been dulled from, what is presumably contact with something hard. Maybe another sword, maybe a tank. With what, i dont know, but the striations lead me to believe this blade and seen usage at one time. The metals have a slight patina in areas, and the brass is quite tarnished.
Who knows
My eye for great work is not so adept as to make a judgement either way, as to the nature of their authenticity (without future research). Im in the process of research, but as anyone who has gone down that road of authenticating can attest, its slow going and can be costly. That professional judgement is the cost im considering however (paying to meet with an expert), I want to share what I found here first Both as a show and tell, but also because I might just be a dumb jackass. My own beliefs on the subject, are irrelevant but, ive been told I have a good eye for quality, and have proved it to myself more than a few times. Though, ive been wrong before when it comes to antiquity. But, i believe if you examine the photos, you will see the magic. You be the judge.
My acquisition
I purchased these swords from some kind of event that was happening the same day as The Nations Gun Show, at the Capitol Expo Center in, Chantilly Virginia on the 3rd day fo a 3 day show. I cant remember exactly what year, possibly 2009. The building is now a Walmart, go figure, but at the time was set up as a kind of old military show? Not too certain, dont rightly remember. Lots of armor and swords. Some (supposedly) dated back to the Civil War. Many cavalry swords, honor guard swords, and a few Japanese WW2 era swords. DO NOT TOUCH signs strewn on nearly everything that was remotely appealing. On a far table, I saw a man moving a few items to straighten the ugliest flag id ever seen. Yellow, and dirty I certainly was as he folded it twice and put down 2 swords on top of it, and at first glance what I believed to be chintzy (made in China) garbage. Besides the handful of expensive relics id seen displayed, those 2 swords were the only other Japanese katanas id seen all day.
The man said he had sold a bunch of swords, these were the last ones he had. He had put them out earlier days of the show, but had received little interest so he boxed them to make room for other merch. He added, that besides the looks of them, the blades were of quality and like the blades on these 2 the best. The scabbards werent so appealing however, one was remarkably ugly sat atop that soiled flag. Now, bare in mind, that these places arent so well lit think parking garage lighting. And I dont carry a flashlight and magnifying glass around like some kind of Sherlock blade detective. But, what from I could see up close, right under my nose... these were stellar! While, made of mismatched parts, the blades on these swords were amazing. At the time, I thought they were damascus but, they might have been old PBR cans molded to look like the genuine article. What the heck do i know for sure?
I bought one, the sword with the better handle and sheath. I had briefly considered buying the both of them, but the other one had a really gaudy scabbard. That justification made sense to me at the time because, I probably shouldnt even have tempted myself by going to the show in the first place. Now, im looking at several hundred dollars for 2 swords and I wont be able to buy groceries for the week. So, I take my 1 swords and I leave. When i walk outside into the bright day sun, I cant help myself, i want to examine my purchase in better light. The first thing I notice is that both blades have Japanese characters, of another kind of metal gold? Brass, most likely, inset into the blades. As i unsheathed the sword. the blade lit up like magic in the sun. The light bends off them in a way youd have to see to believe. Yes, I said them because, I immediately 180ed, and ran back inside the show and luckily found the other sword where I had left it. Bought the 2nd, and thanked the man. The photos are off, but I shared every one of them, the cameras colors are all over the place, I know. But, I did several test shots in controlled lighting with other objects and they all came out fine, this swords makes me think my camera was busted. Nope, couldnt get any better results with any other apertures, lenses, filters or lights or camera. Its not the camera, its the sword.
Blade Enthusiasts,
My magic swords, for your consideration.
http://imgur.com/a/NgUDs
Where I am what they might be:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guntō
I originally believed these swords to be made from damascus steel but, I now believe they are period Tamahagane steel. Cut down from antiques/family heirlooms, in Japan in or around 1943. Japan had lost much of its industry, and steel was scarce. And, the wikipedia bits about cheaper, brass ornamentation is spot on, so is the painted wood scabbard. These were done late in the war, closest to defeat so perhaps desperate times are cause for desperate measures? I believe that whoever was tasked with cutting down these blades, knew in doing so, that the original makers marks would be cut off. And perhaps, for historys sake, these blades were resigned in an area that would never be cut away, and last as long as the blade itself. Perhaps they are names of clans, swordsmiths, towns/cities, or just sir names for the man who would carried them. I can not find that information. A friend recently returned from China and gave me a loose translation for the characters on each sword might mean.
1.) Tagawa
2.) Abe Yoshihiro
I wont go into detail on what google has to say on either of these, the possibilities are too much to write about. But, i will say, having Yoshihiro on a swords that my be a period sword, is worth looking into. Go Yoshihiro = The real life Hitori Hanso.
Abe = An old promient Japanese clan
Tagawa = Sir Name, City founded in Japan in 1943.
About the swords
Exquisite quality blades that had been constructed to carry and edge. In fact, they are dirty-razor sharp in certain sections. There exist on portions of both, areas that have been dulled from, what is presumably contact with something hard. Maybe another sword, maybe a tank. With what, i dont know, but the striations lead me to believe this blade and seen usage at one time. The metals have a slight patina in areas, and the brass is quite tarnished.
Who knows
My eye for great work is not so adept as to make a judgement either way, as to the nature of their authenticity (without future research). Im in the process of research, but as anyone who has gone down that road of authenticating can attest, its slow going and can be costly. That professional judgement is the cost im considering however (paying to meet with an expert), I want to share what I found here first Both as a show and tell, but also because I might just be a dumb jackass. My own beliefs on the subject, are irrelevant but, ive been told I have a good eye for quality, and have proved it to myself more than a few times. Though, ive been wrong before when it comes to antiquity. But, i believe if you examine the photos, you will see the magic. You be the judge.
My acquisition
I purchased these swords from some kind of event that was happening the same day as The Nations Gun Show, at the Capitol Expo Center in, Chantilly Virginia on the 3rd day fo a 3 day show. I cant remember exactly what year, possibly 2009. The building is now a Walmart, go figure, but at the time was set up as a kind of old military show? Not too certain, dont rightly remember. Lots of armor and swords. Some (supposedly) dated back to the Civil War. Many cavalry swords, honor guard swords, and a few Japanese WW2 era swords. DO NOT TOUCH signs strewn on nearly everything that was remotely appealing. On a far table, I saw a man moving a few items to straighten the ugliest flag id ever seen. Yellow, and dirty I certainly was as he folded it twice and put down 2 swords on top of it, and at first glance what I believed to be chintzy (made in China) garbage. Besides the handful of expensive relics id seen displayed, those 2 swords were the only other Japanese katanas id seen all day.
The man said he had sold a bunch of swords, these were the last ones he had. He had put them out earlier days of the show, but had received little interest so he boxed them to make room for other merch. He added, that besides the looks of them, the blades were of quality and like the blades on these 2 the best. The scabbards werent so appealing however, one was remarkably ugly sat atop that soiled flag. Now, bare in mind, that these places arent so well lit think parking garage lighting. And I dont carry a flashlight and magnifying glass around like some kind of Sherlock blade detective. But, what from I could see up close, right under my nose... these were stellar! While, made of mismatched parts, the blades on these swords were amazing. At the time, I thought they were damascus but, they might have been old PBR cans molded to look like the genuine article. What the heck do i know for sure?
I bought one, the sword with the better handle and sheath. I had briefly considered buying the both of them, but the other one had a really gaudy scabbard. That justification made sense to me at the time because, I probably shouldnt even have tempted myself by going to the show in the first place. Now, im looking at several hundred dollars for 2 swords and I wont be able to buy groceries for the week. So, I take my 1 swords and I leave. When i walk outside into the bright day sun, I cant help myself, i want to examine my purchase in better light. The first thing I notice is that both blades have Japanese characters, of another kind of metal gold? Brass, most likely, inset into the blades. As i unsheathed the sword. the blade lit up like magic in the sun. The light bends off them in a way youd have to see to believe. Yes, I said them because, I immediately 180ed, and ran back inside the show and luckily found the other sword where I had left it. Bought the 2nd, and thanked the man. The photos are off, but I shared every one of them, the cameras colors are all over the place, I know. But, I did several test shots in controlled lighting with other objects and they all came out fine, this swords makes me think my camera was busted. Nope, couldnt get any better results with any other apertures, lenses, filters or lights or camera. Its not the camera, its the sword.
.
.
