- Thread starter JKaiser
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Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
Outsourced to yahoo:
So far
"Japanese: 昭和二十年五月 Shyouwa nijyuunenn gogatu 2008 May (the bottom picture) I think the top one is a name. I can't read though... "
Link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/i...AOXUjI3sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20120212111242AAfSWAI
Outsourced to yahoo:
So far
"Japanese: 昭和二十年五月 Shyouwa nijyuunenn gogatu 2008 May (the bottom picture) I think the top one is a name. I can't read though... "
Link: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/i...AOXUjI3sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20120212111242AAfSWAI
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
Man, I have to dust off my japanese, but I am 99% sure the back says Showa, 20 5th month, or may 1945.
I was stationed over in Yoko for 5 years and it was always a pain converting the years on some things. Showa was during the time of Emperor Hirohito he passed in 1989 while I was over there. Then Akahito took over and started the years Heisei.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2272.html
http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/emperor-date.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/nengo.htm
http://www.tepetaklak.com/kanjis/kanji_index_01.html
The front side is more than likely the name of the swordsmith, here are some names of that ere, gonna have to click through them all, or submit the photo to a Japanese sword or language forum.
http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/index.htm
Man, I have to dust off my japanese, but I am 99% sure the back says Showa, 20 5th month, or may 1945.
I was stationed over in Yoko for 5 years and it was always a pain converting the years on some things. Showa was during the time of Emperor Hirohito he passed in 1989 while I was over there. Then Akahito took over and started the years Heisei.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2272.html
http://www.i18nguy.com/l10n/emperor-date.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/kanji/nengo.htm
http://www.tepetaklak.com/kanjis/kanji_index_01.html
The front side is more than likely the name of the swordsmith, here are some names of that ere, gonna have to click through them all, or submit the photo to a Japanese sword or language forum.
http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/index.htm
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
Send some pictures to David Hofhine.
He is a sword polisher... an American who has learned this very, very arcane skill. I am on his waiting list to have one done. It's been a year waiting!
He can look at the blade and the inscription and give you a 'read' on what it says. That may help you date the blade or get a valuation. However, keep in mind that many inscriptions can represent 'schools' of swordmakers or families and valuations can vary wildly depending on very small details of edge tempering, blade shape, tsubas, etc.
But try out David. In fact, here is his link:
http://www.swordpolish.com/ Very, very cool guy.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Send some pictures to David Hofhine.
He is a sword polisher... an American who has learned this very, very arcane skill. I am on his waiting list to have one done. It's been a year waiting!
He can look at the blade and the inscription and give you a 'read' on what it says. That may help you date the blade or get a valuation. However, keep in mind that many inscriptions can represent 'schools' of swordmakers or families and valuations can vary wildly depending on very small details of edge tempering, blade shape, tsubas, etc.
But try out David. In fact, here is his link:
http://www.swordpolish.com/ Very, very cool guy.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
PS... please post pictures of the whole sword! Definitely would like to see the tsuba (Guard) and the tsuka (Grip).
Cheers,
Sirhr
PS... please post pictures of the whole sword! Definitely would like to see the tsuba (Guard) and the tsuka (Grip).
Cheers,
Sirhr
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
The date is the 20th year of the Showa period, 5th month, so that would put it at around 1946 may. the name is heinemo something.
The date is the 20th year of the Showa period, 5th month, so that would put it at around 1946 may. the name is heinemo something.
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
A date putting the sword in 1946 is strange... After the surrender there were severe restrictions put on swords -- including ownership. Families that had swords that were passed down could keep them, but only if they were registered.
Any WWII era (late Showa) swords were forbidden and had to be destroyed... though lots were brought home by GI's as souvenirs.
Production was strictly prohibited until 1953, when artisans could resume production. At that point, the swordsmiths had to be registered, each sword produced had to be registered... and production was limited to 2 long and 3 short swords a month. This was primarily intended to help keep the art alive, but prevent mass-production of weapons.
Any sword dated to 1946 would have to have been made as contraband.
Sorry, I don't read the Japanese (check with Hofhine who I mentioned above), but if Rusty's comment is right, that makes this interesting....
Cheers,
Sirhr
A date putting the sword in 1946 is strange... After the surrender there were severe restrictions put on swords -- including ownership. Families that had swords that were passed down could keep them, but only if they were registered.
Any WWII era (late Showa) swords were forbidden and had to be destroyed... though lots were brought home by GI's as souvenirs.
Production was strictly prohibited until 1953, when artisans could resume production. At that point, the swordsmiths had to be registered, each sword produced had to be registered... and production was limited to 2 long and 3 short swords a month. This was primarily intended to help keep the art alive, but prevent mass-production of weapons.
Any sword dated to 1946 would have to have been made as contraband.
Sorry, I don't read the Japanese (check with Hofhine who I mentioned above), but if Rusty's comment is right, that makes this interesting....
Cheers,
Sirhr
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
One other point that I was making earlier when my cell died on me is this: families of samurai had donated swords <span style="font-style: italic">en masse</span> for the war effort, and these were shortened (for an obvious reason) to a standard length from the hilt end. Longer swords, many of them with inestimable value, were rendered unidentifiable without the information from the hilt end.
One other point that I was making earlier when my cell died on me is this: families of samurai had donated swords <span style="font-style: italic">en masse</span> for the war effort, and these were shortened (for an obvious reason) to a standard length from the hilt end. Longer swords, many of them with inestimable value, were rendered unidentifiable without the information from the hilt end.
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Veer_G</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One other point that I was making earlier when my cell died on me is this: families of samurai had donated swords <span style="font-style: italic">en masse</span> for the war effort, and these were shortened (for an obvious reason) to a standard length from the hilt end. Longer swords, many of them with inestimable value, were rendered unidentifiable without the information from the hilt end.</div></div>
Absolutely true. And some amazing swords keep appearing, primarily in the US (GI bringbacks), identified mainly by their Shinogi (blade design) quench patterns or, occasionally, fragmentary date/maker information.
But a 1946 date remains odd as it's after the surrender and before production was allowed. This is one of the things that makes these things fascinating.
Cheers,
Sirhr
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Veer_G</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One other point that I was making earlier when my cell died on me is this: families of samurai had donated swords <span style="font-style: italic">en masse</span> for the war effort, and these were shortened (for an obvious reason) to a standard length from the hilt end. Longer swords, many of them with inestimable value, were rendered unidentifiable without the information from the hilt end.</div></div>
Absolutely true. And some amazing swords keep appearing, primarily in the US (GI bringbacks), identified mainly by their Shinogi (blade design) quench patterns or, occasionally, fragmentary date/maker information.
But a 1946 date remains odd as it's after the surrender and before production was allowed. This is one of the things that makes these things fascinating.
Cheers,
Sirhr
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
It certainly is fascinating that the sword is dated to 1946, I was actually very surprised when I read it, had my brother check to make sure (I can read Japanese pretty well except for kanji, but my brother can read and speak Japanese fluently). We couldn't read the name very well, its not very clear and the engraving seems sloppy, which seems to me to give some credibility to the fact that it was made immediately after the war. I wonder if "black market" swords like this were common back then...
It certainly is fascinating that the sword is dated to 1946, I was actually very surprised when I read it, had my brother check to make sure (I can read Japanese pretty well except for kanji, but my brother can read and speak Japanese fluently). We couldn't read the name very well, its not very clear and the engraving seems sloppy, which seems to me to give some credibility to the fact that it was made immediately after the war. I wonder if "black market" swords like this were common back then...
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
The inscription looks machine stamped. The tang looks new/modern.
Post it here:
http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/
The inscription looks machine stamped. The tang looks new/modern.
Post it here:
http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
I have read two things:
1. Markings are often forged since many think a marked up blade is automatically more authentic/valuable than an unmarked blade in similar condition;
2. Yahoo and Google Translations are often wrong.
I believe there is merit to both items. Do a lot of research and do not clean any further.
It is a nice blade.
I have read two things:
1. Markings are often forged since many think a marked up blade is automatically more authentic/valuable than an unmarked blade in similar condition;
2. Yahoo and Google Translations are often wrong.
I believe there is merit to both items. Do a lot of research and do not clean any further.
It is a nice blade.
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TNRat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is a nice blade.</div></div>We haven't seen the blade.
Maybe post some pics of the blade. One can tell a lot from looking at the blade, the steel, the overall shape and the point.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TNRat</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is a nice blade.</div></div>We haven't seen the blade.
Maybe post some pics of the blade. One can tell a lot from looking at the blade, the steel, the overall shape and the point.
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
Thanks for everyones input. As requested here are pics of the whole sword. The only thing I know about it is that my great grandfather took it off of an officer that he killed. Unsure of the location or actual year. He served in WWII and Korea. He died in the early 80's.
I haven't cleaned it or tried to do anything to it. I would love to find someone who could restore it.
And yes I do have fuzzy Crocs that I wear around the house. Call me gay if you want but I like them!
Thanks for everyones input. As requested here are pics of the whole sword. The only thing I know about it is that my great grandfather took it off of an officer that he killed. Unsure of the location or actual year. He served in WWII and Korea. He died in the early 80's.
I haven't cleaned it or tried to do anything to it. I would love to find someone who could restore it.
And yes I do have fuzzy Crocs that I wear around the house. Call me gay if you want but I like them!
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
Well the blade still looks in good shape. Still sharp?
Well the blade still looks in good shape. Still sharp?
Re: No BS can anyone read this for me?
That's a WWII, machine made Katana. Furniture is an exact match. The tip is a cherry blossom, not a complete Chrysanthanum (sp?). The locking mechanism is largely there. There should be a release 'button' on it.
There are some specialists who do restore these, but the blade looks quite nice and that's usually the 'expensive' part of a restoration.
Here is an identical one: http://quanonline.com/military/military_reference/japanese/sword4.php
Neat piece! No idea on the date, unless it was made during "their" year 1946 and somehow our calendar was still in 1945... Not sure how their calendar works.
Thanks for sharing and if you restore it... please post an 'after' picture!
Cheers,
Sirhr
That's a WWII, machine made Katana. Furniture is an exact match. The tip is a cherry blossom, not a complete Chrysanthanum (sp?). The locking mechanism is largely there. There should be a release 'button' on it.
There are some specialists who do restore these, but the blade looks quite nice and that's usually the 'expensive' part of a restoration.
Here is an identical one: http://quanonline.com/military/military_reference/japanese/sword4.php
Neat piece! No idea on the date, unless it was made during "their" year 1946 and somehow our calendar was still in 1945... Not sure how their calendar works.
Thanks for sharing and if you restore it... please post an 'after' picture!
Cheers,
Sirhr
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