New Guy, Old Wakazashi info?
Apr 2, 2013 15:25:40 GMT
Post by Bonekrosha on Apr 2, 2013 15:25:40 GMT
I have long been interested in real Japanese swords. My terminology might be off a bit so please cut me some slack, I am still learning.
I have one that my Grandfather brought back from Japan at the end of WW II. He was a Marine and during the Occupation of Japan, and he was in the Suo Provice. A family there was contracted to work for him and eventually they became friends. The family had this Wakazashi which they said had been in their family for generations. They said they wanted to give it to him so that it went to someone they respected rather than having it potentially confiscated.
My Grandfather obviously did not know anything of Samurai Swords but thought it was a touching gift. He accepted it, eventually returned Stateside, and put the sword in his garage. Long story short, I found it one day, expressed interest in it and he eventually gave it to me. It had not been well cared for, just sat in his garage. Lordy, I wish he'd have known to take better care of it. It must have ben an outstandingly beautiful sword at one time.The binding from the hilt is long gone as are the hilt cap and menuki.
The tsuba is very ornate and must have been absolutely beautiful in its time. It still has some gold inlay present on it. The collar appears to be silver. The seppa spacers (there are two) appear to be copper or brass and have decorative beading on them. The Saya is deteriorated but is red with black speckling.
The tang is very dark, almost black (it is lighter in the pics due to the flash), with two holes. There are markings on the tang but I can’t seem to match them. Some time ago, I had a colleague who said he could date it. He translated the markings at the sword being made by possibly Kiyosada of Suo Province somewhere between 1320 and 1360. Interestingly enough, I had not told him of the sword being given to my Grandfather by a family in the Suo Province,
I am hoping someone here might be able to assist me in verifying the signature and giving me a more expert opinion on my sword. I know that better photos of the Kanji are needed and I’m working on that. I hope that somone here can help me with trying to discover if it may indeed be a Kiyosada blade or from some other smith in the Suo area. I will continue to try to figure out how to take better pics of the Kanji, I may have somebody do it for me if I can;t figure it out soon.
Here are a few pics, I'll post more soon.
I have one that my Grandfather brought back from Japan at the end of WW II. He was a Marine and during the Occupation of Japan, and he was in the Suo Provice. A family there was contracted to work for him and eventually they became friends. The family had this Wakazashi which they said had been in their family for generations. They said they wanted to give it to him so that it went to someone they respected rather than having it potentially confiscated.
My Grandfather obviously did not know anything of Samurai Swords but thought it was a touching gift. He accepted it, eventually returned Stateside, and put the sword in his garage. Long story short, I found it one day, expressed interest in it and he eventually gave it to me. It had not been well cared for, just sat in his garage. Lordy, I wish he'd have known to take better care of it. It must have ben an outstandingly beautiful sword at one time.The binding from the hilt is long gone as are the hilt cap and menuki.
The tsuba is very ornate and must have been absolutely beautiful in its time. It still has some gold inlay present on it. The collar appears to be silver. The seppa spacers (there are two) appear to be copper or brass and have decorative beading on them. The Saya is deteriorated but is red with black speckling.
The tang is very dark, almost black (it is lighter in the pics due to the flash), with two holes. There are markings on the tang but I can’t seem to match them. Some time ago, I had a colleague who said he could date it. He translated the markings at the sword being made by possibly Kiyosada of Suo Province somewhere between 1320 and 1360. Interestingly enough, I had not told him of the sword being given to my Grandfather by a family in the Suo Province,
I am hoping someone here might be able to assist me in verifying the signature and giving me a more expert opinion on my sword. I know that better photos of the Kanji are needed and I’m working on that. I hope that somone here can help me with trying to discover if it may indeed be a Kiyosada blade or from some other smith in the Suo area. I will continue to try to figure out how to take better pics of the Kanji, I may have somebody do it for me if I can;t figure it out soon.
Here are a few pics, I'll post more soon.