Featured Japanese Kitana

Have had this sword for awhile and never got all of the answers i wanted from it. I sent a picture to my friend in japan years ago and he told me that one of the markings said EDO.... which would make it 16th - mid 18th century. But i never got the rest of the symbols translated. To me, the blade doesnt have the "hamon" pattern like a traditional kitana sword? Hopefully the detectives on this site can solve this mystery for me!

 

it looks...at 1st glance like it's made up of non matching pieces....

 

Yea its possible. The guy i got it from said it was brought back from ww2. It could have been some sort of reissue with old parts. The blade doesnt look right. I really would like to know what the markings on the tang says.

 

The blade may be a military gunto which were factory made and wouldn't have a hamon. The tsuba looks a bit strange as there are no copper blade tightening pieces.The fuchi has die stamped lettering and not period for 16th-18th century.

 

I know nothing about katana (I *think* that's correct), but I did learn from some cufflinks we had:



Katana (sword) menuki (guards or grips) were typically ornamented with benign symbols to strengthen and protect the bearer in battle. When Japan banned the wearing of swords in the early 1800, jewelry makers started repurposing the ornaments as jewelry and accents to other decorative items.

 

yes, the handle has been stripped down to the ray skin....making identification harder...
As mentioned the blade does look like a WW2 factory mfg.....with signs of use...so a battleground bring back sounds likely.

 

Try this specialised forum: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/

 

You have a piece of history, but it needs a lot of tlc and investment. If you want to restore it, it is best to ask advice from a katana expert in Japan, because the menuki would have to be appropriate for the tsuba etc. I am sure you can find an expert online.

Both the Edo period and the use of the name Edo for present-day Tokyo ended in 1868, so over a century after the mid 18th century.
The Edo period was when the shoguns reigned and the Samurai culture was at its height. The emperor regained control in 1868, the start of the Meiji Restoration.

It is.