myArmoury.com - WWII Era Japanese Sword Question

Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 2:33 pm

WWII Era Japanese Sword Question

Hello everyone,
I have recently come upon this sword and I have a few questions about it. I believe it is from around WWII, but I don"t know for sure and I would like some more precise dates. I would also like to know what the appropriate nomenclature is for this sword. There are no markings on the blade but there is some on the wooden scabbard. Lastly, I would like to get an idea of what a sword like this in this condition would be worth.

The blade is sharp and measures about 26" long with an overall length of about 36".

I can provide more pictures if necessary.

Thank you.

Photobucket image

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Tyler Jordan

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Posts: 104

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 6:02 pm

You'll get the most information by popping the handle off (there will be 1 or 2 bamboo pegs) to look for a maker's mark or signature.
Nice to see anything that isn't in Shin Gunto though.

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Eric S

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Posts: 805 Location: new orleans

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 7:21 pm

Re: WWII Era Japanese Sword Question

Steven Biernacki wrote:

I would also like to know what the appropriate nomenclature is for this sword.

You can start here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings

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Steven Biernacki

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Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Thu 04 Apr, 2013 8:27 am

Eric S wrote:

Steven Biernacki wrote:

I would also like to know what the appropriate nomenclature is for this sword.

You can start here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_sword_mountings

Thank You for the link, it was very informative. I also was trying to figure out the specific term for the blade in general. I have read the phrase "shin gunto" means "new military sword", would that accurately describe this blade?

Tyler Jordan wrote:

You'll get the most information by popping the handle off (there will be 1 or 2 bamboo pegs) to look for a maker's mark or signature.

I noticed a peg near the hilt, but I can't seem to take it out by hand, and since the blade doesn't belong to me, I want to avoid damaging the piece. Is there a proper/easy way to do this?

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Eric S

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Posts: 805 Location: new orleans

Thu 04 Apr, 2013 10:26 am

Steven Biernacki wrote:

I noticed a peg near the hilt, but I can't seem to take it out by hand, and since the blade doesn't belong to me, I want to avoid damaging the piece. Is there a proper/easy way to do this?

The mekugi (bamboo peg) is tapered, the way to to remove them is to find an object with approximately the same diameter such as a nail punch and gently tap on the smaller end of the mekugi so that it moves in the opposite direction as it was inserted. If you remove the tsuka (handle) make sure you note how each part was facing so that it can be put it back together in the same manner.

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Christopher Treichel

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Posts: 268 Location: Metro D.C.

Fri 05 Apr, 2013 5:16 am

No, its not a shin gunto, it is a regular katana that has been modified for Japanese Army use by the addition of a leather saya cover and retention ring. Probably edo period mounts can't say much about the blade without seeing all of it. But its in nice condition...

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Steven Biernacki

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Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Fri 05 Apr, 2013 2:09 pm

Eric S wrote:

The mekugi (bamboo peg) is tapered, the way to to remove them is to find an object with approximately the same diameter such as a nail punch and gently tap on the smaller end of the mekugi so that it moves in the opposite direction as it was inserted. If you remove the tsuka (handle) make sure you note how each part was facing so that it can be put it back together in the same manner.

I just finished disassembling and assembling the tsuka by following your instructions, thanks Eric! I will put up the pictures of what I found in the next post.

Christopher Treichel wrote:

No, its not a shin gunto, it is a regular katana that has been modified for Japanese Army use by the addition of a leather saya cover and retention ring. Probably edo period mounts can't say much about the blade without seeing all of it. But its in nice condition...

If the mounting of the blade is from the Edo period, would it be more uncommon to find than a WWII military issue mounting? I read that the last years of the Edo period were in the 1860's, and that would make this mounting over a hundred fifty years old...

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Steven Biernacki

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Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Fri 05 Apr, 2013 2:38 pm

More Pictures

Here are the pictures of the dismantled handle of the katana.
The pieces are laid out in the order that they were assembled, and there was one pin holding the system together.
The last picture is very blue because it was the only lighting condition that the markings showed well on in pictures. It is actually very clear in real life without any special lighting.
I appreciate if anyone can tell me any more information based on these pictures.
[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

[ Linked Image ]

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Eric S

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Posts: 805 Location: new orleans

Fri 05 Apr, 2013 3:20 pm

I edited your image, I dont know if it is easier to read than the original.

Attachment: 50.26 KB
z mei.jpg

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Steven Biernacki

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Posts: 21 Location: Chicago

Fri 12 Apr, 2013 9:57 am

Thanks Eric, I posted your picture as reference on a different forum.
I posted the picture of the blade handle on a couple other forums, and someone has translated the kanji for me. Here is his reply I received:

" It says 常陸守宗重 (pronounced as Hitachi no kami mune shige).
Link is here.
http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2012/1210_1033syousai.htm "

Feel free to post any more facts about the blade based off this information, I just wanted to post this here to update anyone interested in this thread.

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