Welcome Gnork,
Also thanks for taking the effort to sign up and re-visit this thread, it is becoming more interesting!
This new sword of your friends, only confirms my feelings back in post #13.
It is in my opinion definitely NOT a modern or recent reproduction.
The guard (tsuba) on both swords appears to be a WW2 civilian issue. The only notable difference between the blades is the length of the fuller (bo hi) or groove in the blade. This second one has it longer and closer to the collar (habiki).
If you are able to provide pictures as mentioned, perhaps a better judgement could be made.
Stamps on blades in the same region as these, are not unheard of, although this stamp looks familiar, it isn't the Nagoya stamp i believe. I will check my Fuller & Gregory's to see what i can find.
My leaning so far, is towards a possible ''colonial' made sword under Japanese occupation.
Ern
Correct. The Nagoya stamp was 名, an abbreviation for 名古屋. Additionally, I have zero confidence that the tsuba is a Japanese WW2-era civilian product; there is a casting rim along the top edge of the mimi (as the sword is held), and the face of the mimi is just to coarse.
治 -- Unidentified "Ji" stamp
名 -- Nagoya arsenal stamp
--Guy
]
As far as arsenal stamps on officer swords go... there have been a few, although not very common. They are however found on the tang, not the blade in Japanese swords. The ones found on blades are beleived to be colonial territories issue and manufacture.
Here's a few i could find quickly... the one on the right with the nagoya stamp is a star stamped gendiato blade.
i will look for more.
Ern
edit- just added another
Last edited by stegel; 11-13-2014 at 01:20 AM.
Thanks for the photos Gnork, and good call on the tsuba Guy!
I found one of mine and agree that the finish is much better than we see here.
All i can say about these two swords is that they are definitely not Japanese or WW2 NCO for that matter, as was
proposed by your collector/dealer contact. I do agree that swords were made outside of Japan in the occupied regions.
I'll go as far to say that it is possible that this is one of them and not a recent reproduction and that is about it.
So overall it is a 'Japanese Style' sword.
Keeping that in mind, i hope you did not over spend on this.
Fascinating thread for a guy like me who would love a WW2 Katana. Thanks to all for the education.
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