Japanese army parade sword/saber

[Tank Destroyer]

I have been offered a Japanese army parade sword/saber. It is in great shape, no blade issues and it has a Mon family crest. He is asking 250.00 is that a good price I see prices all over the place when you try to search the internet. I don't need it, but if it is a good price well you know the rest of the story.
Marty

[harryamb2]

that sounds cheap for that sword.

[Alan M]

Hi Marty , it looks in very nice condition with plenty of gilt left on and the mon is a bonus , you can't lose at 250 IMO .

[Tank Destroyer]

Are there any good sites to go to for Samurai family crest. I found one site but could find it there. It would be nice to know the family name...... Well I got two yea's that it would be a good deal. I will sleep on it and make the decision on Tuesday.

[BOB COLEMAN]

Are there any good sites to go to for Samurai family crest. I found one site but could find it there. It would be nice to know the family name...... Well I got two yea's that it would be a good deal. I will sleep on it and make the decision on Tuesday.

Following the Meiji Period, family mon were adopted by nearly all Japanese families. There is no way to trace the owner's name just from the mon on the handle.

[Stu W]

That price is within a reasonable range of values. It's not a real deal but nor is it wildly overpriced. If you are looking to collect a single representative example that is certainly one to consider.

As Bob says you will not be able to identify a specific family but you can get more info on kamon (mon) here ...

Hidaka Family Emblems

Regards,
Stu

[ghp95134]

It looks like chrysanthemum leaves with a "kuginuki" inside -- but I cannot find an example.
菊葉中釘抜き
Kikuba chuu kuginuki

The closest I can find is bamboo with a kuginuki inside:

抱き竹笹に釘抜き紋
Daki Takesasa ni Kuginuki mon
Bamboo leaves embracing a nail-puller.

So, using that as a clue, perhaps yours would be called something [depending on the type of plants]:
抱き菊葉釘抜き
Daki Kikuba Kuginuki

Anyway, I've looked for over an hour and cannot find yours on Google Search.


--Guy

Edit: plants it could be:
茗荷 Myōga. Japanese ginger
藤 Fuji. Wisteria
柊 Hīragi. Holly
菊葉 Kikuba. Chrysanthemum leaves

[ghp95134]

Aaaaaaaaand.... dunno why that open square is called "kuginuki" which translates to pliers [literally "nail puller"]. There is another kamon also called "kuginuki" and it LOOKS like a pair of pliers:





--Guy