Please answer the questions best to your ability and try to include photos close ups are of a great help in our research bare blade and tang and mail it to us at the address listed on the upper right hand. The japanese katana is seen, in some ways, as an object of worship, as well as a symbol of authority. The nbthk society for the preservation of the japanese art sword requires that for a sword to be gendaito it must be made of traditional tamahagane jewel steel made from satetsu black iron sand. Legends have shrouded masamune, one of the most famous japanese sword makers, and his swords that it is hard to extricate fact from fiction. This is not just opinion or snobbery, but a hardcoded element of japanese law, as established during the occupation era. Open for any projects that do not come under the points, or contain any of the points stated below. After the end of the second world war, however, this renowned sword disappeared, and its. It was the symbol of an entire way of life that sadly now no longer exists.
The tang on this sword negates the way that a japanese sword is made to be put together, and so indicates a mass produced copy. If there are three characters, the third will usually be saku, which means made this. Whether youre a martial artist studying swordsmanship or a collector looking to add a true jewel to your wall, you cant go wrong with an antique katana. Jan 09, 2010 masamune is known to be the most famous japanese sword maker of all times. Masataka first signed his swords as either michimasa or morimitsu, but adopted the name masataka and the kikusui mon upon the establishment of the shrine.
Investigating katana sword makers mark martialtalk. For example, when the japanese shoguns were invaded by mongols in th century, his sword was said to have cut ten thousand mongol necks, mails, and helmets without suffering any dent. Searching for the honjo masamune, lost samurai sword of power. Some of the forgeries may date back to the time when the master sword maker was alive. The affordable antique japanese swords for sale on ebay represent the pinnacle of swordsmithing. Theres been a recent increase in the number of requests asking to identify a sword or a signature of the sword. How to translate mei signatures on japanese swords.
Japanese swordsmiths have been fashioning these delicate and deadly blades, also known as katana, for over a millennium, but there is none that has matched the sword known as the honjo masamune. In the early military period and up until the 1930s, most of the swords that officials carry were those that belong to their family. Restorations repair and refitting of a japanese sword and fittings. The signatures that may be faked are normally those of renouned sword makers. The katana sword was invented around the 11th century and was central to a samurais kit. The simplest is a two character mei which is just the smiths name. He is considered to be responsible to bring perfection to the art of nie where martensitic crystals are embedded in pearlite matrix believed to resemble stars in the night sky. The swords featured on this page reflect our personal pursuits into the world of antique japanese swords, swordsmanship, and culture. Swords can be signed in one side or in both sides of the tang. These characters are signatures of the sword smith who made the japanese sword or the name of the sword owner. If you are wanting to buy swords, please visit our.
The swordmaker would create a school, where locals from the village could learn the art of sword making. Hello, i wanted to know if you could give me a list of the top authentic japanese sword makers in the world today 1,000. There are also numerous reproduction and fake japanese swords on the market. If you need to add contrast to the characters try rubbing some white chalk or face. Japanese swordsmithing is the labourintensive bladesmithing process developed in japan for forging traditionally made bladed weapons nihonto including katana, wakizashi, tanto, yari, naginata, nagamaki, tachi, uchigatana, nodachi, odachi, kodachi, and ya arrow japanese sword blades were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying. If the blade is aluminum, the sword is not a real sword and certainly not an antique.
The minatogawa shrine or minatogawa jinja was established in 1941 by the japanese navy to produce swords for distribution through the japanese naval academy. Makers marks and artists signatures on antique and modern japanese porcelain. There is a difference between a genuine japanese sword produced using traditional methods category 1 and a genuine example of some smiths work category 2. This sword is one of the most famous swords in japanese history, and at one point of time, even became one of the countrys national treasures. On japanese swords, there is a front side the omote, which faces outwards when worn or displayed, and a reverse the ura. Collection of 125 japanese tsubas sword guards maas. The smith may have somebody else do the signature for him. Samurai tanto handmade japanese style katana swords. I have been mesmerized by swords since i was a kid and as i grew the blades of japan have held my interest above all others. This picture shows manufacturing markings painted on the tang of a samurai sword.
Its a very positive trend and a sign of growing popularity of nihonto club. A tachi curved swords longer than a katana forged by sanjo munechika is reportedly the first signed blade. The techniques of the japanese sword manufacturing have always been one of japans very guarded secrets. If you dislike complexity, if you have a short attention.
Handforged samurai swords for sale visit swords of. Katanas for sale custom made samurai swords for sale. Japanese swords fall into many separate classes depending on length, curvature, and other determining factors. So your two respondents thus far point to the confusion surrounding the making of the sword known as a katana. Masamune sword making famous japanese sword makers. Deciphering japanese sword signatures mei is an extremely difficult business requiring much study and hard work. How to read japanese swordsmiths signatures mei and other inscriptions on the tangs nakago of japanese swords nihonto reading signatures on japanese swords. Yoshindo yoshihara is considered the foremost presentday swordsmith in terms of both popularity and skill a true genius.
This stamp is found in a samurai sword of wwii vintage. Method of maintenance section b method of sword care for information on stripping sword fittings. And associated metalwork baur collection classical weaponry of japan. Japanese characters kanji are also engraved on the sword blade. In 1843 14th year of the tenpo era, he left his business to his son sentaro who will later become wazen and took on the name zennichiro. Signature variations are clearly illustrated and discussed, as well as an occasional short bio, plus the smiths ranking in the sword world, etc. In this post we are looking at the two sword types most commonly used by samurai. Japanese sword evaluation no obligation what so ever. He was bestowed the signatures of eiraku and kahin shiryu by lord harutomi, and since then he began to use eiraku for his signatures, etc. However, just because the blade is steel does not mean it is a genuine japanese sword as many modern replicas are made with steel blades.
Combat ready as in i could toss it to mushashi himself with no complaints. These type of markings are found on wwii samurai swords. I have to agree with sukerkin here that its a modern chinese copy. Reading japanese signatures japanese sword nihonto. Sellbuybrokeringof japanese swords i have swords and fittings for sale. There are many types of japanese swords that differ by size, shape, field of. Knowing who did the signature is one of the difficulties faced by the collector. We interviewed yoshihara, said to be the best swordsmith in japan, who, even today, continues to protect the traditions and cultures of sword making.
The sword can be of the first category at the same time as being a fake in a sense that the signature was forged potentially centuries ago. If you need further information, please request such on the weapons identification service page. Signed swords, especially signed antique japanese swords can be expensive. The stamp on the blade with kanji in it indicates that it was made in china. The chisa katana is lighter in weight and shorter than the regular samurai katana sword. The katana, or samurai sword, is a work of art as well as a weapon.
It was traditionally made with tamahagane steel that swordsmiths would fold and temper into a curved sword. Wartime japanese swords rock island auction company. The mei, or inscription on japanese swords usually found the nakago, and can be of several forms. Forged signatures unfortunatelly some of the signatures in the samurai sword may be forgeries. We only ask that you give us first chance to purchase your sword if you wish to sell it. The swords of masamune have a solid reputation for superior quality and beauty.
Swords have been made from as early as the kofun period, though most people generally refer to the curved blades made after the heian period when speaking of japanese swords. Japanese military sword of the 1930s were mostly western inspired. For detailed information and comparisons between swords currently available on the market, you can jump to your area of interest. Collection of 125 japanese tsubas sword guards designed in japan a tsuba sword guard is a flat metal disc that forms the guard on a sword and serves to balance the sword, as well as protect the hand from sliding up the blade of the sword during use. Famous swords have been passed down for many generations through the shogun the military ruler of premodern japan, the daimyo feudal rulers of the pre. And more so, its an achievement of few regular members who are kindly responding to these requests.
This is pretty much the single source now for authenticating ww2era japanese swords based on their makers signatures. Your katana is powerfully real and custom made by masters of the craft using traditional hand forging methods. Sadly, the word has been hijacked by copycats as listed by mr. Generally speaking, we dont normally carry many swords made during this. With the new nationalism swordsmiths were inspired to create traditionally made japanese military swords. Japanese swordsmiths have been fashioning these delicate and deadly blades, also known as katana, for over a millennium, but there is none that has. The word, japanese, depicts a specific blade geometry today. Japanese sword blades of the shimto and shinshinto periods. The tanto was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well. Custommade hand forged samurai sword japanese katana. Circle m tsukamaki hilt wrapping and japanese swords. Samurai sword evaluation page 1 antique japanese swords.
Generally speaking, we dont normally carry many swords made during this time period. Tachi the older form of the japanese sword are opposite, since they were worn edgedown. This is the time when sword making became more popular and sword smiths have gathered in one place. Ive never come across any japanese made sword with a rat tail tang. Katanas for sale and the largest selection of blades and modification for your custom samurai swords, katana sword, wakizashi, tanto, nodachi, ninjato, shirasaya, tachi and many other blades made by traditional japanese methods, our samurai swords for sale are fully functional and battle ready. I translate japanese signatures on swords and fittings. The sword itself is representative of the worldrenowned, detailed workmanship of japan. About swordsmith index nihonto club japanese sword. The distinctive curved blade and long grip was designed as a twohanded sword and became the symbol of the samurai class. Handforged samurai swords for sale visit swords of northshire. Most signatures are carved on the tang while some are etched on the base part of the blade. Examples of the famous miyochins and others celebrated for their work in metals. On katana, which were worn edgeup, the omote is the side you would see when the blade is pointed up with the edge to the left.
Samurai katana swords in history japanese samurai swords. Sword evaluation info sheet page one sword evaluation. From the perspective of the modern wartime japanese sword collector of vintage japanese swords, the words very fine dont often belong in the same sentence as wartime japanese swords. Lectures on the topic of japanese swords, sword fittings, and armor and specific pointshistoric considerations on these items. Authentic japanese swords called nihonto are usually very expensive. Swords history 14th century ad chisa katana it was a version of the japanese sword with overall length falling between the length of the katana which is the long sword and wakizashi which is the short sword. Tips on reading sword signatures mei the signatures on japanese swords vary in style and complexity. Reseach and wrtiteups on concrete objectsmakersschools extent and fee negotiable. It is also during this age that sword makers put signatures on their creations. Various regions in japan would have sword makers who would develop their own techniques to treat, shape and polish the steel. I am willing to buy your swords and fittings or broker them for you.
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