Japanese Sword ID

apis mellifera · 04-04-2014, 08:58 PM

My father in law has this Japanese sword. He believes it is WWII vintage. Unfortunately someone polished some corrosion and value off. Any sword experts out there. He thinks it's a last ditch type sword. I've never seen one like it.

apis mellifera · 04-04-2014, 08:59 PM

Trying to add pictures with my phone.

apis mellifera · 04-04-2014, 09:02 PM

Last one.

apis mellifera · 04-04-2014, 09:07 PM

It is unmarked, by the way.

Edward Tinker · 04-04-2014, 10:01 PM

hard to say - if original then it could be one made in China during the latter part of WW2 or a local made in one of the islands.

There were also 'last ditch' ones made by GI's or locals for sale to GI's.

I have seen bayonets with wood scabbards.

DavidJayUden · 04-04-2014, 10:13 PM

You may wish to try a google search, images, for "Japanese sai sword wooden handle scabbard" or something like that. The blade resembles a later NCO sword but this is all way over my pay grade.
Interesting, though...
dju

apis mellifera · 04-05-2014, 08:15 PM

I was mistaken. It is not engraved but it is marked.

DavidJayUden · 04-05-2014, 09:57 PM

Is that a "damascus" blade?
dju

apis mellifera · 04-06-2014, 08:48 AM

No, at least not in the way I understand Damascus to appear.

MikeP · 04-07-2014, 12:51 AM

There is a good Japanese group at Gunboards Forums.
They could tell you more than you ever want to know about this.

ithacaartist · 04-07-2014, 09:04 AM

Not strictly in my realm, but interesting, nonetheless. The perception that the blade is Damascus is likely pareidolic--the grinding/sanding of the surface, combined with the manner in which the corrosion established itself, might only be making it look Damascus at a glance. Need sharper/ higher res. pics!

Please post a link to a thread on another forum, so we may follow along.

04-04-2014, 08:58 PM	#1
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	Japanese Sword ID My father in law has this Japanese sword. He believes it is WWII vintage. Unfortunately someone polished some corrosion and value off. Any sword experts out there. He thinks it's a last ditch type sword. I've never seen one like it. Attached Thumbnails

04-04-2014, 08:59 PM	#2
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	Trying to add pictures with my phone. Attached Thumbnails

04-04-2014, 09:02 PM	#3
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	Last one. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by apis mellifera; 04-04-2014 at 09:04 PM. Reason: Phone trouble

04-04-2014, 10:01 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	hard to say - if original then it could be one made in China during the latter part of WW2 or a local made in one of the islands. There were also 'last ditch' ones made by GI's or locals for sale to GI's. I have seen bayonets with wood scabbards. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-05-2014, 08:15 PM	#7
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	I was mistaken. It is not engraved but it is marked. Attached Thumbnails

04-04-2014, 09:07 PM	#4
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	It is unmarked, by the way.

04-04-2014, 10:13 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	You may wish to try a google search, images, for "Japanese sai sword wooden handle scabbard" or something like that. The blade resembles a later NCO sword but this is all way over my pay grade. Interesting, though... dju

04-05-2014, 09:57 PM	#8
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Is that a "damascus" blade? dju

04-06-2014, 08:48 AM	#9
apis mellifera User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: WV Posts: 149 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	No, at least not in the way I understand Damascus to appear.

04-07-2014, 12:51 AM	#10
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	There is a good Japanese group at Gunboards Forums. They could tell you more than you ever want to know about this.

04-07-2014, 09:04 AM	#11
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,374 Thanks: 7,447 Thanked 2,613 Times in 1,380 Posts	Not strictly in my realm, but interesting, nonetheless. The perception that the blade is Damascus is likely pareidolic--the grinding/sanding of the surface, combined with the manner in which the corrosion established itself, might only be making it look Damascus at a glance. Need sharper/ higher res. pics! Please post a link to a thread on another forum, so we may follow along. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894