I've got a couple of queries...

Firstly, Showa stamps.

I have read two different explanations of what these were used for.

Either: Swords with a Showa stamp were swords that in some way weren't traditionally made.

Or: The Showa stamp was used to distinguish swords sold off the peg through the Kaikosha (army officers club).

The other problem I have is:

Yasuki hagane: Apparently tamahagane (the traditional steel used for making nihonto) sometimes came from Yasuki.

compton4.jpg

comp3.jpg

Hi - Im having a hard time trying to read the inscription and wondered if anyone could help ? This is a sword that came from the Compton collection and given to the Exective director by Compton. Given to him by a Japanese Delegation. WWII Army Officers Sword engraved blade with Bamboo and Shinto Blessing(?) on the other side. Im a novice and it takes me so long to try to figure out the Charcters. Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

thanks so much

www.bahcode.com/comp3.jpg
www.bahcode.com/compton4.jpg

Hello,
A straight bladed mumei katana is coming up for auction soon in my state. Is it highly unusual to come across a straight bladed Katana? I saw a T.V. show recently where I belive one of Japan's national treasure swordsmiths was forgeing a straight blade for the Emperor.
Any comments are welcome, I am wondering if it is worth the drive.

Bob

Hello,
I really enjoy the board, it is very comfortable for beginners in the hobby which is what I am. Some of the other boards can be a bit stuffy. Anyway, I picked up this old tanto at the flea market pretty cheap. I think it is a Shitahara school from the first two Kanji, also the blade characteristics match perfectly with a few Shitahara polished blades on the web, however cannot find a match for the swordsmith. My friend in Japan could not match up the kanji either. Can anyone tell me it's origin?

Semper Fi,
Bob
www.okinawarelics.com

Hello everybody,
this is my first post here as I am new to Japaneese swords.
I am asking help in identifying the make name and possibly age of this wakizashi I just purchased.
Blade is 605mm long, and the tang has a complex signature as shown in the photo.
The habaky has a nice decoration and is in 3 pieces, both the habaki and the spacers are made of copper and have a yellow metallization (not paint).
any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and regards
Gianluca

Thank you Stan for your advice. Here's the challenge. In another thread on this site is the same signature "Yamamoto Kameichi" or similar name, but the quality of both pieces ( the other one andthis one)seem quite different. have a look and have your say. don't hold back, this Katana is not for sale and was bought for the equivalent of about US$90 from and American with a large collection of Japanese artifacts he had inherited, then bought by a local dude here in New Zealand. There were three swords in all, and I got this one.

Hello,

can you help me please - the first 4 pictures - is it an arsenal Marking?
5. picture - i tried to translate - Katana signature is - bungo ju Fujiwara nagayuki??

Thank for help
Burkhardt

Hello All
This is my latest katana, and would like opinions on date etc , it,s in a poor state but of to polish and shirasaya at the minute ,
i look forward to your comments,sorry but last few pics v poor as had problem uploading them,
Peter

I have what I believe to be a Japanese short sword, dagger or Tanto. All I know of its history is that it has been in the family for 60 to 80 years and tat it came from a country house. The dagger 430mm long is blade 285mm. The handle is covered in what looks like snakeskin. There is some corrosion and scratches on the blade and the sheath/scabbard is split suggesting some maltreatment or attempts to clean it in the past. It has spent the last 60 years in a drawer.

Hello all, I recently bought a Type 3 army Gunto in pretty rough shape which I'm going to try to restore. Before I do anything to the sword, I want to see what I have. I am assuming it is a basic machine made mass produced sword, but I'd like to know more. Can anyone help me read the signature? I tried to take pictures quickly but the signature was really hard to see, so I photoshopped the dickens out of it. Hopefully you can read it. The Tang is signed on both sides.