• Ww2 Japanese Nco Sword Identification
• Ww2 Japanese Sword Identification
• Japanese Military Sword Identification

Types of WWII Japanese swords made. The Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was the primary manufacturer of the mass-produced WWII Japanese sword. These swords resemble the traditional slung tachi that was used a lot from 1185 to 1332. Japanese soldiers were required to wear a sword because it inspired national pride, and these swords indicated the rank of. This is a minty WWII Japanese samurai sword. The sword is unsigned and has a 26 inch long cutting edge. I have a very nice blue and brown officers tassel that comes with it. It also has the original leather combat cover for the scabbard. A very nice Japanese sword at a reasonable price! This is a minty RZM SA dagger by Eickhorn.

NOTE: The following suggestions for determining whether a Japanese sword is old or new (WW II era or later) are only general guides. No single indicator alone will determine whether a sword blade is an antique or of recent vintage. The blade must be examined in its entirety and not judged solely on a single criteria. Do not undertake to dis-assemble a sword unless you know what you are doing. You may severely injure yourself and/or damage the sword. For definitions of terms, check the visual glossary page.

Japanese sword markings are very significant in identifying an authentic Japanese sword. The age and value of antique Japanese swords are also determined through file marks that are etched on the tang. Other marks on Japanese swords like creative carvings add beauty to the blade while a blood groove improves the weight and balance of the sword.

The first question to be answered - is it a real sword or a modern replica or an iaito (iai practice sword)? Many modern replicas and iaito have aluminum blades. When in doubt, check the blade with a magnet. Steel is magnetic - aluminum is not. If the blade is aluminum, the sword is not a 'real' sword and certainly not an antique. 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. There are also numerous reproduction and fake Japanese swords on the market. Also many Chinese military swords are confused with Japanese swords. Be sure to read Reproductions and Fakes.

'Ninja swords' are a Hollywood fiction. There is no historical documentation that ninja used swords which were of a special design or differed from those used by other Japanese of the period. Any so called 'ninja sword' is pure fantasy.

Is there visible grain (hada) in the steel of the blade? Most handmade Japanese swords will have a visible grain in the steel of the blade. This is due to the method of forging the blade using multiple folds,etc. Grain (hada) is sometimes difficult for beginners to recognize. There are old sword blades which have no visible grain (muji hada); however, the presence of grain does most certainly mean the blade is handmade. Grain does not determine age. Many of the better WW II era swords will show prominent grain (hada).

Does the blade show a true temper line (hamon)? Replica swords and many WW II era machine made swords have an etched temper line, not a true temper line (hamon) made by differential tempering of the blade. Examine the hamon with a magnifying glass. A real hamon will show tiny dots/specks (nioi and/or nie) along and between the border of the hamon and the rest of the blade. An etched temper line will be seen as a smooth cloud lacking any internal features.

If there are serial numbers stamped in the blade, it is a machine made blade - most likely a WW II NCO sword. These are all machine made and are not classified as 'Nihonto'. Check the military sword page for examples of WW II era swords.

Is the blade sharpened all the way to the base where it joins the hilt? Most WW II era blades are not sharpened all the down to the habaki (collar). Some older (Shinshinto) swords may likewise not be sharpened down to the habaki; however, most WW II swords were not. If the blade is not sharp all the way to the habaki does not assure it is a WW II era blade, but is a good first indicator.

If the peg (mekugi) or screw holding the handle (tsuka) onto the blade can be removed and the handle safely removed (use care not to damage the handle or blade - the complete handle should slide off the end of the tang), examination of the tang (nakago) can tell much about the age of the blade. (NOTE: Some swords may have two mekugi - one near the guard and the other near the end of the hilt. Always check. Never use force to remove the handle.) Newer swords will have a grey, metallic tang perhaps with a little red rust. (Do not remove the rust). Older swords will have more rusted tangs, ranging from brown to smooth deep black rust for the oldest swords. On newer swords the file marks on the tang will be sharp and crisp. As the tang rusts and ages, these become progressively smoother and less distinct.

NEVER CLEAN THE TANG OF A JAPANESE SWORD OR TAMPER WITH IT IN ANY WAY!!! - it will reduce its value by at least 50 percent!! The type and color of the rust is used to help date and to authenticate the blade.

Is the tang (nakago) signed? Many people tend to believe that if a sword is signed, that it must be hand made. That is not true. During the WW II era, many machine made blades were signed simply as a way of giving more prestige to the sword even though it was machine made. The reverse is also not true - if a sword is not signed does not mean it is machine made. Many, many antique blades were left unsigned or have had their signatures (mei) lost over time. Whether a blade is signed or not has little to do with determining if it is handmade or the age of the blade.

If there is a tang stamp (see the military sword pagefor examples) on the nakago, up close to the blade collar (habaki), it is a WW II era sword - these are arsenal stamps. Arsenal stamps do not appear on pre-1930's blades.

There are stories that the small papers between the handle wrap (ito) and the rayskin (same') are prayer papers to protect the soldier in battle. This is pure fiction. These are simply paper spacers to aid in positioning the wrapping properly on the handle. DO NOT UNWRAP THE HANDLE! The process of tsuka-maki (handle wrapping) is quite complicated. You cannot re-wrap the hilt with the silk cord that was removed. It will have shrunk and is likely frayed and worn. Consult someone who is trained in tsuka-maki if you need to have a handle re-built.

Sword canes (Shikomi-zue) mostly have very low grade blades. Most sword canes were produced in the late 19th Century - early 20th Century. The blades are very straight and thin and often have significant flaws. The scabbards and hilts are usually designed to resemble bamboo or old wood sticks. Rarely is a high quality blade found in sword cane mounts; however, some of the mounts can be interesting with hidden, spring loaded, pop out guards.

How the sword is mounted has nothing to do with its age or authenticity. Modern replicas may look like antique swords; be it a tachi, katana, wakizashi or tanto. WW II military type swords are also being reproduced today. WW II era swords have been put into shirasaya or remounted in samurai type mounts by collectors. Vice versa, antique blades are occassionally found in WW II military mounts.

There are numerous varieties of items made in the 20th Century as tourist momentos that are commonly thought to be some special type of Japanese sword. These take that shape of various dragon figures, Japanese peasants, fish etc. - all carved and painted wood figures. The blades in these items are all 'soft steel' and have etched temperlines (hamon). Many will have some type of engraving, usually floral, on the blade. These items are of no interest to Japanese sword collectors. Bone tanto and swords (see below) fall into this group.

Carved bone and carved ivory sword mountings almost always have untempered, soft steel blades. These were made as tourist items from the 1870's through the 1930's. These items are purchased for the quality of the carving only. The great majority of these swords are made of carved bone, not ivory. Ivory has a distinctive grain. If you cannot see this grain or do not know what to look for, assume it is carved bone, not ivory.

Swords with carved bone handles and scabbards are of no interest to Nihonto collectors other than perhaps as an example of how poorly made a blade can be. They are referred to as 'hocho tetsu' (kitchen steel) - a most derogatory term in sword circles. Swords of this type were made in all sizes, from tanto to katana or tachi. Some of these bone swords will have very low grade metal mountings, commonly with the Tokugawa mon incised into or embossed on the mountings.

The above items are only a general guide. When ANY doubt exists as to the authenticity or age of a Japanese sword, seek advice from a reputable collector. There are numerous sword clubs in many cities. Contact one of them for assistance.

Ww2 Japanese Nco Sword Identification

Ww2 Japanese Sword Identification

Japanese Military Sword Identification