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Hello, I recently purchased this sword and wanted to know if it is really a Mitsuyo sword. Also If anyone has an idea as to value, age, maker that would be appreciated.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54021129@N08/4993174704/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54021129@N08/4993173398/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54021129@N08/4992566557/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54021129@N08/4993173634/
Thank you
I train in Kendo, Japanese katana fighting. I have seen a lot of katanas and that is a real katana. It looks old and it is a plus the Japanese characters are made by hand and not a machine. It could be a Mitsuyo, I am not an expert. If you really want to know look up a Kendo dojo in your area and ask the sensei there. They have usually had a lot of experience with the weight, look and feel of katanas. It would be hard for anyone to tell definitely through a picture. I don't think you will know for sure with an answer over the internet.How old is the sword? Where did you get the sword, did the last owner say anything about it?
Bought the sword on ebay, listing said that it was brought back from the war by a friends grandfather. So the previous owner is really no help.
It's a Katana alright. But made by who or even machine made? That is the quesiton.
I've had about 10 Japanese Katanas over the years with a couple NCO swords and the rest being officer's swords. I've never seen an handmade blade that had a blood groove in it. That would be a serious red flag to me. I think it would be very hard to hand forge a blade with a blood groove in it. As you have to fold it and pound it flat. I doubt you could do that with a bloodgroove.
Now WWII machine made blades did have a blood groove, and to me this blade looks machine made. Like one of the Japanese NCO swords. Do a search on google for Japanese NCO sword and this blade looks a lot like that.
I'm not an expert by far. But I would investigate that blood groove. It does have a wavy saiya line, but I've seen those on machine made blades as well. And I've seen those faked.
I woud be very weary of that blade if you paid very much for it. A NCO sword complete can be had for about $500 so I would compare that to what you paid and see if you got a good deal.
I would at least find someone knowledgeable to answer your quesiton. You might have to try a site devoted to Japanese swords to find anyone who can answer you correctly.
This is the only site I ever found that could decipher my Japanese swords I have had over the years. This is the site and I would give them a try.
Japanese Swordsmanship Arts - Sword Forum International
Did you find an answer to your question?
Just to show and tell. This is the only Japanese sword I have anymore. I've had about 10, but always sold/traded them for something else. But I've held onto this one as it's a really nice one. Hand forged blade that is dated to about 1943-44. Here's a couple pics.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0039-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC_0043-1.jpg