Just got a Samurai Sword

Can't post images yet as my corel imaging softwar crapped out. May go to Photo shop.

Sword has beautiful damascus. Dark in color. Nice Hamon or wavy forge line by cutting edge. All parts are there including a green locking sheath.

Sword is quite thick with a inverted "V" spine measuring .30 inch or 7mm. Blade is 28 1/2 inches. Have not taken it apart yet to see if anything is on tang.

Provenance came with in in skaky old man's handwriting :

PFC Lou Merkel
US Army 1949-1951
JAPAN tOKIO
Found in a cave with a helmet in 1950

Signed his name.


The original owner must have hide his sword and helmet as MacArthur made owning swords illegal in Japan

Original WWII Japanese Military Swords are STILL Illegal to own in Japan. It is like they have attempted to 'Wipe History' by Banning ownership there! The BLADES are Prohibited under ALL Circumstances.
The ONLY way to own one in Japan is, as follows:
The blade is Guillotined off about six inchs from where the Tsuba (Guard) & then the 'Stub can be put in the scabbard & the remains hung on the wall for display. It then LOOKS complete, until you remove the .Blade' from it's scabbard! I have also seen these sword 'remains' fitted onto a dummy Wooden blade to perform the same function.
If you send a WWII blade back to a specialist in Japan for polishing or other work. Jap Customs will impound it & destroy it with NO compensation!

Thanks. I thought sending it back would be a problem. Removed the handle and nothing there regarding the maker. There is a 9 or a Y there that must be an arsenal mark.

Does anybody know why they would put such quality into a sword but never sign it? I have a signed tang one by a promenient pre war maker that is not as good quality. Not machine made as far as I know.

It wasnt uncommon to leave a blade unsigned on a Wartime Officers variant. NCO's variants were ALL machine made & had serial numbers to aid assembly.
SOME wartime blades were signed by smiths proud of thier work. SOME VERY Old Family blades were mounted in WWII Mounts (Shin-Gunto) as the idea was to carry the Family Blade into Action & subsequent 'Glory & Victory'...:thdown:

Thanks. I did not know that. I do have a blade made prewar by a maker named Terude. Who ever owned it before me did not respect it and the case is in bad shape and the handle was missing on the sword.

Probably too much money to restore it.

Im thinking about buying this type 98 officer's sword 1943 for $1000, is that to hi, or about right ? the guy im buying it from is an honest man, i've known him for a while, would like some ones opin. that know's more about Japanese swords thin i do. Thank's for any advice....lboos

I remember seeing a special on tv (last year) on the making of samurai swords and blades. There are smiths/artisans still making the blades in the old maner. It is part of preserving history and culture. The blades command high prices.
john

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Originally Posted by lboos

Im thinking about buying this type 98 officer's sword 1943 for $1000, is that to hi, or about right ? the guy im buying it from is an honest man, i've known him for a while, would like some ones opin. that know's more about Japanese swords thin i do. Thank's for any advice....lboos

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$1K sounds really high for that type of sword. They can be found for alot less. If its cherry I would maybe go up to $500 MAX!

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Originally Posted by AZPhil

$1K sounds really high for that type of sword. They can be found for alot less. If its cherry I would maybe go up to $500 MAX!

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I agree, that DOES sound very expensive! These are NOT rare swords by any stretch of the imagination! They ARE however mor expensive, IF they are signed on the tang by the Smith who made the blade.
Dependant on WHO the Smith was! At one time, WWII Jap Swords were considered at the Junk end of the Market! That all changed with the making of the TV Series Shogun, the prices of swords then shot up over a week!

You may want to look at the swords here to see if any look like yours. ejapaneseswords.com

You might even send the owner clear images of the sword and especially the tang with the writing on it. I do not know if the owner will respond, but it is worth a try! Beautiful sword you have.....