Japanese sword makers signatures

Samurai tanto handmade japanese style katana swords. Most signatures are carved on the tang while some are etched on the base part of the blade. Jan 09, 2010 masamune is known to be the most famous japanese sword maker of all times. The samurai sword dates back to the japanese edo period and as far back as the kamakura period. On katana, which were worn edgeup, the omote is the side you would see when the blade is pointed up with the edge to the left. If the blade is aluminum, the sword is not a real sword and certainly not an antique.

Japanese swordsmiths have been fashioning these delicate and deadly blades, also known as katana, for over a millennium, but there is none that has matched the sword known as the honjo masamune. Tachi the older form of the japanese sword are opposite, since they were worn edgedown. Some of the forgeries may date back to the time when the master sword maker was alive. Method of maintenance section b method of sword care for information on stripping sword fittings. Collection of 125 japanese tsubas sword guards designed in japan a tsuba sword guard is a flat metal disc that forms the guard on a sword and serves to balance the sword, as well as protect the hand from sliding up the blade of the sword during use. Goals the main purpose of the index is to provide a comprehensive list of japanese sword makers with sufficient information given to identify particular smith in japanese sword literature, look for further references and collect data about smiths work in a form of separate record. This stamp is found in a samurai sword of wwii vintage. Sellbuybrokeringof japanese swords i have swords and fittings for sale. Its a very positive trend and a sign of growing popularity of nihonto club. Restorations repair and refitting of a japanese sword and fittings. For detailed information and comparisons between swords currently available on the market, you can jump to your area of interest. Reseach and wrtiteups on concrete objectsmakersschools extent and fee negotiable. Tips on reading sword signatures mei the signatures on japanese swords vary in style and complexity. The simplest is a two character mei which is just the smiths name.

Investigating katana sword makers mark martialtalk. The signatures that may be faked are normally those of renouned sword makers. Handforged samurai swords for sale visit swords of northshire. Examples of the famous miyochins and others celebrated for their work in metals.

The swordmaker would create a school, where locals from the village could learn the art of sword making. If you need to add contrast to the characters try rubbing some white chalk or face. If you dislike complexity, if you have a short attention. A tachi curved swords longer than a katana forged by sanjo munechika is reportedly the first signed blade. Ive never come across any japanese made sword with a rat tail tang.

It was the symbol of an entire way of life that sadly now no longer exists. Knowing who did the signature is one of the difficulties faced by the collector. So your two respondents thus far point to the confusion surrounding the making of the sword known as a katana. The japanese katana is seen, in some ways, as an object of worship, as well as a symbol of authority. The stamp on the blade with kanji in it indicates that it was made in china. Deciphering japanese sword signatures mei is an extremely difficult business requiring much study and hard work. Yoshindo yoshihara is considered the foremost presentday swordsmith in terms of both popularity and skill a true genius. Combat ready as in i could toss it to mushashi himself with no complaints.

The minatogawa shrine or minatogawa jinja was established in 1941 by the japanese navy to produce swords for distribution through the japanese naval academy. This sword is one of the most famous swords in japanese history, and at one point of time, even became one of the countrys national treasures. Japanese characters kanji are also engraved on the sword blade. If there are three characters, the third will usually be saku, which means made this. Reading japanese signatures japanese sword nihonto. And more so, its an achievement of few regular members who are kindly responding to these requests. Japanese sword evaluation no obligation what so ever.

Please answer the questions best to your ability and try to include photos close ups are of a great help in our research bare blade and tang and mail it to us at the address listed on the upper right hand. Legends have shrouded masamune, one of the most famous japanese sword makers, and his swords that it is hard to extricate fact from fiction. Method of maintenance photographic method or scanning you can use a camera and photograph the nakago tang of the sword. For example, when the japanese shoguns were invaded by mongols in th century, his sword was said to have cut ten thousand mongol necks, mails, and helmets without suffering any dent. Forged signatures unfortunatelly some of the signatures in the samurai sword may be forgeries. I translate japanese signatures on swords and fittings. We interviewed yoshihara, said to be the best swordsmith in japan, who, even today, continues to protect the traditions and cultures of sword making. This is pretty much the single source now for authenticating ww2era japanese swords based on their makers signatures. Sadly, the word has been hijacked by copycats as listed by mr. From the perspective of the modern wartime japanese sword collector of vintage japanese swords, the words very fine dont often belong in the same sentence as wartime japanese swords. About swordsmith index nihonto club japanese sword.

Swords have been made from as early as the kofun period, though most people generally refer to the curved blades made after the heian period when speaking of japanese swords. Swords history 14th century ad chisa katana it was a version of the japanese sword with overall length falling between the length of the katana which is the long sword and wakizashi which is the short sword. The nbthk society for the preservation of the japanese art sword requires that for a sword to be gendaito it must be made of traditional tamahagane jewel steel made from satetsu black iron sand. He was bestowed the signatures of eiraku and kahin shiryu by lord harutomi, and since then he began to use eiraku for his signatures, etc. Samurai katana swords in history japanese samurai swords. The swords of masamune have a solid reputation for superior quality and beauty. Japanese swordsmithing is the labourintensive bladesmithing process developed in japan for forging traditionally made bladed weapons nihonto including katana, wakizashi, tanto, yari, naginata, nagamaki, tachi, uchigatana, nodachi, odachi, kodachi, and ya arrow japanese sword blades were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying.

It was traditionally made with tamahagane steel that swordsmiths would fold and temper into a curved sword. There are many types of japanese swords that differ by size, shape, field of. These type of markings are found on wwii samurai swords. I am willing to buy your swords and fittings or broker them for you. Monetary value of the japanese sword obviously depends upon many factors, such as. Japanese swordsmiths have been fashioning these delicate and deadly blades, also known as katana, for over a millennium, but there is none that has. On japanese swords, there is a front side the omote, which faces outwards when worn or displayed, and a reverse the ura. Famous swords have been passed down for many generations through the shogun the military ruler of premodern japan, the daimyo feudal rulers of the pre. This is the time when sword making became more popular and sword smiths have gathered in one place. Japanese military sword of the 1930s were mostly western inspired. Swords can be signed in one side or in both sides of the tang. Makers marks and artists signatures on antique and modern japanese porcelain.

The sword can be of the first category at the same time as being a fake in a sense that the signature was forged potentially centuries ago. Signature variations are clearly illustrated and discussed, as well as an occasional short bio, plus the smiths ranking in the sword world, etc. Japanese sword blades of the shimto and shinshinto periods. He is considered to be responsible to bring perfection to the art of nie where martensitic crystals are embedded in pearlite matrix believed to resemble stars in the night sky. The typical form is chiseled, or carved, by the maker. Theres been a recent increase in the number of requests asking to identify a sword or a signature of the sword. The katana sword was invented around the 11th century and was central to a samurais kit. With the new nationalism swordsmiths were inspired to create traditionally made japanese military swords. The tang on this sword negates the way that a japanese sword is made to be put together, and so indicates a mass produced copy. Wartime japanese swords rock island auction company.

Authentic japanese swords called nihonto are usually very expensive. Collection of 125 japanese tsubas sword guards maas. Whether youre a martial artist studying swordsmanship or a collector looking to add a true jewel to your wall, you cant go wrong with an antique katana. Various regions in japan would have sword makers who would develop their own techniques to treat, shape and polish the steel. May 01, 2016 the honjo masamune is a sword that was forged by the renowned japanese swordsmith, goro nyudo masamune. Open for any projects that do not come under the points, or contain any of the points stated below. Masamune sword making famous japanese sword makers. The prototype of the japanese sword was the chokuto, or straight singleedged sword, a design that can be fairly described as a japanese sword without any curvature, with a handle that is usually only a few inches long and therefore suitable for singlehanded use only, with a sword guard that is prominent only on the front where.

Katanas for sale and the largest selection of blades and modification for your custom samurai swords, katana sword, wakizashi, tanto, nodachi, ninjato, shirasaya, tachi and many other blades made by traditional japanese methods, our samurai swords for sale are fully functional and battle ready. The distinctive curved blade and long grip was designed as a twohanded sword and became the symbol of the samurai class. Handforged samurai swords for sale visit swords of. After the end of the second world war, however, this renowned sword disappeared, and its.

Generally speaking, we dont normally carry many swords made during this time period. It is also during this age that sword makers put signatures on their creations. The swords featured on this page reflect our personal pursuits into the world of antique japanese swords, swordsmanship, and culture. The sword itself is representative of the worldrenowned, detailed workmanship of japan. Hello, i wanted to know if you could give me a list of the top authentic japanese sword makers in the world today 1,000.

The chisa katana is lighter in weight and shorter than the regular samurai katana sword. The tanto was designed primarily as a stabbing instrument, but the edge can be used to slash as well. The mei, or inscription on japanese swords usually found the nakago, and can be of several forms. The word, japanese, depicts a specific blade geometry today. In the early military period and up until the 1930s, most of the swords that officials carry were those that belong to their family. In this post we are looking at the two sword types most commonly used by samurai. In 1843 14th year of the tenpo era, he left his business to his son sentaro who will later become wazen and took on the name zennichiro. Mei japanese sword signatures the mei, or inscription on japanese swords usually found the nakago, and can be of several forms. Signed swords, especially signed antique japanese swords can be expensive. Japanese swords fall into many separate classes depending on length, curvature, and other determining factors. And associated metalwork baur collection classical weaponry of japan.

Katanas for sale custom made samurai swords for sale. If there are three characters, the third will usually be saku, which means made. Searching for the honjo masamune, lost samurai sword of power. Sword evaluation info sheet page one sword evaluation. If you are wanting to buy swords, please visit our. In 17 th century, 18inch long chisa katana, was the only sword that.

Samurai sword evaluation page 1 antique japanese swords. How to read japanese swordsmiths signatures mei and other inscriptions on the tangs nakago of japanese swords nihonto reading signatures on japanese swords. This picture shows manufacturing markings painted on the tang of a samurai sword. Custommade hand forged samurai sword japanese katana. The affordable antique japanese swords for sale on ebay represent the pinnacle of swordsmithing. The smith may have somebody else do the signature for him. Lectures on the topic of japanese swords, sword fittings, and armor and specific pointshistoric considerations on these items.

We only ask that you give us first chance to purchase your sword if you wish to sell it. I have been mesmerized by swords since i was a kid and as i grew the blades of japan have held my interest above all others. These characters are signatures of the sword smith who made the japanese sword or the name of the sword owner. Circle m tsukamaki hilt wrapping and japanese swords. Generally speaking, we dont normally carry many swords made during this. How to translate mei signatures on japanese swords. I have begun my nihonto education though i still have so much further to go before i feel ready to purchase even my first blade and start collecting. Your katana is powerfully real and custom made by masters of the craft using traditional hand forging methods. 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 is a difference between a genuine japanese sword produced using traditional methods category 1 and a genuine example of some smiths work category 2.

This is not just opinion or snobbery, but a hardcoded element of japanese law, as established during the occupation era. The techniques of the japanese sword manufacturing have always been one of japans very guarded secrets. I have to agree with sukerkin here that its a modern chinese copy. If you need further information, please request such on the weapons identification service page. Masataka first signed his swords as either michimasa or morimitsu, but adopted the name masataka and the kikusui mon upon the establishment of the shrine. The katana, or samurai sword, is a work of art as well as a weapon. There are also numerous reproduction and fake japanese swords on the market.