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Post by Hardrada55 on Dec 28, 2008 16:37:21 GMT -5
Here are pix of my Christmas present.
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Post by Sasha88 on Dec 29, 2008 21:36:10 GMT -5
So, I think that's a nice sward because I know nothing about them.
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Post by Hardrada55 on Dec 29, 2008 22:50:07 GMT -5
Me too! ...and for the same reasons. Not exactly a vintage semiautomatic sporting rifle, and so I apologize for my digression. I'll try to do better in the future.
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Post by tnrifleman on Jan 6, 2009 10:24:14 GMT -5
Way cool sword there, Hardrada! It looks "vintage". Is it an original Japanese piece? Is the scabbard leather or wood? What can you tell us about it? I find edged weapons interesting. Inquiring minds want to know!
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Post by Hardrada55 on Jan 6, 2009 10:51:48 GMT -5
My son is taking Chinese in college and so he is helping me to research this piece. I know nothing of how it got to the USA. It has extensive engravings of Japanese ideograms on both sides of the tang or "mei". So far we've looked on a bunch of Japanese sword web sites and this is what we think we know so far. This Wakazashi was made between 1467 and 1469 during the 0nin period by a better than average swordsmith who signed his work Bizen Osafune Norimitsu. Bizen was the province where this smith worked. He was of the Osafune school of sword making. His "last name" was Norimitsu. There were several swordsmiths who signed the work Bizen Osafune Norimitsu about this time and we think that this wakazashi was made by the least skillful of them. The swordsmiths may have been grandfather, father and son in three generations. The Onin period in Japanese history seems to have been at the beginning of a long period of civil war and unrest. This Wakazashi is not a "mass produced" sword, but it is also not a "custom made" sword. Quality is good but not the very highest, by any means. The "Saya" or sheath is red lacquered wood. It has split along part of it's length and is missing the nose cap. The sword is missing it's fittings. Anyway, it was really cool to unwrap for Christmas and I'm very grateful and honored to possess such an interesting historical weapon.
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