Hello to you all! (New Member w/sword)

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by David

I'm i missing a photo here Jim. I don't see any inscription on the scabbard.

You're right David, my bad!! I did not proof read the text of the thread linked from the other forum. The poster there noted elaborately the VOC stood for Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, and in his enthusiasm claimed it was inscribed on the SCABBARD.....obviously he meant the blade and what the 'VOC' meant.
That makes more sense and I should have caught it

It returns to the case of this Dutch trade blade ending up in what appears to be a representation of a Japanese katana or more properly perhaps, wakizashi.

[asomotif]

Welcome Medar.

What a wonderfull sword and what a perfect timing with the other thread about VOC blades.

The blade looks good and genuine to me.
The whole ensemble with fittings and scabbard also looks genuine in my eyes. Problem is that I am a dummy on japanese swords.

Is there someone who can shine a light on the style and age of the japanese hilt and scabbard ???

Best regards,
Willem

[medar1]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Welcome Medar.


Is there someone who can shine a light on the style and age of the japanese hilt and scabbard ???

Best regards,
Willem

That would really help me a lot so yes, please, if anyone has any knowledge of this I would appreciate it greatly.

M

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Please take a look at ~ http://www.nippon.com/en/features/c00105/

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Welcome Medar.

What a wonderfull sword and what a perfect timing with the other thread about VOC blades.

The blade looks good and genuine to me.
The whole ensemble with fittings and scabbard also looks genuine in my eyes. Problem is that I am a dummy on japanese swords.

Is there someone who can shine a light on the style and age of the japanese hilt and scabbard ???

Best regards,
Willem

Willem, it seems we have determined that this old VOC blade has apparently been remounted into Japanese style mounts, but those who have knowledge in true nihonto (traditional Japanese) swords have not ventured further thoughts.
While certainly outside my field, it seems that this old blade may have been placed in gunto (post Samurai) style mounts, quite possibly in the Meiji period (1868-1912).
During this time there was considerable proscription of the traditional Japanese swords, and profound movement toward 'westernization' , adopting European styling and fashion militarily.
Clearly these mounts do not correspond to the well known nihonto style and instead of the 'tsukaito' (silk wrap braid) this grip appears to be some type of covering wire wrapped, more in accord with western officers swords. The scabbard sparsely decorated and sturdy like military types. The tsuba guard still follows Japanese tradition.

I am inclined to believe that this blade was likely a heirloom in this Japanese family, as discussed, and the officer of WWII still had the gunto sword which was probably mounted for an ancestor during the Meiji period. During the Showa period (1926-1989) and prior to WWII, Japanese officers were having many 'shin gunto' swords fashioned using old heirloom blades, and while many followed nihonto tradition in degree, many were simply produced and often with cast metal mounts etc.
I would imagine this officer was permitted the carrying of his family heirloom in its present mounts in respect for his family tradition.

[mross]

The fittings do not look Japanese to me. They look cast.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by mross

The fittings do not look Japanese to me. They look cast.

As we were noting, many 'shin gunto' swords produced during the Showa period and before for military officers were indeed cast. As with many heirloom blades in ethnographic settings, these are often refurbished in new mounts as they are passed down.