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#1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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On the dark and unsharp seller's photos the sword looked Aynu style, but looking closer and after cleaning it is pretty well made and most probably antique Japanese dagger, maybe Aynu inspired, for European market.
The blade was heavily rusted and has many small nicks from use; it has no visible hamon and hada. I wasn't able to remove it from the hilt, although there is an opening and no Mekugi. Maybe it is glued in or heavily rusted inside. Any opinions on this one? Anyway, I love the cute dragon carving ![]() |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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I don't think (?) it is Ainu. Most likely a post WWII mount with possibly a good, older blade (can't tell from the pics). Fancy carved mounts were commonly used as gifts or souvenirs for GI's or tourists.
Rich |
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#3 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
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![]() Quote:
He's also commented that this style sword was NOT for the tourist market as suggested, and is a definite Ainu item, but is as used and carried by the Ainu. This is a traditional ceremonial dress for an Ainu sword, and in many early photographs of the Ainu warriors dressed in traditional dress you may see these swords or knives tucked into the belt sash of the kimono, they are not the mounts of a sword that would have been used in battle which have a guard and similar fittings to the usual Japanese katana but different in that they are flatter and smaller. more photos of a similar ainu weapon also attached. Last edited by kronckew; 13th June 2017 at 04:00 PM. |
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#4 |
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I stand corrected. I Googled Ainu sword images and there are a couple shown similar to this one. Definitely a dress/ceremonial type; fighting swords are much more like katana in their mounts. Always glad to learn.
Rich |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
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![]() ![]() p.s. - even an old dog CAN learn new tricks. |
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#6 |
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Great information, thanks a lot!
I will try to gently remove the eyes of the dragon, and I will share the tang photo if succeeded. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 38
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Just a word of caution, many of these metal screw mekugi (rivit) are reversed thread, you think you are unscrewing it but actually tightened it up & to the point of breaking off the head, try it both ways gently. I've learned the hard way years ago.
Best, Maskell Jerry |
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#8 |
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Location: Europe
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Maskell,
I have an Indian dagger with a tool left screwed, as you mention on Tatyanas Japanese dagger. Do you know where this was used and why?? Jens |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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the tangs on these are normally unsigned, oddly, the one i posted earlier WAS signed -not on the tang, but on the underside of the grip. you can just make it out below:
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
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This looks to me like the signature of the man who carved the fittings. It is probably in NO WAY a reference to whoever made the blade. If I had to - I'd read this signature a either "Hoichi" or "Norikazu". If reseach were to turn up anything on this person I bet it would say ""Late Edo wood carver". This might also support my suggestion that this is a Japanese production - possibly for the Ainu trade, and NOT made by an Ainu.
Thanks for showing us the sword. Peter |
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#11 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 910
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The origin of this 'yarifish' was never resolved when it was presented on the old forums in 2000. The tang of a Japanese spear has been broken off and only friction is holding the blade in place. Not the standard of work of the dagger in the present discussion, but could this be the poor man's version of the same?
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#12 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Jens: All screws on old Indian jewelry I have are reversed thread! And only on the modern items the "correct" screws sometimes appear.
It looks like "left" screws were the norm in old India. |
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