multi-cultural

Jeff Pringle · 7th August 2008, 05:50 PM

Yes, the grip is wearing a fuchi and kashira in brass, the guard is a copper tsuba with 1/3 hacked off indicating that the new owner was right-handed and liked to carry the sword with the grip close-in to the body (well, I guess most swords are worn close-in compared to the Japanese style) – two copper seppa.
Next step is to remove the surface rust with a fine-grit stone to see what’s really going on, determine the course of further action; and polish a small section to check out the steel and hamon.

mross · 7th August 2008, 08:18 PM

Jeff, very cool. I don't know about anybody else but I'm excited!

katana · 7th August 2008, 09:53 PM

This has become a very interesting thread. Great work Jeff

.....can't wait to see the finished result and love the idea of following the progress, as it happens.

Kind Regards David

mross · 22nd October 2008, 11:29 PM

Jeff, any further developments on this?

Jeff Pringle · 17th November 2008, 07:49 AM

Yes, there has been some - but it is not finished yet!
I'll take some photos soon and give an update.

Gavin Nugent · 18th November 2008, 11:46 AM

Jeff, would this method of straightening work on a very old Katana without causing damage to the outer steel? Most swords I have had to straighten I've just used a large copper mallet and some pine timber blocks.
I ask as a friend wants to straighten one and I am reluctant to use the blocks and hammer method on harder steel than what I am used to, maybe the press would be a better option, maybe there is another method you can suggest?

thanks

Gav

Lee · 14th July 2009, 09:24 AM

Poor yari! At least I know it is in capable hands for what restoration can be done.

A few weeks ago, this past July 4th, our local town museum has a special WWII artifacts display, much of it belonging to a local collector, who was also present to interpret it. While he has collected much of it over the years, the core of the collection was things his father had brought back from the Pacific theater. Among his father's souvenirs were a gunto damaged near the tip by a projectile and a curious spear, the shaft also damaged by projectile, which his father told him had come to no longer be needed by a Japanese master sergeant on the beach at the battle of Saipan. This was not a typical yari, the blade was more leaf shaped in the form of a typical generic spear. The pole was interesting as it had two steel ferrules with screw joints, so that the pole could be broken down for transport. The workmanship was quite good and the look was very much WWII machine shop to me, and I do not mean an American machine shop. I only add this as it seems to be a credible second-hand account of a member of the Japanese military having carried a spear into combat in WWII. Perhaps he was not alone in having a spear and perhaps this is how your yari got out to the islands and came to meet the fate of its second (or third) life.

7th August 2008, 05:50 PM	#1
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	Yes, the grip is wearing a fuchi and kashira in brass, the guard is a copper tsuba with 1/3 hacked off indicating that the new owner was right-handed and liked to carry the sword with the grip close-in to the body (well, I guess most swords are worn close-in compared to the Japanese style) – two copper seppa. Next step is to remove the surface rust with a fine-grit stone to see what’s really going on, determine the course of further action; and polish a small section to check out the steel and hamon. Attached Images

22nd October 2008, 11:29 PM	#4
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	how did it turn out Jeff, any further developments on this?

18th November 2008, 11:46 AM	#6
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A question Jeff, would this method of straightening work on a very old Katana without causing damage to the outer steel? Most swords I have had to straighten I've just used a large copper mallet and some pine timber blocks. I ask as a friend wants to straighten one and I am reluctant to use the blocks and hammer method on harder steel than what I am used to, maybe the press would be a better option, maybe there is another method you can suggest? thanks Gav

14th July 2009, 09:24 AM	#7
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 949	Poor yari! Poor yari! At least I know it is in capable hands for what restoration can be done. A few weeks ago, this past July 4th, our local town museum has a special WWII artifacts display, much of it belonging to a local collector, who was also present to interpret it. While he has collected much of it over the years, the core of the collection was things his father had brought back from the Pacific theater. Among his father's souvenirs were a gunto damaged near the tip by a projectile and a curious spear, the shaft also damaged by projectile, which his father told him had come to no longer be needed by a Japanese master sergeant on the beach at the battle of Saipan. This was not a typical yari, the blade was more leaf shaped in the form of a typical generic spear. The pole was interesting as it had two steel ferrules with screw joints, so that the pole could be broken down for transport. The workmanship was quite good and the look was very much WWII machine shop to me, and I do not mean an American machine shop. I only add this as it seems to be a credible second-hand account of a member of the Japanese military having carried a spear into combat in WWII. Perhaps he was not alone in having a spear and perhaps this is how your yari got out to the islands and came to meet the fate of its second (or third) life.

7th August 2008, 08:18 PM	#2
mross Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 478	Jeff, very cool. I don't know about anybody else but I'm excited!

7th August 2008, 09:53 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	This has become a very interesting thread. Great work Jeff .....can't wait to see the finished result and love the idea of following the progress, as it happens. Kind Regards David

17th November 2008, 07:49 AM	#5
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	Yes, there has been some - but it is not finished yet! I'll take some photos soon and give an update.