Sidearms & Scatterguns Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there? **UPDATE*

LSOSGT1109

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Minuteman
Oct 19, 2006
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I have a couple of blades from WWII that my great uncles brough back when they returned from serving. One is obvisouly Japanese and one is from Germany. I've had these since I was a kid and don't know much about them. The handle is missing from the Japanese sword and I think I recall my great uncle telling me that when he picked it up the handle had been burned off of it. I don't know if the sheath is original or not. It has what I assume is Japanese writing engraved into the metal under where the handle would have been. I don't know anything about the German knife other than that my other great uncle brought it home from Germany or I guess somewhere in the Europen Theater. I've seen pics of Hitler Youth Knives and it kinda looks similiar to me but it doesn't have any of the markings that I've seen in those pics. The only marking on the blade says SOLINSEN or something like that on the bottom of one side of the blade. Not sure if that is exactly what it says though, it's a little hard to read. Any one got any info on these knives. I've always wondered if they were worth anything.
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Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

did you say uncles,,,,as in plural?


just a bit unusual to have bring backs from one guy ...from both theaters....just sayin

anyway the jap blade may got value but the age would have to be verified from the folks in the know....could have family history and era of making....i'm not expert.

the german stuff your on your own
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

The Japanese sword looks like it is a little older, the holes in the hilt are usually from where they changed the handle grip position, the tip could have broken off, depending of the size of the person carrying the sword they could have changed the length to fit themselves better etc. These swords were handed down generation to generation, My uncle brought one back from Japan, gave it to me, I had an offer on it for 2500. I think they estimated it to be about 200 300 years old.
The German knife is made in Solingen Germany probably that city has a reputation for making high quality knifes, my dad carried a Puma White hunter in vietnam, kind of a poor mans Randall, it was made with Solingen steel. http://www.worldknives.com/info/knives-of-solingen-germany-43.html
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

Looks like a Shinto period wakizashi to my eye, not from WW2, older I think. The smiths name who made the sword is engraved or chiseled on the handle, (nakago). depending on the smith who made it, it could be of value, and or merit a polish to increase the value of the sword and restore its original beauty. Most gun shows have at least one guy at a table who knows his stuff about Japanese swords, PM me if you want names of people to assist you. I too have a sword from WW2 that has a surrender tag attached to it with the family's name and address, its not WW2 age (Showato/Gendaito) but older like yours.
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BOLTRIPPER</div><div class="ubbcode-body">did you say uncles,,,,as in plural?


just a bit unusual to have bring backs from one guy ...from both theaters....just sayin

anyway the jap blade may got value but the age would have to be verified from the folks in the know....could have family history and era of making....i'm not expert.

the german stuff your on your own </div></div>


Yep, two uncles. My grandmother's brothers. One was in the Pacific Theater, the other was in the European Theater. A couple of great guys from a great generation and I miss them!

I kinda hate to admit this but I read the Stephen Hunter novel where ole Bob Lee goes to Japan and cuts a bunch of dudes up. It talked about how some of those old blades were really valuable so it got me to thinking about mine. Anyways thanks for the help guys! I don't think I've ever posed a question on here that somebody didn't have some answers too!



 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

My pleasure BOLTRIPPER! Kasumi is gonna PM me some info on some people to call about the Japanese sword. I'll update with any new info I come up with.
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

do not clean the rust off of the tang on the Japanese blade. leave it as this helps towards aging/authentication. it can devalue the blade if you do.
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

For those wondering about the Japanese blade here is a response I got from an antique sword dealer that I sent pics to:

Hello Chuck

It looks like a late koto(around 1590;s) Bizen blade. They were mass produced at this time for the warring period. Not a whole lot of value but a very interesting old blade. It would need to be restored to see what it really is.

Regards
John White
NihontoAntiques

I would never attempt to clean it myself as I know that would do more to destroy it than to help it. They told me it would be about $3000 to have it restored so it probably won't be getting done but it's really cool to know that I have something that is that old!
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there?

The German knife is solingen they are a German knife manufacturer they are still in business they may be a good place to start as for the sword if you notice it has makers marks on the tang get them checked a close family friend had one same situation as you but in tact and it was revealed that it was a sword with history not just a mass produced sword and it dated back to the 16th Century or something so I'd take the sword to a weapon historian and see what he has to say about it may be something or it may be a dud either way their both really nice talking pieces and if your into edgeware really nice collectors with a story I'm sure has been handed down
 
Re: Any WWII edged weapon guru's out there? **UPDATE*

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KSP446</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
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This is an NCO or Office "Sword" from WW2, but it began as something from either the Shinto or Edo age (Lack of Bo-Hi validates that)

What it is, during WW2 the Japanese brought in their family heirlooms and donated them to the war effort.

Off to the factory they went, handle cut down and machined, Sword point cut down and re-shaped, machine polished and machine buffed.
New holes were drilled for the Mekugi (Bamboo peg that holds the Tsuka on the tang).
Thus the historical value goes to zero.

The handles (Tsuka's) discarded, new plastic or cheap wood handles were made for them.

What they did was take a $12,000-$36,000 sword and convert it to a $1500 sword.

I have a friend who is refurbishing my swords Tsuka's and another that is re-wrapping them. I have about $2500 invested in two swords getting refurbished and these are MODERN day swords.

Add another $2500 in for a "Decent" polish (Expert polish would be in excess of $10,000).

DO NOT EVER SHARPEN THIS SWORD - They are sharpened by "POlishing" using grades of stones from 600 to 12,000 grit....

It's a collector but could never be put back in true historical condition.

Here's the sad part, the Saya, or sheath - WW2 - the original was probably discarded.

The Tsuka's (handles) are made from a wood which only grows in Japan, although Magnolia is a very close relative to it.

I'm not sure it could ever be restored because it was a Katana and is now a Wakizashi (Short sword). Historically shot.

Would make a nice wall hanger though.

I'd be interested in a trade or sell if you are.