Hey Guys. Just indirectly picked up this beatiful Japanese sword. I have done some research, and wanted to see what you guys think. This is a Shin Shinto period sword. The Smith who made this sword belonged to the school of Yokoyama Skemitsu in the Bizen province, and worked in Mito, Hitachi province. Its a Yokoyama Bizen Blade. Dated 1865. The sword is about 28 inches long (massive). Its in Perfect condition, and is real stunning. My sister Boyfriend is a sword collector so he was a huge help in getting the info. The long writeing on the left side of the tang could not be translated. Mabye some one here could help. This sword was pulled of a dead Japanese officer. I never thought i would find something like this. Its amazing to look at.

handel

Tang side one right side

tang right side UC

Tang right side lower part

Tang 2 left side

uc left side tang

Bottom tang left side

l

HARMON LINE

GOTTA LOVE IT

FOR GOT TO ADD A NICE LONG SHOT

Beautiful sword, Spencer!
Congrats!
I like the habaki.
You may submit this sword to Nihonto Message Board.
The guys over there stay away from Showa-to swords but if it's Shin Shinto period you'll get the answers pretty fast.
Lot of Japanese guys there too, so the translation shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks Walter. This sword is pushing me away from german daggers. I posted this sword on the forum you recomended so we will see. I will update when i get more info. Any one elese

Walter thoes guys at the Nihonto Message board really know there stuff. What a great forum. I got a little more info on the other side of the tang. I will post it below. Does anyone know how many times the blade was folded. thanks. Translation below.

? (kun) = lord
? (sei) = sincerity
? (kon) = spirit
? (gi) = justice
? (chu) = loyalty

quote:

Originally posted by spencer victory:
Walter thoes guys at the Nihonto Message board really know there stuff. What a great forum....

Yes, those guys are really experts when comes to Nihon-to blades.
I'm currently lurking since few weeks on this board - having just Showa-to pieces I have nothing to show them...so far.

quote:

Originally posted by spencer victory:
This sword is pushing me away from german daggers...

Exactly my point ... and "problem" - I'm watching my two Showa period katanas (3rd is still on mail) and have found that German pieces are not THAT appealing any longer to me.
Now I want a REAL Nihon-to katana (and probably a wakizaschi) and I'm preparing myself to pay a considerable amount of $$$ for that, so I started to sell some of my stuff (What a PAIN!).
If you ever want to get rid of your Shin Shinto, just drop me an email ...

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE TERM SHINSHINTO TRANSLATES TO "NEW NEW SWORD." IT IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE SWORD ITSELF AND NOT THE ERA IN WHICH IT WAS MADE. THE ERA IS THE LATE EDO PERIOD. THE EDO PERIOD ENDS WITH THE FALL OF THE TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POWER UNDER THE EMPEROR MEIJI. IN THE SIXTH YEAR OF HIS REIGN, MEIJI PASSED THE HATTORI, WHICH PROHIBITED THE WEARING OR MAKING OF SWORDS. THIS WAS THE END OF THE SAMURAI ERA. SWORD MAKING BEGAN AGAIN AT THE BEGINING OF THE 20TH CENTURY ALONG WITH THE RISE OF MILITARISM IN JAPAN. HOWEVER, MUCH OF THE ART HAD BEEN LOST DURING THE ABSENCE OF ONE GENERATION OF SWORD MAKERS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON OBTAINING A VERY NICE SWORD.
BOB

Stunning sword. I too like the habaki and the harmon.

Thank you Bob for explanation!
As a newbie I have started to learn about Japanese swords and realized that it's more than a rocket-science!
Have also found the same definition of Shin-Shinto ... and other swords-making periods:

- Jokoto Period (Ancient Times [<800])
- Koto Period (Old Times [800-1596])
- Shinto Period (New Sword [1596-1781])
- Shin-Shinto Period (New-New Sword [1781-1876])
- Gendaito Period (Modern Sword [1876-1945])
- Meiji Period [1876-1912]
- Taisho Period [1912-1926]
- Showa Period [1926-1945]
- Shinsakuto (Newly Made Sword [1953-present])

The Shin Shinto Period (New-New Sword) 1781-1876:
This period terminates at the restoration of the emperor Mutsuhito in 1868 and in 1876 wearing the sword was prohibited by law.
The demands for swords dropped rapidly and many smiths started forging knifes and forks.

I was also VERY surprised there was another Showa Period: 1312 - 1317

Bob And Walter

Thanks for helping Me out on this. Japanese Swords are like Rocket science. I will take this info and put it in the bank. I got the sword out of the scabbard last night, and boy did it put a smile on my face. What a sword.

Hello All,

fantastic blade !!!

I would love to have this one

Seb.

quote:

Originally posted by spencer victory:
...The sword is about 28 inches long (massive)...

Spencer,
One question:
28 inches is the full length of sword (from pommel to tip) or the length of the blade?

LOOKING AT THS BLADE, I WOULD GUESS THE ORIGINAL CUTTING EDGE WAS BETWEEN 31"-32". LONG MASSIVE SWORDS EMULATING THOSE MADE DURING THE NAMBOKUCHO PERIOD, WHEN THERE WAS A CIVIL WAR BETWEEN TWO SEPERATE IMPERIAL COURTS, WERE ORDERED AND WORN BY SAMURAI FAVORING THE RESTORATION OF THE EMPEROR'S POWER. THIS FORM OF SWORD WAS NICKNAMED "KINSHI****O." AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THESE SWORDS FROM THE LATE EDO PERIOD WERE NOT HIGHLY VALUED AND MANY, AS THIS BLADE, WERE MADE MACHI OKURI HAVING THE CUTTING EDGE SHORTENED FROM THE NAKAGO END. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE SECOND HOLE AND THE BRIGHTER TANG STEEL THAT WAS ONCE CUTTING EDGE.
BOB

THE WORD PARATIALLY OBLETERATED IS KINSHISHI PLUS THE LETTER "TO."

Hey Guys

Sorry for the long delay. the sword from the habiki to the tip is 28inches.