Please help witha European blade in a Japanese tachi mount

Philip · 29th June 2021, 05:53 AM

The backstory on the piece cited in Peter's post #7...

In the same article referenced in my previous post is mentioned and illustrated this tanto. At the time of writing, it was in a British private collection and had been exhibited at a sword club show in that country. It's now in the Royal Armouries Museum, per the URL in post #7on this thread. The following remarks are based on Mr Norheim's description of it, in his comparison with the aforementioned sword.

This example is a bit more "high class" than the preceding; its mountings are much higher quality and bear the Matsuda (a daimyo family) crest.

The blade has also undergone a lot more in the way of "surgery" to reach its present state. It is a cut-down sword blade (analogous to European broadsword and riding-sword blades recycled into hooded cattars in Tanjore and other parts of South India). It was, according to the article, re-tanged in Japanese manner. Also re-tipped, re-tempered and polished à la japonnaise with parts of its original inscription remaining: " P.....SS Kejser [a Dutch rendition of Kaiser?] Anno... on one side, and on the other, " Me fecit Solingen 163 [3 or 5, numeral partially effaced].

29th June 2021, 05:53 AM	#13
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	And here's something similar... The backstory on the piece cited in Peter's post #7... In the same article referenced in my previous post is mentioned and illustrated this tanto. At the time of writing, it was in a British private collection and had been exhibited at a sword club show in that country. It's now in the Royal Armouries Museum, per the URL in post #7on this thread. The following remarks are based on Mr Norheim's description of it, in his comparison with the aforementioned sword. This example is a bit more "high class" than the preceding; its mountings are much higher quality and bear the Matsuda (a daimyo family) crest. The blade has also undergone a lot more in the way of "surgery" to reach its present state. It is a cut-down sword blade (analogous to European broadsword and riding-sword blades recycled into hooded cattars in Tanjore and other parts of South India). It was, according to the article, re-tanged in Japanese manner. Also re-tipped, re-tempered and polished à la japonnaise with parts of its original inscription remaining: " P.....SS Kejser [a Dutch rendition of Kaiser?] Anno... on one side, and on the other, " Me fecit Solingen 163 [3 or 5, numeral partially effaced]. Attached Images