Please, need help I.D and some code in this sword.

Mark · 18th April 2008, 04:57 PM

This similar to some early Chinese pseudo-antique swords, though a bit more elaborate. I say pseudo-antique because they don't seem to be a repro of anything specific. I have seen them curved, and with all-metal scabbards painted brown with a flower pattern.

As far as I was able to find out, these are supposed "occupation swords" from the Japanese occupation of Manchuria before and during WW2. You can see both the Japanese sun disc flag, and Manuchu-kuo rising sun flag in the blade decoration (the Manuchurian "protectorate" was called Manchu-kuo). I had one in hand once, but never dared to bend it. I am surprised that yours is so flexible. Perhaps it is the real thing, but I would say that the workmanship is very poor. But then, I don't imagine that the Japanese cared to spend much money on decent swords for a people they considered to hold a status only slightly above laboratory rats (there was extensive testing of Japanese chemical and biological weapons on Manuchurians, both with and without the test subjects' knowledge).

It is an intriguing piece, but I question its genuineness. It would be interesting to see if the characters actually make sense.

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18th April 2008, 04:57 PM	#11
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	This similar to some early Chinese pseudo-antique swords, though a bit more elaborate. I say pseudo-antique because they don't seem to be a repro of anything specific. I have seen them curved, and with all-metal scabbards painted brown with a flower pattern. As far as I was able to find out, these are supposed "occupation swords" from the Japanese occupation of Manchuria before and during WW2. You can see both the Japanese sun disc flag, and Manuchu-kuo rising sun flag in the blade decoration (the Manuchurian "protectorate" was called Manchu-kuo). I had one in hand once, but never dared to bend it. I am surprised that yours is so flexible. Perhaps it is the real thing, but I would say that the workmanship is very poor. But then, I don't imagine that the Japanese cared to spend much money on decent swords for a people they considered to hold a status only slightly above laboratory rats (there was extensive testing of Japanese chemical and biological weapons on Manuchurians, both with and without the test subjects' knowledge). It is an intriguing piece, but I question its genuineness. It would be interesting to see if the characters actually make sense.