Circa 1930 Chinese copy of a ken?

laEspadaAncha · 3rd June 2011, 04:51 AM

Hi Josh,

Interesting blade. Can you post dimensions, please?

Regards,

Chris

koto · 3rd June 2011, 05:28 AM

It is a Japanese ken. Fitting of late Edo or early Meiji period.
Nice one!

Nathaniel · 3rd June 2011, 06:40 AM

Interesting sword Josh! Definitely Japanese design motifs...the Tokugawa mon...the deep engraving & style on the blade reminds me more of things you see on some Japanese blades...what an interesting piece! Looking forward to see what others think! Thanks for sharing!

josh stout · 3rd June 2011, 02:58 PM

I am not sure what it is, but it is certainly trying to look Japanese. I found something similar here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...253D&viewitem=

The Tokugawa mon is actually what made me think it was Chinese. I thought such a mon would be restricted to clan members within Japan but would be something that a Chinese copier might pick as a showy motif. Also the mon forms two sides of the metal peg that holds the tang in place and there is no way that I can figure out to disassemble the sword in the Japanese manner. The only way to disassemble the blade would be to destroy the emblem. Would someone Japanese make a sword that way? I think I can leave out the Korean possibility because the style is too perfectly Japanese, but I still wonder if it was not made in China for export.

I do agree that the engraving is much deeper than that found on Chinese blades, and what appears to be the hamon is very straight and even, something I have never seen on a Chinese blade.

Either way, I am very happy with it because it is beautiful and I got it for a Chinese sword price

Josh

kisak · 13th June 2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josh stout

Also the mon forms two sides of the metal peg that holds the tang in place and there is no way that I can figure out to disassemble the sword in the Japanese manner. The only way to disassemble the blade would be to destroy the emblem.

IIRC some Japanese swords and daggers (mostly the latter) have such hilt ornaments that take the place of (or integrate with?) the menuki plug. I would guess that they have one piece for each side that slide into each other or some such.

3rd June 2011, 04:51 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Hi Josh, Interesting blade. Can you post dimensions, please? Regards, Chris

3rd June 2011, 05:28 AM	#2
koto Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 27	It is a Japanese ken. Fitting of late Edo or early Meiji period. Nice one!

3rd June 2011, 06:40 AM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Interesting sword Josh! Definitely Japanese design motifs...the Tokugawa mon...the deep engraving & style on the blade reminds me more of things you see on some Japanese blades...what an interesting piece! Looking forward to see what others think! Thanks for sharing!

3rd June 2011, 02:58 PM	#4
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	I am not sure what it is, but it is certainly trying to look Japanese. I found something similar here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...253D&viewitem= The Tokugawa mon is actually what made me think it was Chinese. I thought such a mon would be restricted to clan members within Japan but would be something that a Chinese copier might pick as a showy motif. Also the mon forms two sides of the metal peg that holds the tang in place and there is no way that I can figure out to disassemble the sword in the Japanese manner. The only way to disassemble the blade would be to destroy the emblem. Would someone Japanese make a sword that way? I think I can leave out the Korean possibility because the style is too perfectly Japanese, but I still wonder if it was not made in China for export. I do agree that the engraving is much deeper than that found on Chinese blades, and what appears to be the hamon is very straight and even, something I have never seen on a Chinese blade. Either way, I am very happy with it because it is beautiful and I got it for a Chinese sword price Josh