Japanese blade

[Lee]

The length of the tang suggests to me that this may be a polearm blade. Referring to Knutsen's Japanese Spears: Polearms and their Use in Old Japan I see some similarity to a kikuchi-yari in fig. 17. As previously noted, it may also be a form from elsewhere in the region.

[Miguel]

I agree with Kai regarding condition and would certainly try the electrolysis process to remove the rust. I have found it to work very well. If you don't know about this process google rust removal by electrolysis which will tell you what you all you want to know. If you wish to bring it back to its original polished condition it will cost you several thousand pounds.
Miguel

[RobertGuy]

In the close up of the habaki it looks as though the blade lower edge at the hamachi runs into a slot in the habaki rather than being coned by it and resting on the machigane inside the habaki. Not conclusive but does point to a non traditional Japanese blade.

[Timo Nieminen]

Superficially, it looks like a modern Chinese-made "ninja sword". Straight, 20"/50cm blade, tang a suitable length for mounting with a 12" tsuka/hilt. The habaki looks very much like those used on modern Chinese-made katana (and ninja swords).

However, if it's from the 1950s, this isn't what it is. Also, the details of the tip are not like the modern Chinese-made ninja swords.

The tang has no hole for a pin, so it hasn't been mounted Japanese-style. It's either been left as a bare blade or was mounted with the tang glued-in, SE Asian style rather than Japanese-style (pinned). If it was mounted, why is the rust so uniform? So maybe never mounted.

So, some speculations:

• Modern Chinese-made ninja sword blade, never mounted, artificially aged - unusual for the tip to be modified in this kind of fakery
• Old SE Asian ninja sword made for tourist sale c. 1950 - the habaki looks very modern in style; the old SE Asian (mostly Indonesian?) replicas/fakes used different styles of habaki
• Old SE Asian imitation-Japanese cane/stick sword, c. 1950 - habaki is still a bit of a mystery
• Old Japanese cane/stick sword, age inconnu - AFAIK, these would usually have been pinned. Maybe some were glued.

Originally Posted by Lee

The length of the tang suggests to me that this may be a polearm blade. Referring to Knutsen's Japanese Spears: Polearms and their Use in Old Japan I see some similarity to a kikuchi-yari in fig. 17. As previously noted, it may also be a form from elsewhere in the region.

It's a normal length of tang for an 11" or 12" tsuka (which is long for a blade as short as this, traditionally, but common on modern Chinese-made blades).

Very short for a kikuchi-yari tang; plate 3 in Knutsen shows a typical one.

[CNK1]

Good morning friends,

Thank's for your help !

Unfortunately I think Timo said all about this blade, this is probably a copy !

I bought it to a non-collector but it's not a guarantee of authenticity, fortunately I haven't paid high price so this is the price of the knowledge

So thank's again to share your knowledge with me, it's everytime a great pleasure to learn !

Best regards,
Clement

[Pieje]

I agree, definitely not a real nihonto (Japanese sword).

For comparison, a picture of the blade of a 14th century Kikuchi Yari, greatly shortened to be mounted as a tanto (dagger).

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Timo Nieminen

Very short for a kikuchi-yari tang; plate 3 in Knutsen shows a typical one.

I have two ubu (uncut) kikuchi yari, both are mounted, one has a long tang, the other does not. With so few known uncut examples it is hard to know what was "typical".