Japanese bone sword

[carlos]

HELLO!! THIS SWORD IS FROM THE FAMILY OF A FRIEND. HE KNOWS IS FROM A PHILIPPINES, THE FATHER OF HIS GRANDFATHER BRING BACK LIKE SOUVENIR FROM PHILIPPINES IN 1893. MY FRIEND DON´T HAVE DIGITAL CAMERA AND HE SEND ME PICTURES WITH HIS SCANNER, THE SWORD LENGHT IS 33 INCH AND ONLY THE BLADE IS NEAR 20 INCH.
OPINIONS?
THANKS
CARLOS

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1463/92342199wp0.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8379/misfotikos002pd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/236/dd1ow9.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img480.imageshack.us/img480/2995/g1yh3.png (http://imageshack.us)

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9227/95194119ej7.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Rich]

Your title is correct. This is a Japanese bone tourist tachi (sword made
to be worn edge down by strapping). The blades are normally not folded,
not laminated and untempered. Most made between the late Meiji Period until WW II. The value is as a tourist item, quality of carving and as a family momento.

Rich S

The Japanese Sword Index
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

[Battara]

Thank you Rich. I did not know that tourist daggers were being made during the Meiji period.

[carlos]

THANKS!! LOOKING FOR SIMILAR PIECES I HAVE FOUND ONE VERY VERY SIMILAR IN THE WEB PAGE OF A SELLER OF ANTIQUES ARMS, BUT WITH A HIGH PRICE!! I TOLD TO MY FRIEND!!
THANKS

[carlos]

Is this type of sword a good piece for a ethnographic edged weapons collection? or is considerated a tourist item? I´m thinking about tell my friend that my birthday is soon!! :D :D

[Valjhun]

A little bit ethnographic, yes, but definetly NOT a weapon. They made tones of such items in the meijo and taisho period for thoose who travel for pleasure. It is a nice item thou, made from bone (not ivory) ant the quality of the carve on that praticular one is avearge, low to middle quality. Around 1900.