Modern pira

[Ian]

Lee, your example is very similar to mine, although your blade is a bit wider. The ricasso and hilt are almost identical on the two swords, and the scabbards have the same profile. Is it possible that yours is also WWII vintage? I know these swords were used as weapons against the Japanese during WWII.


Wayne, thanks for the kind words.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Ian

Is it possible that yours is also WWII vintage?

It was certainly not new in the mid 1970s when I acquired it and it has not added much appearance of further aging, so it surely could be older than my guess. Perhaps, if not very likely, the black electrical tape wrapping of the scabbard replaced an original traditional wrapping more like yours.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Lee

It was certainly not new in the mid 1970s when I acquired it and it has not added much appearance of further aging, so it surely could be older than my guess. Perhaps, if not very likely, the black electrical tape wrapping of the scabbard replaced an original traditional wrapping more like yours.

Quite possible. I have another (provenanced) WWII-era piece that had the scabbard wrapped in black electrical tape.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by Ian

Quite possible. I have another (provenanced) WWII-era piece that had the scabbard wrapped in black electrical tape.

Are we talking shiny black plastic electrical insulation tape or the sticky black friction tape we wrapped baseball bat grips with?

[Lee]

Shiny!

[Ian]

Hard to say. It had been much used. Not shiny at the time it reached me.

[kronckew]

I've regretted using the shiny plastic tape on anything i've used it on & left it for more than a few months. it tends to get gooey, come loose and leaves yuck behind that is a PITA to get off.