Circa 1930 Chinese copy of a ken?

[josh stout]

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]

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.