Modern pira

kronckew · 25th August 2020, 01:30 PM

Ian, that's a really nice one. A proper sword.

Ian · 25th August 2020, 03:26 PM

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 · 25th August 2020, 05:51 PM

Quote:

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 · 26th August 2020, 12:39 AM

Quote:

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 · 26th August 2020, 08:48 AM

Quote:

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 · 26th August 2020, 05:20 PM

Shiny!

Ian · 26th August 2020, 08:30 PM

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

25th August 2020, 01:30 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,259	Ian, that's a really nice one. A proper sword.

25th August 2020, 03:26 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,519	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.

26th August 2020, 05:20 PM	#6
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 968	Shiny!

26th August 2020, 08:30 PM	#7
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,519	Hard to say. It had been much used. Not shiny at the time it reached me.