Strange Oriental sword

ariel · 26th August 2005, 03:23 PM

What is it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT
It looks like a "fusion" sword, although well-made.
The blade is European, with a clipped point liked by the Russians; the edge is strange: looks like it was pre-formed when the blade was made rather than resulting from sharpening. The scrimshawed handle looks Chinese but nicely attached. The absense of even rudimentary crossguard makes it less than comfortable for real fighting; more like a decorative renovation.
Any ideas? Did I miss an opportunity to get an ultimate " collector's dream"?

Rick · 26th August 2005, 03:53 PM

To me it looks like something that might have been offered for sale to a GI during the post war American occupation of Japan .

Possibly a re-mounted Japanese war prize :
http://tinyurl.com/c5m3x

Perhaps even the ultimate in irony right down to the blued blade ; 1917 model US Navy cutlass :

http://tinyurl.com/ajfeg

I wonder if the new owner will post pics of it here ?

Andrew · 26th August 2005, 04:06 PM

This looks like an extremely rare and valuable sword. There's a similar one for sale here:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1079

Rick · 26th August 2005, 04:18 PM

I see you survived Katrina Andrew .

Andrew · 27th August 2005, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

I see you survived Katrina Andrew .

We're all good, Rick.

Internet access is spotty, though.

fearn · 27th August 2005, 04:41 AM

Good to hear Andrew.

Rick,

You mean that I don't get to read you and Henk arguing for two pages just to settle that bet?

I'm soooooooooo disappointed

F

fearn · 26th August 2005, 04:27 PM

Hi Andrew,

Neat link, but I'm not sure I agree. The one you linked to is definitely Chinese. I'm not so sure about this one.

My inexpert diagnosis is that

a) it's a western saber blade of some sort, as Ariel suggested. The clip tip and deep fuller really don't look Chinese.

b) someone (not necessarily Chinese!) riveted a bone handle to it. Thing is, I could do a handle decoration similar to that with a soldering iron. While I agree that it's a Chinese theme, the lack of any Chinese fittings on the blade should be sending up warning flags. I don't know of any Chinese swords where the blade is riveted to the handle, either.

My suggestion is that this was someone's art project, either from Europe or the US. It's certainly cool as art, but that's as far as I would go.

Since "dhaguy" bought it, I wonder which of the "dhafia" will be able to enlighten us on this blade?

F

not2sharp · 26th August 2005, 04:52 PM

That is a US model 1917 cutlass remounted with a decorated bone handle. These swords were still standard equipment on older ships during WWII.

You can see pictures of original examples here:
http://arms2armor.com/Swords/1917var1.htm

n2s

Ferguson · 26th August 2005, 05:57 PM

The hilt looks like it's held on with roll pins. The spring type shaped like a "C". Not even rivets.

Steve

Ian · 26th August 2005, 04:50 PM

Ariel:

I had intended to post pictures of this one side-by-side with an example of the original sword from which it was derived.

The blade comes from a Dutch Colonial military saber issued in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) during the first half of the 20th C. I have one of these complete with scabbard and will try to post pictures over the weekend (time permitting). Edit: Actually, Rick has already posted links to pics of a Dutch "klewang" saber, and mine is identical to the pictures he linked to.

The handle appears to be a Japanese refit, perhaps WWII vintage, as suggested. I thought it was likely a souvenir collected in Indonesia by a Japanese military person during WWII.

Ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

What is it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT
It looks like a "fusion" sword, although well-made.
The blade is European, with a clipped point liked by the Russians; the edge is strange: looks like it was pre-formed when the blade was made rather than resulting from sharpening. The scrimshawed handle looks Chinese but nicely attached. The absense of even rudimentary crossguard makes it less than comfortable for real fighting; more like a decorative renovation.
Any ideas? Did I miss an opportunity to get an ultimate " collector's dream"?

26th August 2005, 03:23 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Strange Oriental sword What is it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT It looks like a "fusion" sword, although well-made. The blade is European, with a clipped point liked by the Russians; the edge is strange: looks like it was pre-formed when the blade was made rather than resulting from sharpening. The scrimshawed handle looks Chinese but nicely attached. The absense of even rudimentary crossguard makes it less than comfortable for real fighting; more like a decorative renovation. Any ideas? Did I miss an opportunity to get an ultimate " collector's dream"?

26th August 2005, 03:53 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	To me it looks like something that might have been offered for sale to a GI during the post war American occupation of Japan . Possibly a re-mounted Japanese war prize : http://tinyurl.com/c5m3x Perhaps even the ultimate in irony right down to the blued blade ; 1917 model US Navy cutlass : http://tinyurl.com/ajfeg I wonder if the new owner will post pics of it here ? Last edited by Rick; 26th August 2005 at 04:16 PM. Reason: More info

26th August 2005, 05:57 PM	#9
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	The hilt looks like it's held on with roll pins. The spring type shaped like a "C". Not even rivets. Steve Attached Images

26th August 2005, 04:06 PM	#3
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	This looks like an extremely rare and valuable sword. There's a similar one for sale here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1079

26th August 2005, 04:18 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	I see you survived Katrina Andrew .

27th August 2005, 04:41 AM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Good to hear Andrew. Rick, You mean that I don't get to read you and Henk arguing for two pages just to settle that bet? I'm soooooooooo disappointed F

26th August 2005, 04:27 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Andrew, Neat link, but I'm not sure I agree. The one you linked to is definitely Chinese. I'm not so sure about this one. My inexpert diagnosis is that a) it's a western saber blade of some sort, as Ariel suggested. The clip tip and deep fuller really don't look Chinese. b) someone (not necessarily Chinese!) riveted a bone handle to it. Thing is, I could do a handle decoration similar to that with a soldering iron. While I agree that it's a Chinese theme, the lack of any Chinese fittings on the blade should be sending up warning flags. I don't know of any Chinese swords where the blade is riveted to the handle, either. My suggestion is that this was someone's art project, either from Europe or the US. It's certainly cool as art, but that's as far as I would go. Since "dhaguy" bought it, I wonder which of the "dhafia" will be able to enlighten us on this blade? F

26th August 2005, 04:52 PM	#8
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	That is a US model 1917 cutlass remounted with a decorated bone handle. These swords were still standard equipment on older ships during WWII. You can see pictures of original examples here: http://arms2armor.com/Swords/1917var1.htm n2s