Can anyone help me find out more about this sword?

I was told by a professor at a near by University that this was an ancestory sword dated back to the 1500. They said the dialect was before Japan was established, meaning an early Chinese dialect. Any help will be appreciated.

 

Photos are too dark and not in focus.Need good photos of the habaki and tsuba.

 

Yes, an older Japanese sword..............but we need much to help figure out it's history.

An antique Japanese sword site may serve you better than here..

 

Well seeing you obviously know how to take it apart and there are markings on the tang - you need a samurai sword expert, not a biased college professor, to tell you what the markings mean.

 

Japan adopted Chinese writing by the 6th century, so a millennia before 1500 and Japan was founded in 660 BCE. Although the kanji are hand scripted they look standard to me, the final character is probably zo (made). The information the professor gave you about Japanese language and history is incorrect.

 

Maybe the professor meant the style of the sword, not this actual sword?

I am no expert on Samurai swords, but I know one way of dating a Samurai sword is the length of the blade. The old style sword, tachi, was longer than the later sword, katana.
How long is the blade on your sword?

The markings on the tang are usually the signature of the swordsmith. The signature is placed off centre, on one half of the tang.
Is it on the half that corresponds with the sharp edge, or with the blunt edge? That is another way of telling the difference between the tachi and the katana.
I will have to look up which signature position is which again to be sure, but in the meantime you can take a look at the siggy and measure the blade.

All this is just about dating the style, not your actual sword. So just an indication, with which you can see if you need more research or expertise.

 

I already post the complete answer last monday for this sword in the GALLERY section,
is the one with signature inscribed of Takeyama Yoshiomi 武山義臣 and not Takesama from 1926-1944 sign under he swordsmith name. The hamon is not clear, the tsuba is in shakudo,
and does it have a numerotaion on it? Because most of the shin gunto or handmade or machinery made with this specific accessories of kabuto, koshire, menuki…, mainly all in brass.

We are sword lovers, Most of people wont be able to recognize, even the specialist in this area are not able to differentiate from a real one and a identical replica of a well known or not swordsmith and from what era.

Many think is older but is not森
In Japan you can refer it to an well known apraiasal firm (Aoi Art appraisal) to have an authenticity certificate if it work to do so for the fees of shipping back forward. it might cost already more than the sword.

Or by doing some research of all Japanese sworsmith master or school or disciple,
that are register throught Showa era for the production of WW2 for officer,
is not a 1500 years old, did the teacher use carbon paper to guess how old is it?
Maybe he read japanese ?
Does he knows many name of well known swordsmith through the history?
if is no at all, Avoid them from Far%)

each style have the way to temper the Hamon and the saber hilt is longer and well balance depending of one preference.
The blade is a bit damage for a 1930-1940s made, most of those sword should be polish and lubrificate at least if you want too keep its value, otherwise more is damage on not well restore by specialist it will decrease the value.

 

Thank you !!!

The Gallery section is for holding photo's...only!
No one reads there.....so best to always be posting on the FORUMS !!!

 

Thank you @SoKiku , very useful information.

 

So next time i will comments in the forums, thanks