(4) Vintage Japanese Swords

Lot description

(4) Japanese swords in need of restoration or parts: (1) one with blade approx. 26.50" including habaki. some black spots, hamon wave at each side, no nicks observed on blade, blade from tip to end of tang approx. 33.5"l, tsuba present but lacks other parts including handle, tang is marked on one side with Japanese characters, later scabbard in poor condition, overall approx.34.75"l;  (1) short sword, 19.25" blade including the habaki, hamon wave and fuller at each side, the blade spine about 1.5" from tip with .25" nick, blade edge without nicks, tang with Japanese characters at both sides, handle lacks pins, housed in a black lacquered scabbard, overall approx. 27"l; (1) sword with 16.7/8" blade, Japanese characters at both sides of blade, some dark spots and roughness at edge, button release on handle, scabbard is wood with textured black finish having loss, scabbard is much longer than blade but blade handle is matching, likely designed as a walking stick, handle lacks pin, overall approx. 35.1/8"l; (1) unusual short sword, double edge, a deep approx 13" fuller at one side, the opposite side a central raised spine, sharp at both edges, slight nicks or rough spots near tip and one side, a rectangular tang with Japanese characters at one side, the sword tip to end of tang is 23"l, a partially wrapped handle with sharkskin present but obviously not original to sword, the scabbard is in very poor condition and lacking tip, for shipping total of all 5.60lbs      *Provenance: A consignment from the estate of a now deceased U.S. Army officer. Documents from the estate (not a part of this auction) indicate that three of the swords, not individually identified, were given to a U.S. Army Colonel, stationed in 1946 U.S. Occupied Japan.