Posted 9 years ago
NorthernWo…
(1 item)
I picked this blade up sometime around 2006-2007 in northern Japan (Misawa AFB) from an elderly Japanese man that would occasionally come on base and sell antiques. He barely spoke any English, so all that he could tell me about it was "Old, very old." I was hoping that someone out there might be able to give me some info about this piece. It appears to be brass or bronze, I believe cast in one piece, approximately 15.75 inches long. It doesn't look like any Japanese blade pattern that I've ever seen.
Looks more Roman or Greek .
I agree, I always thought it looked somewhat like a Gladius, but I was never able to find more information. However, I'm now beginning to think that it might possibly be a short bronze Jian of some kind, especially due to what's left of some spiral decorations on the "guard", eerily similar to this:
http://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/sloankenyon/06/564806/H1039-L75132837.jpg
What the bloody H is a "Jian"?
blunder > A jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China.
This one looks very similar to a Jian file sword:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sword_(Jian)_with_Chevrons_LACMA_AC1998.251.20.jpg
Any way you look at it, it's really old & I would luv to have one.
Learn something new everyday hopefully. Actually, I have never had any interest in Oriental things.
blunder - yes, I learn something new here every day. I only own one oriental item, (aside from small bronze and wooden buddhas), and that is my cheap and cheerful ginger jar which can be found in my photos. Not worth much, but I love it.