Katana Swords

GWC Community Geek Hobbies
#1

Hey all. I’ve been listening for a long time, finally decided tonight to register on the site (call me a late bloomer I guess). Anyways, my hobbie is I collect Japanese Katanas. Not the real ones, obviouslly, I’m not made of money. But all of mine are $200.00 or higher. I have them on tables, in wall mounts, and in the room with my computer one just leaning in the corner. One of the things I hear most often the first time someone visits my house is ‘Is there a room in this place that doesnt have a sword in it?’ Thats one of my hobbies.

Appaullo

#2

Way cool on all the swords…

I have several Katanas myself along with a bunch of others…but I think you got me beat tho.

I fell in love with the Katana as a kid watching Highlander.

#3

I have a couple of Katana’s that I bought off a friend, apparently after WW2 loads of swords were taken from Japanese families and put in a warehouse by the American forces, and forgotten about until some dude bought the place and found them all.

I got two, but feel a bit iffy about them, as they have an aura of “war spoils” about them.

I do have a very nice broadsword that I had made for me by the same friend, we went up to the moors and camped out for a weekend while he made it, that’s the one that I keep above the fireplace.

#4

erm, WWII katanas were mass produced and not necessarily made according to the samurai tradition :o

#5

Oh I know that, There are ways to tell, these aren’t the mass-produced ones, they’re older certainly, but I’m not comfortable taking it apart to check more since I removed the blade of one, and found an awful lot of dried blood in the hilt.

#6

omg~! did you say blood? Get rid of them~!! Those things have bad karma about them…

#7

bravery! Huzzah!

#8

I have several Katanas myself along with a bunch of others…but I think you got me beat tho.

#9

My buddy’s dad has one that he brought back from saipan. It is a pre war katana ( not the officers model that the army made).

He did a little research and was looking around on the internet for explanation of the kanji. In his search he put out on a forum around 2002 some pics of the markings. About a month lter he was contacted by an atouny representing a Japanese national wnting to purchase the sword for $10,000. He asked his dad and the answer was a big “hell no”.

A second offer was made for $15,000 which was not accepted.

Will ( by buddy) asked why the sword was so valuable and the Japanese were not so forthcomeing with an explanation.

After speaking with his own lawyer Willie was told that he and his dad should not communicate anymore if they wanted to keep the sword, because if the japanese could prove that it was a “war trophy” then they might could get it for free… but he would consult a specialist in war repartaions law.

Come to find out, it’s not covered in war trophy law… becaus it was a weapon. KIA’s and POW’s are expected to relinquish weapons… even if they are personal property.

US army has it’s own laws against war trophys… but almost never prosecute after a year or so after a conflict.

In the end… we don’t know excactly the age of the Katana or what it’s significance is. His dad doesn’t talk about how he got it… just that the previous owner was a SOB who deserved to get raped by the devil in hell. Willie doeasn’t want to put it up for review on the internet for fear that it might open him up to much unwanted litigation ( a lawyer costs money)

#10

Like I said, these things have bad karma. Coming from Singapore, we’re all too familiar about WWII Japanese atrocities. We just treat it as water under the bridge (is that the correct use of the expression?)

#11

yeah. I am a firm believer that our grandparants get to hate japanese all their lives and we shouldn’t down them for it, but I dont’t have a right to hate anyone… I just understand why they do.

I respect the legacy of the old guys… even thou I don’t carry their angry feeling forward. Of course nobody ever rapped my sister or killed my parents, or cut my buddy’s arm off.

When I lived in Asia in the Army my grandpa was giving me a speech about “how it is over there” . I jsut sat quitly respectfully… cause his perspective was as a Capt in 1944, or a Col in 1953. A little outdated.

I loved Japan and thought that the people were awsome. They arenn’t hung up on WW2, ( of course why would they be?) and really jsut want to move on beyond that stuff.

I do love a LOT about their culture, as I did in Thailand, Singapore, China, HK, Korea, and the Philipeans.

But I love the look of the Japanese stuff aesteticaly. It’s just pretty ass art and pagentry.