Unidentified Japanese Sword Tassel

[Ralph A]

Period? Reproduction? Pristine condition indicates the latter, but what else do you look for?

[Brian Wolfe]

Hi Ralph,

I agree with you that it is most likely a reproduction. The colours are too crisp and vibrant and the tassel ends too even and consistant for something that has been around for 70 some odd years.

As you are probably aware this style was used on both shin and kai-gunto swords.

Reproduction or not this is a nice looking speciment and would look great on any Japanese of the Second World period.

Regards

Brian

[Ralph A]

Thanks Brian, it is a lovely specimen. I love the vibrancy and the feel of the fabric, which I assume is silk?

I have a couple originals, one of which hangs from my Type 94. I'll post it sometime.

[aussiesoldier]

Hi gents,

 

I had need of fitting a company officer's tassel (the type illustrated) to our family war relic Type 98. The only one I could afford was a repo and it looks great.You'll notice from the photo that I changed the ties at the end.  I found a website that showed this method as the proper way to tie the tassel off, but I frequently see them tied your way in period photographs.  Go figure.

 

Dad aquired the sword from a Japanese officer who no longer needed it at Buna in 1942.  He had already faced down a French Foreign Legion cavalry charge in Lebenon, and fought the advance over Kokoda. The battalion went from over 800 at Port Moresby to under 250 standing at Buna. Malaria was the major problem although dad got malaria and Japanese shrapnel as a keepsake.

 

 

PS  The only original tassels I have seen are very expensive.  Ebay has a lot labelled original but almost certainly repo.

 

George

[aussiesoldier]

A closer view of the tassel tie.