Alot of stuff in Museums if fake or the story is made up to sell admissions. Most of the public walking through have no clue what they are looking at anyways...
Ok, thanks.. No one has come forth and stated whether or not it is a legit signature or not. Maybe that needs to be decided "in hand" ?
Im new to old blades so really have no idea. I collect mainly showa period ww2 gunto.
I understand the fact that quality trumps age. The Mei on my blade differs from the link posted as two characters are absent.
I understand not caring about mass produced machine made blades.. I feel the same way with dress swords.
A ww2 gunto no matter how the blade was made was a weapon that was "one" with the owner as was the ancient swords of their ancestors.
What people pay for stuff and what we think is better or worse all comes down to personal preference and we are all individuals.
Millions of items are out there for sale and we all ended up here for one reason. We like Japanese sword's in one way or another.
Im a military collector and that where I focus but, can still appreciate that little tanto even though I have no clue what makes it valuable.
I find the art sword guys look down on us military sword guys..IMHO.
This one was more attractive than the last few I have seen sell. Not to me but, just the way it was presented.
With the tassel and capture tag ? Lol. Who knows for sure even this could have been assembled this way for the sale ?
There was one the seller had trouble getting 2500.00 for and it was on ebay and gun boards for sale.
At the time I didn't have the cash and I was hesitant to pay 2500.00 for it. As I cant see that price either.
I haven't paid more than 700 for any type 95 I own and I have almost all the variants.
Ebay or any auction is un-predictable at best. I just bought a Kai-gunto with non-stainless arsenal blade for under 800 and its a great sword !
You just never know.
Thanks for the link.. The blade differs some to my un-trained eye as the Harmon is a different type and the mei end has a blunt end not rounded but, Im not sure how many different types one man would make ? The habaki is sure the same.
Both I guess ? I have many ww2 era swords and I can only assume the saya was leather covered as I have no idea what else to think ?
Most early blades I know have lacquered saya's with an integral loop for lack of a better term..
When I posted for translation someone said it was probably replaced ? Im a novice to these early swords and only collect ww2 era stuff.