Collection So Far! Comments Welcome

[Hastur]

Hello, posted here will be pictures of my current collection modest as it may be. starting with my 1943 Takehisa Gunto with the "W" stamp as mentioned elsewhere. the polish is rough and worn but there is nothing fatal and it is missing the Tsuka wrapping but it does have the odd full artificial rayskin wrap instead of panels. The blade measures 67 cm roughly with the Tsuba being a tad loose (could use another Seppa perhaps?). there seems to be a spot where the temper does not go all the the way to the edge but it seems to be a polish issue? shown in picture 5. Next up will be my type 32's for perusal. 

[EdWolf]

Hi Brad,

 

Can you also post a picture of the Nakago? Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Ed

[Hastur]

The tsuka is on there really tight, I do have a wooden mallet however. any tips on safe removal or do I need to get a special tool?

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Brad,

Lay a thick towel on a counter with a few inches of the towel hanging over the edge.  Lay the blade on the towel, spring clip side up, and gently bump the tsuba against the edge of the counter.  Increase the force of the bump as needed until the blade comes loose.  This works with cast Gunto tsuba and iron tsuba without soft metal inlay; do not try this with a soft metal tsuba.

Grey

[Hastur]

Finally got the thing off and back on with a better fit to the tsuba to my enjoyment. 

[Hastur]

Cont'd

[Stephen]

smith

Takehisa

 

date

 

showa ju hachi nen  aki

[Bruce Pennington]

Brad,

 

Thanks for sharing your collection and giving us something to talk about!

 

The full same' wrap, as it was explained to me, is a more expensive upgrade.

 

Thanks, also for the view of the W stamp and the unusual one on the seppa. Does anyone recognize the seppa stamp?

[Hastur]

Thanks, all of the seppa pieces and tsuka have the same serial number 703 as well as that character stamp.

[Hastur]

It seems the rice glue is giving out on the tsuka seams, also there is very faint kanji on the tsuka under the fuchi. I used a dry protectant (Tuff Glide regular) so should I store it in the Saya or simply on the rack with cloth at the points of contact?

[Bruce Pennington]

The painted kanji on the wood are 3 8? Thousand, or probably 128,000

[Hastur]

Thanks interesting that they put serials in what appears to be pencil, still looking at what the kanji on the fittings mean. do you think the 5th picture in the first post constitutes a tempering issue or a bad polish making the hamon dissappear near the edge? It looks as if the temper line doesn't reach to the edge there, Could it be tired and that is core steel showing through? 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Brad,

No core steel on this sword; it isn't traditionally made Nihonto so one piece tool steel.  I wouldn't expect the hamon to be falling off on a WWII era sword; what you refer to in your 5th picture is probably due to wartime polish and condition.

Grey

[Hastur]

Thanks for the clarification, Was worried there for a second, I do want to get it polished up to fit in with my bright type 32's and type 30 bayonets. Are gunto displayed in the Tachi fashion?