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Shin Gunto Saya Colours


Bryce

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G'day Guys,

 

I have noticed that shin gunto scabbards come in a variety of colours. Did different parts of the Japanese military specify different colours, or was it just down to the owner's personal preference?

 

Cheers,

Bryce

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Bryce, good question, and one that I have pondered over as well. Basically because officers purchased their own swords I think you could choose your own color, or were at the whim of the sword maker. I have bright greens, even shark skin covered army swords. On some swords the fittings are not the usual copper color, but could be blackened. Nothing surprises me in the variations that surface.  

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G'day Guys,

 

Thanks for your replies. It seems strange to me that the Japanese army would leave something like saya colour up to the individual. Were most gunto sayas the standard green or brown colour and it was only the special order guntos of high ranking officers or the rich and powerful which were a different colour?

Cheers,

Bryce

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From what I have read, anyone with enough money to afford the custom order could get what ever they want. As for why the Japanese Army would allow variation I have my theories, mostly to make the gunto mean more to the individual than just anther part of the uniform. What they represented and the ideals they projected meant a lot more than their usefulness, by allowing individuals to make the swords "their own" by customization would have made what they represented mean more to the solder I think.

Matt 

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Hi All,

 

I've owned most of the colors mentioned above but find this one interesting.

 

It's a gunto with sharks skin ( I think ) covered saya painted the normal chocolate brown. It has a loose leather saya cover as well.

 

All the best

 

Mark

 

post-7-0-53592900-1537382460_thumb.jpg

 

post-7-0-30429000-1537382497_thumb.jpg

 

 

 

 

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Bruce, second from the right is green lacquered shark skin saya, and fittings are the rare "blackened" variety. 

Brandon, yep mons on fuchi. Interestingly both on type'94's and both general swords with provenance.  

Neil,

 

Can you tell us more about the rare blackened variety, please??  I've never seen one that I can recall.

 

BaZZa.

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Hi Bazza, yes a very rare option. There is a photo of mine, and a screen shot of Ohmura-study web site. He calls it "dying" but from my research it is produced by a special plating process of a silver/gold/copper alloy, some times called "black gold". 

I have only seen one in the flesh (my one), so any others that members could post, would be greatly appreciated.  

post-3858-0-35489400-1537617880_thumb.jpg

post-3858-0-74647100-1537617893_thumb.jpg

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