Nlf Gunto - Private Purchase Example

[zuiho]

        A search on the  NMB  forum  for Naval Landing Forces  gunto   found  several threads.

The consensus seems to be that  there was no official  gunto design  specifically for

these  forces.  I cannot  help resolve this issue. However, I do believe I have a sword

once carried by an officer of the NLF.  Photos :

 

 

 

 

 

        This example consists of a private purchase outfit for an officer who probably had minimal

money to spend. The tsuka is a Showa era civilian style with plain brass fuchi-kashira  and  

machine - stamped brass shi-shi menuki  .  The  badly wrapped tsuka-ito  is over   same'.

The tsuba is an old round plain iron plate with a mon  inlaid on one side. Aluminum and brass seppa  keep it in place.

The  23 inch blade is, perhaps,  sue- koto . It is narrow, tired and has numerous flaws but was once a good blade with much activity.

The dealer from whom I bought it said it was obtained by a US army vet in Japan during the occupation.

          The important aspect of this sword is the saya.  It is a field saya of  plain wood  with a black leather cover using a snap retainer for the sword

and TWO leather and brass ashi. There is clear wear at the top of both rings to show it was carried. Such a saya was suited for combat areas on land.  

The  color black was, with some exceptions, exclusively used by the navy. The use of double ashi  was  the  characteristic  naval style.

So, it was for a naval officer on land or in other words, the Naval landing forces.

Comments are welcome.

 

                                                                          William G.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

William,

Yes I agree. This style could accurately be called an NLF gunto, as opposed to the army/navy mix that commonly gets called that name.

 

Yours seems to have been a family sword converted to combat service.

[Dave R]

 I think we will never be able to pin down an exact type for the landing forces per se. Photographs show such a wide variety in use, that I suspect that the officers carried what they thought fit. Another matter perhaps when it came to parades and formal occasions. Looking at photo's of the SNLF uniform and equipment is very varied... Of interest, in the last photo, the haiken looks to be on the ha side of the saya, rather than the mune!

[EdWolf]

Hi Dave, interesting photos. Thanks for sharing.

Best regards, Ed

[IJASWORDS]

It is common to see this type of ito and fittings on WW2 swords. Because of the diversity of swords that officers could carry in all branches of the military, I don't think that they are particular to any branch. 

[vajo]

Maybe it has something to do with uniformity and the wish to look different in the mass. You find this in every army. Some soldiers looks indentical in thier uniform, others try to look different and wear things that are not standard.

Maybe this civillian/ mixed swords are the reason. 

 

A landing forces sword is the western wish for something special. Landing forces where normal soldiers and they carry wartime or older swords. The only difference is NCO and CO.

[Jean]

Well spoted, Dave....

[Dave R]

 When I became interested in "Gunto" I created a set of files of a) every variation I found of sword identified as carried by the IJA, and b ) every photo' I could find of IJA and IJN forces carrying swords. There are some interesting revelations within these.

 

 Regarding the haiken in the last pic', it is so far the only example I have found that I can confidently say is a WW2 sword with this feature..... but time may reveal others.

[vajo]

Dave i did not understand it really. The sword on the last picture is a civillian sword used in the Army. What was special on the landing force?

[IJASWORDS]

Dave, I also collect original unpublished photos of sword carrying soldiers, here are a couple. I think it would make a great thread if we could see photos of  soldiers carrying the swords, with hangers and belts (that I also collect). It would add context to see these period photos.

[Dave R]

Dave i did not understand it really. The sword on the last picture is a civillian sword used in the Army. What was special on the landing force?

 

 The man carrying it!

[Guest]

Hi Dave,

 

The position of the Haikan in picture three would allow the sword to be hung from the (at ease) hook on the top of the hanger close to the  belt with the Tsuka forwards as if worn in an obi.

 

Same as in the preceding picture 2

 

With the Haikan in the normal position on the mune, this hangs the sword with Tsuka to the rear.

 

See what I mean with this example from the Imperial War museum:

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30106656

 

It may be that both the officers depicted possessed some skill with a sword.

 

[Dave R]

Hi Dave,

 

The position of the Haikan in picture three would allow the sword to be hung from the (at ease) hook on the top of the hanger close to the  belt with the Tsuka forwards as if worn in an obi.

 

Same as in the preceding picture 2

 

With the Haikan in the normal position on the mune, this hangs the sword with Tsuka to the rear.

 

See what I mean with this example from the Imperial War museum:

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30106656

 

It may be that both the officers depicted possessed some skill with a sword.

 

 

Pretty much my thinking as well. I have also seen sword belts of the period adapted to carry a conventionally mounted gunto in that same position.

[Guest]

Hi Dave,

 

There's an example of the adapted Belt somewhere on NMB, it may be from Fuller and Gregory.

 

Also there are interesting variations of a shoulder type baldrick or a waist belt mount worn by Samurai wearing western clothing, during the Bakumatsu and in the first few years of Meiji.

 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/377739487466955722/

[Dave R]

 Some interesting adaptions during that period, including Toppai koshirae. You might like this one... I also have files for the Bakumatsu period as well. (I am a complete Geek.)