paul griff

Hello Ben, It's not corrosion as such but a deliberately unfinished surface from the manufacturing process..It doesn't have the same characteristic look of age corroded metal...it's too smooth and shiny,no real depth and dare I say it...patina..! With the two "drilled "holes that look the same diameter in the nakago it looks like a deliberate attempt to deceive someone into thinking that it's a remounted blade....? I don't think they will ever get it 100% right and it's good to see them sometimes to keep you "on your toes"....! Have a look at recently "commercially polished" swords on that big auction site and you will see nakago that have been cleaned up during this hasty process....even they retain some patina...! Regards, Paul....

Hello again Erwin, Sorry forgot to add ( working nights has fried my brain )...Sword looks to have been made recently,weeks,months but not so many years..Too much detail for a very early copy,most of those are crude but well made if that makes any sense....? Remember,the minute the war ended local craftsman started to make copies for forces personal desperate for a souvenir to take home . A lot of these are labelled "last ditch " swords, genuine to the era but not used in the conflict...This is no new thing,locals were putting things together the day after the battle of Waterloo ended in 1815 ,many of which are now in museums and collections as " genuine " ! Sorry, I digress....No insult to the owner of the sword meant they may have it in good faith... Regards, Paul..

Hello Erwin, It's 100% fake..Stay away from this one Erwin..It can be difficult when you want something and either the clock is ticking or passion running high but you have done the right thing by seeking advice...Didn't have any when I started so learned the hard way...! If you want a full break down of what's wrong ask away.. Maybe private message is better for this ? Copies are getting better so it's not always in everyone's best interest to help the fakers by listing the faults where they can see them.....But just one...! The castings on the fittings are terrible...! Regards, Paul.

Hello Jim, Welcome....Nice to have a heirloom such as this to introduce you to the fascinating study of the Japanese sword .....be it military or civilian...It's an itch I just can't scratch....! Regards, Paul.

Hello Stephen, Well spotted...Never seen this myself...very interesting...!...Nice example of a Nagamitsu gunto.. Regards, Paul...

Hello Ford, Thanks for the heads up.. Regards, Paul..

Hello, Very impressive....An absolute beauty...! Paul...

Hello Charlie, Nothing on the tang about special steel.. Bruno, No problem,some photo's attached. Regards, Paul..

Hello again Bruno, Sorry,forgot to add it was Dr Kotaro Honda,a world famous inventor of "Honda Steel" alongside Seijuro Masahide who in October 1939 succeeded to make the sword... Regards, Paul...

Hello Bruno, Is it the "Shinbu-to" made by the Toyo - Hamono Co Ltd...?These we laboratory designed for use in very cold conditions...You will find some details on Ohmura - study net....I have one of these swords so if you need any more information or photo's let me know... Regards, Paul.

Hello Bruce, Nice finds...Nothing like a knot or tassel to finish the sword display ...Havn't been brave enough to bid for original gunto items from China myself ....well done ! Regards, Paul

Hello, Joo's got a nice sword there...and Jean,must add,awesome film...one of my favourites...! Regards, Paul..

Hello Joo, Congratulations on your purchase and good luck on your future acquisitions...Wise choice to use the for sale section of the forum... Regards, Paul..

Hello Peter, Nice find,well done...The complete package so to speak will always appeal to certain collectors...The box certainly looks right and I wouldn't have passed this one up if I'd come across it ( priced accordingly of course ).. Regards, Paul.

Hello Chris, Interesting topic...I have what I would consider a really nice shin-gunto signed Tadayoshi...a Gimei of the 9th generation and signed Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi..A beautiful shinshinto hizen-to-tachi with a graceful and slender shinogi-zukuri tachi sugata with suguha hamon.Nakago is unusual with one mekugi-ana...The gunto fittings are all custom made and high quality then assembled in the arsenal ( red assembly paint on the nakago ).Probably made in the 1930's at a considerable cost ! As Dave highlighted .... buy the blade not he signature ! Gimei doesn't bother me in this case because I liked the sword and the history that accompanied it plus,and importantly for me...the price was right...! But,if I was paying what I would consider big money for big names and found it was a Gimei I don't think I'd be so positive..! Copies can be better than originals but I feel they will always be resigned to the 'second division',be it sword,car or watch....Just my opinion of course ..... Regards, Paul..

Hello Dave, To be honest and after all these years I didn't realise honoki was the material of choice for saya and tsuba...The wood has some very interesting characteristics which has led me to some interesting reading....Cannot help you with your question but thank's for the post.. Regards, Paul..

Hello Dave, Well done,very nice sword with added bonus of a surrender tag..If it's your first gunto....nice find ! Regards, Paul...

Hello, Yes you are right there John....The Bonhams 'Conflict of the 20th century' sale on 21st oct 2015 had a couple of jems ! Lot 75 was a stunning type 94 with gilted fittings and also lot 14 the sword of Major General Kenji Matsumoto,a type 98 with full provenance...Sadly wasn't in a position to buy at the time ! Both swords and indeed many others in that sale are fine items for any collection...One day hopefully...! Regards, Paul..

Hello, Provenance and documentation ! I like to collect gunto' that have preferably both or failing that either , otherwise, you are right Ben....It's the price of the gunto plus the knot ! Regards, Paul..

Hello John, Good luck with your quest and I hope something suitable comes your way soon...Hoping to buy a similar item myself but probably next year ( my pot is pretty empty at the moment ! )... Regards, Paul.

Hello, Very interesting topic and Markus Sesko's report supplied by Allan is fascinating reading...Thank you. Regards, Paul.

Hello Matt, A copy sold for,or rather it was advertised for £275 with a militaria dealer in Cheshire recently....Actually the price above is a good one and there is no problems getting them sent from the U.S. I've been looking for ages and will have to " bite the bullet " so to speak and order one...Have bought off Grey's site above in the past so that's where I"ll be getting mine. Regards, Paul..

Hello Wah, Interesting article,well found. Purchased a nice Emura off a board member last year and very pleased..Stephen..... Done the same thing....twice..! And yes,I would like to get them both back,but maybe...." tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all "... Regards, Paul...

Hello Brandon, Nice sword...The nakago has a nice shape with a well cut Mei and even though it looks to have been well cleaned at some point it does not deter from the attraction... Regards, Paul.

Hello Steve, Glad it is working out for you.....Maybe I'm too cynical these days ! When it comes to taking a chance I've become a bit of a coward......Have enjoyed revisiting the books as a result of the post. Regards, Paul.