paul griff

Hello, Who knows Dave...Hand to hand means resorting to desperate measures..One thing for sure the helmet proved it's worth over soft headgear...! Regards, Paul...

Hello, Yes,well said Chris...Also,but slightly off topic.Having compared different type of gunto fittings I agree with one of your earlier posts and with reference to : 1944 pattern type 3 shin-gunto...They do indeed look and feel like a more purposeful weapon as does the end of war variations of the nco model 95 with wooden hilt...no frills,bells or whistles but does what it says on the tin.... Regards, Paul..

Hello, All of these posts actually make interesting reading ...I find my knowledge of the NCO variation greatly increasing after every bout...thank's to all...! I never really liked or appreciated the nco variants until these debates started....Just wish I'd bought them when they were relatively cheap and not so popular.. Regards, Paul...

Hello, That was one hell of a "swing" to put a dent in a combat helmet..! Regards, Paul.

Hello, Agree,it's a good one...Unusual to see a green not brown painted Ito on the hilt...! but it does look original to it... Regards, Paul

Hello Chris, Looks like a good one to me..Working from right to left...Habaki is the right colour and comes out at the right angle..Tsuba has a nice patina and the seppa behind it looks correct..Fuchi and stamps looks fine, understand your concerns but if you have Jim Dawson's Imperial swords of Japan on page 187 you will see not all of the fuchi are flush fitting,in fact,the one in your photo is very good and the stamps look correct...! Hilt has the correct brown paint and nicely worn with the correct colour to the painted same..finally that locking catch looks just right....When I get home will take some photo's of a really loose fitting fuchi on a gunto I'm about to sell so you can compare... Regards, Paul...

Hello, It's without doubt a nice quality reproduction and would make a nice display piece...Back to your original post Seth...Don't bother trying to dismantle it you will probably damage it and there is nothing of interest beneath the hilt... Regards, Paul...

Hello Chris, Nice project..Blade looks like it has nice proportions so worthy of a polish and shirasaya.. Regards, Paul...

Hello, Eric..pleasure...no problem..There are no numbers,stamps or katakana present..The nakago is nicely finished,quite tactile actually..As with many swords until you actually pick them up you cannot appreciate the skill involved in he manufacture.. Bruce..No,sword was bought as a "train wreck" and I should have taken before and after photo's...Koshirae lovely but blade was badly chipped and stained , I honestly didn't think it could have been saved but credit where it's due a skilled man resurrected it..! A few hours of uchiko and the ko-itame hada that my poor photography doesn't show will show through..! Chris...I do like it and yes,like you, I think I have restored the sword to the level it was before it left the armoury on it's journey to be used by a proud officer in the Imperial army....Actually bought it as a comparison blade to the Emura I bought from a member of the board ( waiting for some time off to put them side by side...! ) Hamfish...Ah,ah,poor Beyoncé...I take it you mean shinogi ( I think you left your white stick in the other room) ..? No offence meant,taken or inferred..! Good to raise a few pulses,back to the gin and tonic. Regards, Paul...

Hello, In the U.K have used Renaissance micro crystalline wax and Pecard leather dressing a very good U.S product.....The 200ml pot of Renaissance has lasted years on dozens of saya.. Regards, Paul..

Hello Eric, Have attached some photo's of my Nagamitsu...My poor photographic skills don't do the sword justice and my old camera doesn't help . The I-pad takes better ones but I don't know how to reduce them yet.....! If you want more just let me know... Regards, Paul..

Hello, It's a genuine nco's knot that's for certain...Looks like it could do with a bit of leather preservation before it becomes too dried out and brittle...They are becoming quite sought after and indeed enhance the sword it is attached to just like the nice example in the photograph.. Regards, Paul....

Hello. Bruce...Pictures attached of my Mantetsu dated 1942 with assembly markings of "RA" 934.... Chris....Get one,I'm sure you will be impressed by the quality of these swords....This is one of my favourites in my humble collection... Regards, Paul...

Hello, Brian,the bo-hi isn't straight...very badly cut and the kissaki is the wrong shape for a type 32...The throat of the saya is also wrong...should show a brass insert and the locating screw is off-centre...Lots of other things but I'll leave someone else chip in...Good learning example though.... Regards, Paul..

Hello, Yes,agree,has all the hallmarks of end of war island made sword with remnants of leather still attached to the hilt..The cord or rope is very typical of work done by sailors on board ship during a long voyage home... Regards, Paul..

Hello, Well done Bruce..A lot of work, very useful and thanks for sharing... Much appreciated, Paul...

Hello, Nice example of a battle damaged nco's sword.. make's for a very interesting conversation piece when displayed... Regards, Paul..

Hello, Agree...Fake... Regards, Paul...

Hello, If it wasn't for the kanji looking too decorative and 'clean' and the applied hamon I would have said end of war but unused island made sword...The blade looks to be stainless and a very nice shape whereas nearly all of the island swords I have seen or owned have been well made but 'rough' if that makes any sense...? The leather on the saya seems to have the right amount of shrinkage and the fittings look like well made island versions with a nice patina although the inside of the saya throat looks very clean...! Only my opinion but I would say it is a post war well made island sword with decorative blade... Regards, Paul..

Hello, I can see the mark the habaki has made on one of the seppa's so there must have been a blade there originally..The silk and cotton tassel looks in very nice condition even though it is missing the slider.....If it is put together then congratulations to whoever done it..A lot of work for not a great return...for that price and including any import tax I would say a nice buy...! I'd certainly buy one for that price... Regards, Paul..

Hello, At first I would have said reconstructed as shown by the fresh looking leather,bright studs, newish looking binding and two different textured same...but...that ashi is very nicely fitted over the leather and that little metal locating bracket fitted to locate the mekugi with a bit of fraying where mekugi peg ( or screw ) has been removed really does throw me ! This is a very nice koshirae and I wouldn't be surprised if it's 100% ....Would be interested to know what the leather smells like....normally a good age guide..! Regards, Paul.

Hello Bruce, I admire your passion and enthusiasm..Nothing like enjoying your hobby whilst sipping on your favourite tipple as the evening closes.. Regards, Paul...

Hello, I sold this gunto some time ago to a friend who wanted something interesting as a display piece..It came as part of a consignment from a museum a number of years ago and the dealer who was selling them couldn't move this one because of the damaged blade..I bought an expensive gunto off him and got this one for it's history..The sword looks like it has seen some heavy use and judging by the wear on the heavy duty ashi was carried for a considerable amount of time..The only parts of the sword not original to it are the tsuba,seppa's and sarute...The third party who picked the sword up for me switched them and kept them and the nice pierced tsuba that originally adorned it , he denied it and I couldn't get them back....lesson learned...! That's the only reason I let it go...A sad fate for many gunto..! Regards, Paul...

Hello, Very useful site Dave...Thanks for posting.. Regards, Paul..

Hello, Making them is not the problem ..it's getting the " definition " that's difficult ,so you are both right in a way..! The other problem is the alloy..difficult to replicate what the Japanese perfected especially early on in production when raw materials were more readily available...Good quality and easy to work with ..For example and in comparison tapping a hole for a thread on the alloy from China is not so easy as anyone who has tried will tell you...they haven't got that part right..! After the cultural revolution I think the Chinese lost a lot of expertise regarding metallurgy..but,without a doubt it will return...they are getting much better....! Regards, Paul...