bmlusk1911

Chris, I'm planning on having the blade restored professionally, put it in a Shirasaya, and keep the fittings together with a tsunagi. Saving for that project now. I thought it had a good feel to it when I bought it. Do you believe it is a Shinshinto era blade as well? v/r Brock

Apologies for taking so long, it's been a long month already with my Grandmother having a stroke and passing, moving from Florida to South Carolina, and transitioning from Active military service to Reserve / professional student. But, is there appears to be a consensus on Shinshinto. Attached are a couple of additional photographs of the nakago, with some observations I made annotated on the last photo. v/r Brock

I meant what I thought were numbers scratched into the Seppa and Tsuba matched. But, turns out that's Sakamoto scratched into them...... Thanks for the translation, everyone. Saves me a couple days with kanji tables.....

It's entirely possible I'm way off. This is my first attempt at match in my observations to the myriad descriptions in Nagayama's book. I'll try to get photos of the nakago tonight, it was once a massive blade, much longer than it is now. It's obvious it was shortened pretty extensively to fit into the Gunto koshirae.

I purchased a shin-gunto at the 2012 Tampa Show, and the tsuba interested me. There is matching numbers (I think) scratched onto all four seppa as well as the tsuba. What I find is most interesting is the apparent name of the officer engraved in the edge of the tsuba. The Mon: (Pictures of the blade can be found here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17084 for those who are interested.)

My initial thought is Mino Tradition, possibly late-Muromachi to early Shinto period.

I realize I'm about to get skewered (possibly on my own sword) by my more knowledgeable colleagues, but I'm finally taking a swing at this. Us newbies gotta take our lumps sometime. I purchased this Shin-Gunto at the 2012 show in Tampa, and have been pouring over my copy of Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords. Below are the vital stats on the blade. I realize the nakago is quite rough, but I think it shows this sword has been shortened greatly. Length: 68.6 cm, Shinogi-zukuri Blade Width: 2.85 cm at the Machi, 2.22 cm at the Yokote Sori: 1.75 cm, Tori-sori (originally, this may have leaned more towards the sai-sori) Mune: Ihori Kitae: Itame, Mokume Hamon: Notare Boshi: Omaru Kissaki: Chu-kissaki Nakago length: 25.4 cm Nakago shape: Possibly Originally Futsu Yasuri-me: Sujikai

Put me down for a copy. Where do I pay up? v/r Brock

Found this photo while surfing evilbay this evening, and thought I'd share. While still a novice, I thought this was a good photo which showed the Makuri (I believe) lamination technique. Anyone else have photos like this?

Anyone know if the Florida Token Kai has any meetings? I heard it went inactive a couple years back. I'd be willing to help breathe some new life into the organization if anyone else in the Tampa area is interested. v/r Brock

Maybe it came off one of these swords? Think a polish would take this out?

Thank you very much, sir. Greatly appreciated.

I've been able to do a bit of translation on the gunto I ordered and had sent to my wife. I'm limited on translation resources while deployed. Attached is the photo she sent me of the mei. There isn't a stamp on the tang, just a dark spot above the mekugi ana. I have been able to translate: ????? ????? Tada tsuna saku

Just another possible way to think of this, what was a junior officer making during that era, then extrapolate a relative price based on the "month's pay." I could only find the U.S. pay tables from as far back as 1949 at the Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service. O-1 (2d Lieutenants & Ensigns) made $213.75 per month during their first 2 years of service. Today, the same butter bar, would be paid $2828.40.... Despite being just as worthless. The only reason a 2d Lieutenant has any value is because we let them wear gold bars.... So, using this train of thought, $213.75ish back in the WWII Era. Now valued about $3,000ish..... Not the most logical argument I've made, but just was thinking outside the box. MilPayTable1949.pdf MilPayTable2012_1.pdf

Sorry to see you have to part with such a nice sword Stephen. If I was already through this next deployment, I'd be more than willing to give that blade a nice new home!