dwmc

Well, all good points about paint origin. One thing I hope we all can agree on though , the tsuba wasn't painted yesterday, it looks very much like it could have been painted 75 yrs. ago. Too me, it just appears so much like the paint type and wear on my Type 32. This is simply one of those situation which is the fun and yet frustration of the Japanese sword collecting. The inability (sometimes) to be 100% sure... Dave M.

Dave, I would say there is a high probability it is war time paint. Below is a Kai gunto with black paint as per late war regulation. The other is a Type 32 Otsu also painted black. I'm fairly sure both are war and pre-war paint. I've seen many type 32 painted black. Black paint seemed fairly common war and pre-war. However, I think it was Shamsy (Steve) that once said "the only certainty is uncertainty." Dave M.

Whoa Baldi...Fifteen grand...Got to hand it to you, 800 miles in a Nissan Frontier, steering wheel in one hand, a bottle of Geritol in the other, pocket full of Alibaba cash to boot. Yee Haw... My guess is you paid less than $2000 for the sword and more power to you if so. We all hope find to such a bargain. Also, for creating a bit of a controversy drawing attention to the sword. Certainly you can understand, ( Which I'm quite sure you do) members questioning the legitimacy of the sword. Shin-gunto koshirae, rather mediocre tsuba and seppa, crude Kikusui mon, and not that impressive tsuka from what I can see. Never the less, the very best luck with your find and "No" I won't take your $5,000 bet !! Good luck, Dave M.

If you haven't read the full thread in Steve M.'s post, click on " By pcfarrar, July 31, 2008 " it's quite interesting , the mei was even a mystery back then. As often with Japanese swords there are differing opinions, Chris Bowen seemed to believe the Yanagawa Yukitaro swords were most likely non-traditional made blades, where as Mr.Trotter states he knew of one which was good quality Gendaito. Both are probably correct... I'm not sure whether the rather unique Swordsmith will increase the value greatly, but I suspect it very well could. Possibly provide a few of your best quality pictures of the blade itself, Kissaki, Hamon, Hada, etc. for those members experienced in evaluating quality and condition. At some point, should ever locate a matching silver plated tsuba and appropriate seppa, the sword would be complete and look great. Dave M.

Your sword has the "potential" of being quite valuable judging from special order fittings and upgraded Tsuka. However, really need to see pictures of sword, particularly the nakago ( part beneath handle.) Dave M.

I'm also interested in hearing how a crate/box of wwll Japanese Bringbacks remains sealed for 75 years. That has to be an incredible story within itself. Looking forward to more pictures and further information! Dave M.

I've always found you to be very accurate Hamfish. Yes , I have the older version of F&G. Dave M. Why is it I never seem to notice my miss spelling until after I press send and edit has expired...(petal-pedal.)

Excellent...Thanks Bruce ! Dave M.

This is either a Army parade or Police saber. I've always read police swords were the ones with a five pedal sakura blossom, where as the army was a blossom of ten the pedal type. If I'm not mistaken, Fuller and Gregory ( Military Swords of Japan) , are showing the one in the photo's below as army. Would anyone happen to know exactly which the sword is ? Thanks in advance, Dave M.

Thanks Bruce, Greg and all that enjoyed what I thought would be somewhat of and interesting story. I'm sure there are many others out there with father's and grandfather's with similar interesting tales. I thought I would provide a couple of photos of at least two of the swords mentioned. The Shin Shinto wakizashi is the one which was once in a village along the Ishikari river some 75 yrs ago. The Shin gunto is the Amahide (Purchased at auction) which is in appearance practically identical to the Amahide which was also once in a village along the Ishikari... Dave M.

I realize at times I may sound like an elementary school boy with "My father this, My Dad that." However, I'm now to the age I don't concern myself much with what the perception may be, and enjoy many board members sharing their families stories during wwll. I often regret not asking my father more about the details of his wwll military service. It seems as though now, I understand he was way ahead of me as exactly how he was going to address the questions of a young son regarding what he experienced. He mentioned he was in the Philippines, but very little, mostly what I recall of his time in Luzon was over hearing him talking with other Vets. Some of it was quite disturbing. I would also hear him talking about staging in Okinawa, but mostly about the 11th airborne occupation of Japan, and performing guard duty for General MacArthur at the New Grand Hotel in Yokohama. His unit was camped in the Yamashita park, in front of the New Grand Hotel during guard duty. He was also very proud of an exhibition jump he performed with two other paratroopers out of a small aircraft, I believe at Atsugi air field near Yokohama. He traveled to Honshu, then on to Hokkaido where the Amahide sword story begins. By then he had made Sgt. rank and was either in charge, or at least part of a weapons collection mission which entailed several days up the Ishikari river.( I read somewhere there were several thousand swords collected on the island of Hokkaido, which was actually quite surprising to me for some reason.) My understanding was there were at least several hundred swords collected during the Ishikari mission, and the mission participants were given permission to choose a few for Bring backs. Dad was somehow able to acquire, I think, five or more, some of which he gave to relatives before I was born, and have never seen them to this day. One particular sword he told me about in Japan was what I now know was in Buke Zukuri mounts, black Ito and saya, he somehow managed to break the saya , bend the sword, and simply cast it into a pile. Damn, I would love to have seen that one... Long before the internet, my father handed me a bring back wakizashi and Shin gunto and ask me to research them. The Shin gunto, I eventually managed to translate as " No Shu Seki Ju Minamoto Amahide Kitau kore." The Wakizashi papered as a Shin Shinto Jumyo. My younger brother ended up through a flip of a coin with the Amahide, me the wakizashi,of course, I had always wanted the gunto... I moved to Idaho a few years ago, and have always attended estate sales. At one particular sale there were two Shin gunto swords of which I bid and won both.The day before the auction we were able to view the items, the tsuka on one of the swords was going to take a little work to remove, and the owner was understandably reluctant.Oddly, the next day, the tsuka was able to be removed, and I was able to briefly see kanji, but for some reason the characters did not appear familiar to me. After winning the bid and getting home, I once again removed the tsuka and doubled checked the kanji. To my total amazement, it read " No Shu Seki Ju Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide Kitau kore ." Seriously...What are the odds!!! Dave M.

A interesting point Bruce ! When my father showed me his "Bring backs" , I may have been four or five years old. I recall the occasion as if it were yesterday, he explained to me what they were, and how he had acquired them. I also recall having the feeling he was only remembering a time and place in his life. Even though he was a 11th airborne paratrooper having gone through the Philippines, Okinawa, and on to Japan, and surely witnessed some horrific situations , I don't ever remember him expressing abject hatred. However, I always suspected extreme feelings were always there but were somehow suppressed. I guess how each Vet handled post war feelings varied greatly. As far as his swords, they remained in the closet, not to be touched ( And trust me, were not), only when he agreed to do so... Dave M.

I agree David, I used the term "Legendary" more in reference to todays frame of mind as opposed to then. Dave M.

To bring home a legendary Japanese sword had to have been one of the top priorities of returning allied troops. It must have been very disappointing to miss out on winning a raffle. ( Making it back alive was obviously the first priority ) I think the chances of returning home with a sword had a great deal to do with availability, and your location. My father for instance, was involved with weapons collection in northern Japan, and handled hundreds of swords. Plenty to choose from, I occasionally think had they had just a little sword evaluation knowledge what they may have made it home with. Dave M.

Dave M.

I agree with Robert S. (Surfson) as the sword being Kanbun era. This is one of my swords which is very similar, not only in a extremely shallow sori, but notice the saya has a swirl pattern also. Even though the saya appears to have more curvature as in Steve's friends sword, mine and I suspect his fit quite nicely. Dave M.

Yes, Good vibes and Best Wishes by all means...Get well soon!! Dave M.

Bruce, I somehow missed your original post back Dec. 2019. However, after reading it today, I realized one of my sword may be similar to the type you were requesting to see. I believe there must have been somewhat of a transition period after the March 1945 directive regarding the Kai-gunto. The swords I own attempts to follow the mandate in the sense it has plain unadorned Kubuto-gane and Ishizuke. The fuchi, koiguchi, ashi and semegane all have sakura blossoms, yet are intentionally painted black, I suspect in order to comply with the directive. Also, one hanger has been eliminated, as well as both rising sun seppa. Some of the black paint on the fuchi is missing due to handling. Dave M.

100 % real...Both sword and tassel ! Dave M.

Colin, I think the estimates suggested above are very accurate. I would say $1000 total. $800 for the sword $200 for the Hinomaru flag, correspondence, and photos. I have enjoyed collecting militaria for many years and would suggest, should you decide to make the trade, doing something as I've done, with the flag, photos, etc. in the lower right hand corner of my display in an antique mall, it would look great and tie it all together. However, always have to agree with PNSSHOGUN, I prefer seeing items showing definite family history remaining within the family. Happy collecting, Dave M.

My apologies Bruce, I just thought you were kidding me about the huge flat head screw that Bubba Maximus placed in you nice Rinji. Were the threaded Rinji's mainly because the tsuka were not the two mekugi ana type?? Ohh, also, the last known snipe in Idaho was taken in 1953 by Oliver Thurdgaster. By 1953 the snipe had become sooo rare, they were only allowed to be taken by sling shot using a large flat head screw affixed to a square nut... Ok...I'll stop.. As always, your contributions to the NMB are very much appreciated! Dave M.

Hey Bruce...when exactly is snipe season in Colorado...maybe I can join you for a hunt one day!! Dave M.

Thanks for the explanation Bruce, I didn't realize the Rinji was designed for the lower mekugi ana to use a threaded screw. I owned a Type 3 for several years which used wooden mekugi pegs, and am rather stunned I hadn't noticed lower threaded type before. Thanks again, Dave M.

Nice type 3/Rinji Bruce...But for Heavens sake, what previous owner put that huge flat head screw in for a mekugi peg tearing up a otherwise fairly decent war time ito wrap. Please take no offense, I'm sure it wasn't you... Dave M.

Probably close to what was used for Kenny's sword. No, please don't spend a lot of time searching files. Other examples of leather type retainers will likely show up in the future. Thanks, Dave M.