dwmc

Dave R , I don't see there would be any other way for a leather retainer to work for Kenny's sword other than what you suggest. It's obvious the saya was modified for military use as the tsuba also has an opening for a chuso. It's possible I suspect, the leather retainer was the original plan, but was left as a simple compression fit, yet, who knows... Should you happen to have a picture in your files of a leather retainer that attaches to a kuri gata , I would love to see it ! Best regards, Dave M.

No Shinsa for this one...again!! Dave M.

Older mumei (unsigned) out of polish wakizashi blade, Ground sakura petals. However, a legitimate Kyu gunto and somewhat interesting. Perhaps $800 range. Bruce might have a better idea of value.. Dave M.

Hmmm, no file marks at all, not even a slight indication?? No file marks, no visible hamon could indicate a much older blade... Those more expert will hopefully respond ! Dave M.

Just a guess, but yasurime appears kiri, mekugi-ana looks punched, nakago patina perhaps shinshinto? Clearer photos would help greatly. Dave M.

Yes, very possible repurposed ! Dave M.

Ground down 10 petal sakura? Army ? Dave M.

Dave R, is the stamp perhaps a Chimata or Gifu as opposed to a " Showa"? Although a bit confusing being slightly tilted from normal position... Dave M.

I'm with the post war Japanese tourist trade faction. Definitely not a repurposed bayonet, even though marked with Nagoya stamp. (Possibly stamped in memory of better times). Fittings appear fairly decent, (We've all seen much worse). The ito wrap is seriously ugly. Not sure why some find the item so offensive. If it had a nice black same', decent silk ito with appropriate menuki professionally wrapped and crafted it would be something I wouldn't mind owning as a novelty. Merely an opinion, Fire away if inclined, Dave M.

The only proper use of the word "Pattern" I can see regarding this auction company is a "Pattern of deception". Dave M.

No Jean, I'm not really sure. I did a bit of research several years ago and Kyo sukashi was about as close as I could determine! By no means definite... Dave M.

Additional photo of Kyo tsuba and Samurai pointing at bird. I'm not qualified to judge the age of either, but suspect their the oldest I own. Also tried to capture a picture of silk thread... Dave M.

I'm not sure of the age of this mumei Kyo sukashi tsuba. It is somewhat interesting in the fact that at some point it was damaged. The damage its self is not of particular interest other than it appears at the time of impact, the larger sakura blossom broke open and reclosed like a steel trap. On closer inspection, I noticed the blossom had trapped a small piece of what looks to be silk cloth. Its a small piece of thread a bright iridescent green in color. If at some point I can get close up photo, I will post it. Dave M.

Perhaps this Kai gunto falls in the category of shorter than regular factory/arsenal blades. The longer Kai gunto has a nagasa of approx. 26 inches and is signed by Hiratoshi with a Toyokawa arsenal stamp. The shorter is also a Toyokawa arsenal sword and is approx. 21 inches signed by Kiyomichi. Dave M.

I agree with Steve! When I see a sword like the one shown by Trystan it exhibits to me "Island made/Occupied" characteristics. An attempt by Japanese, or local area metal smiths to reproduce a quasi type Shingunto with the limited materials they had available. I also suspect Island swords made by the Japanese (with at least enough formal training to produce a sword) would be the ones found with a better finished nakago, where as local area smiths would most likely see no logic in spending time making something hidden beneath a handle look nice. Dave M.

You got what you could in those situations. There are, and always will be far fewer of these occupied area reproductions...either way it's a excellent momento of a time and place in your grandfathers past... Best regards, Dave M.

Mark, Your grandfather's story makes perfect sense to me. The Japanese sword through out Asia in the 1930's and 40's was considered the absolute symbolof power and authority. Occasionally, a sword shows up on the NMB such as yours, which does not fit the traditional appearance of the Japanese Shingunto. Often, they are considered "fake" to the astonishment of the individual requesting assistance. The word fake often implies deceit and deception. Perhaps, better described as an attempt to reproduce. There are thousands of relatively modern fake Japanese swords these days. Yours (in my opinion is not one of them). As with some of the type your grandfather brought back, these where an attempt to reproduce the Shingunto with local skills somewhat less than traditional Japanese sword smiths. They were produced locally with of sense their personal artistic flavor. The nakago on your sword is really not bad compared to some of the Island made Shingunto. I can understand your grandfather picking this sword out of the pile, not really having the experienc as to what he was looking for, a colorful sword laying in pile of beat up Shingunto may have looked like a good choice. I wonder at some point whether these types of Island made or occupied area swords will be considered unique and find a place in the history? I'm sure Dave R. will help you reach a conclusion at your future meeting. Best regards, Dave M.

I have to agree JP, John also. I thought I would just throw it out there, see what members opinions were. I was basing my hopes on it possibly being a late Tadayoshi 1st gen Tadahiro , or 2nd gen Tadahiro.. Mainly on the rather symmetric suguha hamon, the kanuka hada, followed by kiri yasurime, and ko-maru boshi. (A bit of a shallow sori however.) The kanuka (ish) hada, I'm unable to photograph and frankly, unqualified to classify it as such. The ko-maru boshi can barely be made out with sword in hand. Again, the frustrations of out of polish swords... Thanks again, Dave M.

Well, there you go. There may be a lesson in this topic after all. As Brian has pointed out, there simply isn't enough there to make a proper judgement. I paid $ 300 for the sword, which is a decent price, however, a professional polish would push the cost far beyond what the eventual value of the sword would be, but still a future possibility. I ended up paying more for the Amahide than I had planned, due to bidding against a individual who thought he was bidding on the Honjo Masamune. ($1000) Although good polish, nice koshirae, gendaito by Hidetoshi. The characteristic I mentioned(on the sword shown) such as Ko-maru boshi and potential Konuku hada are difficult to see, even with the sword in hand, let alone in photo's. Again the lesson of out of polish swords... I'm adding a couple of more pictures just for the heck of it. And Mr. Ted Tenold, if you happen to read this post, I definitely intend to contact you at a time I can fully commit to bringing at least four swords to you to evaluate and choose which ones you would hopefully enjoy working on. Various factors have prevented me from visiting you, I know its probably ridiculous, but I'm not comfortable sending sword by mail, and prefer dealing in person. Hopefully we can get together after the Covid situation... Thanks again Brian and Bazza for responses, Nekoalex and Blaze for likes. Dave M.

Thanks Bazza, all opinions appreciated. Dave M.

Dear Members, A few years back I purchased two Shingunto at an estate auction. It was the estate of a WWll vet. There were two swords up for auction, one of which I was particularly interested in, the other just happen to be there, and was not nearly in as good of state of polish as the first. I've learned the rather hard lesson over the years to buy as relatively "in polish" swords as you can. Out of polish swords can lead to a mild form of insanity trying to determine hada and hamon type... Of course, the insanity can be avoided with a $3K professional polish...ahhhh. The first sword was a dai-saku, dai-mei Amahide by Ido Hidetoshi. A decent, fairly well war time polished Gendaito, in nice koshirae. The other, I set aside. I did notice however, it was Nihonto. At the estate auction, I recall how the vets son told me how much fun he had in his younger years whacking shrubs in their back yard with the sword. (I couldn't help thinking what my Dad would have done to me had I done such a thing with his bring backs.) A couple of years later I was reading through Markus Sesko's online description of Shinto era Hizen swords. I remembered the second sword I had purchased at the estate auction exhibited a few characteristics of Hizen-to. I realize there where several generations of Hizen smiths. Basically what I'm requesting, is this possibly one of them. Does it appear to be Hizen? All comments will be appreciated ! Sugata- Shinogi zukuri, torii zori, 1/4" sori Nagasa-22 3/4" suriage Moto haba- 1 1/4 " Saki haba- 1" Funbari- 1/8 " reduction Kissaki- Chu 1 1/4" full fukura Kasane- Munemachi 1/4" Yokote 3/16" Hamon-Appears Nioi based sugu-ha Boshi appears Ko-maru Hada-Very tight ko-itame possibly konuka Nakago-Suriage, Kiri yasurime Thanks in advance, Sincerely, Dave M.

I might also suggest as Peter mentioned the "Ainu" were well outside of traditional Japanese thinking. From the pictures shown of Ainu blades, they appear to be more of an "utilitarian type" and very likely considered necessary tools. Therefore, simply decided not to turn them over to the US military. If this was perhaps the situation, I suspect the military command may have considered it not worth enforcing. Dave M.

Good point...Very likely the case ! Dave M.

Peter, Your Ainu blade topic raises an interesting question. Were the native Hokkaido Ainu not required to turn over their ancestral swords? ( wwII ) I read somewhere there were several thousand swords collected on Hokkaido at the end of wwII. As a matter of fact, my father, a young 11th Airborne soldier was part of an weapons collection mission up the Ishikari river. He returned home with a few typical Japanese swords, Shin gunto, Wakizashi. I would have thought at least one of his bring backs would have been Ainu type. He spoke a few times about the Ishikari weapons collection mission, the types of swords , sizes, colors, etc.. But I don't recall him ever mentioning Ainu. Maybe I simply haven't paid attention, but have any Ainu swords ever shown up on the NMB or otherwise and shown as wwII bring backs. Interesting subject, Dave M.

My comment was only made as a weak attempt at humor. I obviously can't speak for everyone, or anyone but myself for that matter, but I personally don't find an adjustment or an honest attempt to bring a sword back to original configuration as long as the modification (if known) is identified when selling... I realize neither of you had anything to do with changes made, but to see a sword show up seven years after traded in a different configuration leaves one to wonder "What the hell". People simply want to know what their buying...to many deceptive "Monkeys" out there these days. Dave M.