dwmc

I think Dave R is correct. The tassel is a standard army issue. ( Not the upgrade type.) The opposite color thread in the photo is more likely due to thread mis-alignment during manufacturing. Dave M

Blake, I couldn't agree more with John (PNSSHOGUN). Hang on to your Grandfather's sword! It sounds as though your main concern is the cost of proper restoration, which is definitely expensive. However, I'm sure there are many NMB members who can advise you with how to perform a "gentle!!" cleaning to prevent further deterioration until such time you can afford and decide on professional restoration. But please, I'm talking a very "moderate" cleaning as John suggested. No sand paper, no steel wool, no harsh rust removal chemicals, leave the nakago alone (part beneath the handle). Hopefully, more knowledgeable board members will advise you on how to proceed. Your Grandfather's sword, and memories are worth far,far, more than a couple of hundred bucks that will be gone tomorrow, if not sooner... Just my opinion, Good Luck,

Stephen, If he did have a table at the SF sword show, I didn't recognize him as the person I had met years early. Really hadn't thought about him much until reading this post, and occasionally looking at the purple colored tassel. Good analogy~Used car (sword) seller....

I've always been curious where the hell Showa22 gets all of his inventory! I've actually been a bit jealous of his seemingly endless supply and availability to Japanese swords of all types. Having said this, I also lived in central California for almost forty years, and attended more sword/guns shows (mainly in northern California) than I can remember. Bay area, Sacramento, Stockton, etc... I came across a guy at a gun show in Sacramento, Ca. once who had a table with an enormous pile of gunto saya's, sword parts and pieces, intact swords, you name it, he had it. Friendly, nice sort of guy, I spoke with him for maybe thirty minute's, and what I think struck me most about him is how casually he mentioned his ability to put together sword parts and pieces in order to make them marketable. Hmmmm, early Showa22 ?? Years later, long before the onslaught Chinese reproduction shin gunto tassels, I noticed on ebay, what appeared to be, and was advertised as an original WWII era company grade officers tassel. I don't recall the exact wording, it appeared nos, but was definitely advertised as WWII era. (The seller Showa22 ) Sacramento, Ca. area I ended up winning the bid, and while waiting for the tassel to arrive, I noticed that his ebay site was relisting the exact tassel I had just purchased, with identical photos and description. I immediately contacted him, he did respond, and mentioned it was a simple mistake. Eventually, the tassel arrived, it had absolutely no wear, which was fine, unissued, no problem, but I did notice the normal blue color of company officers was more purple than blue. I let the purple color go, hey, maybe just a manufacturing variation. However, I could never quite get over feeling the tassel was a modern reproduction. I eventually took the tassel to the San Francisco sword show and asked some of the vendors opinion's. Most said modern reproduction. There's nothing worse than the feeling you've been taken. As mentioned, this was way before all of the Chinese reproduction tassels. So if my tassel is a modern copy, Showa22 was ahead of the game even back then... The only consolation I have is the possibility it may be original as I notice on the Ohmura's Military Sword site, many of the photos of company grade officers tassels have the same purplish appearance. I'm definitely not condemning the guy's lively hood, but just saying...

This is obviously one of the heavy steel gunto saya's to inflict that type of damage to a helmet as I can see little or no damage to the saya. Yes, more information would be great, perhaps someone living in the New Orleans area could provide more photos and further information on sword!! Would make an interesting History Channel documentary...

Higo Enju School ??

Sadahiro??

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanese-army-shin-gunto-sword-tassel-sword-katana-tsuba-armor-menuki/253812109954?hash=item3b18617282:g:ADUAAOSwOaBbTuHn#viTabs_0 Additional update: This appears to be another of the V stitch tassels. The seller in Osaka describes the tassel as rare, apparently, this may be somewhat true. However, I located the one above quite quickly in a very brief search. Rather odd this V stitch variation does not appear in reference material. But as Bruce previously mentioned, "many variations" .

Geez...How embarrassing...Never thought this photo would resurface...That's actually a picture of me!!!

Agree with all of the above, maybe $800 - $1000 tops. Having said this, there's really not much typical about the sword. The same looks rather new and white, suggesting recent rewrap, but on closer inspection, it does appear faded, staining from handling on the ito seems age appropriate, also damage around the mekugi ana is present. As Dave R mentioned, odd dimpled fuchi and kubutogane. Spiraled seppa, copper looking ashi and koiguchi, different habaki from normal. Oh yes. and that weird looking V stitch tassel. I'm definitely not suggesting the folks who consider the tassel as repo are mistaken.The photo of my tassel in my previous post is something I've been curious about for years. I have to say in Peters tsuka/tassel photo, the V suspension straps are identical to mine, however, the skirt? appears odd and missing blue twist threads. My tassel was attached to a Gunto I had purchased and about mid way down had a additional knot tied in suspension straps. I assume to shorten the over all length. The tassel in hand appears to be an upgrade type tassel, very supple , very well made, (possibly silk?) . Against my better judgement, I untied the additional knot,(big mistake), I'm sure the knot had been there since a least WWll. Almost immediately started coming apart, Hence damage seen in photo... So yes, these V stitch tassels I firmly believe are WWll era. I would like to ask John, Sephen, Bruce, Dave R, and all knowledgeable others. Could the koshirae and tassel adnormalities be due to construction in a occupied country, possibly Korea. etc...

Retired this tassel from gunto due to poor condition. Have had it for est. 25 years, my guess is it is quite real indeed.

Good eye Stephen...I stand corrected...Katsu !

http://japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/yoshmasa.jpg Showa Oshigata Database ~ (Yoshimasa) ~Japanese Sword index/Guide ?

Hello Earl, Your sword inscription reads "Noshu Seki Ju Kojima Yoshimasa saku". Made by Kojima Yosimasa in the city of Seki. Sword is in Naval sword mounts (Kai-gunto) most likely made 1930's/40's. The stamp on the tang/nakago is a Seki stamp indicating it was made non-traditionaly in the city of Seki. Your sword appears to be in fairly good condition. I would highly suggest visiting the "Japanese sword index" for further information.

Much clearer photo. Will be interesting if someone can translate. Is there a story along with the sword you're willing to share and more pictures of blade, etc...??

HI-JYU-SAN ???

I agree John, with internet knowledge available, suddenly everyone is an expert. I submitted a mumei wakizashi for shinsa that I've had in my possession for many years. I had taken it to several sword and gun shows previously and had many "quasi" nihonto experts bloviate on and on as to origin. The accumulative opinion over the years was most likely early shinto. I too bought in to this opinion due to the considerable reduction of metal from the nakago to blade. I assumed several polishes through many years indicated increased age... Finally, a shinsa team was visiting as sword show near me in California, I could hardly wait to to sign up. I eventually arrived at the sword show and signed my sword into area where the shinsa was taking place. I tagged my blade and followed all the appropriate procedures. As I laid my sword on a table next to many others, I took the opportunity to glance behind a barrier and noticed several very professional, quite serious looking shinsa panel members evaluating blades. The next day, I arrived in the shinsa area in great anticipation of results. There where two gentlemen in the area acting as intermediaries answering questions for those who where getting their returned swords. I made eye contact with one of the gentleman, and received a look as though he was operating on his last nerve... My sword had past shinsa with a Shinteisho score in the 60's. However, I was suprised it was judged 1850's shinshinto period Jumyo. Even though I would liked to had a bit more information, the intermediaries where quite overwhelmed, and really what more could they add.. Initially, I was a bit disappointed in the results, but as I returned to the main sword show room, I began hearing as many as 50 to 60 percent of swords had not passed shinsa. I sensed the overall mood was not good to say the least. I had my sword in hand, and as I passed the table of a dealer I know to be well respected and knowledgeable, he inquired about my wakizashi. I told him the sword had past shinsa but was suprised at the period attribution. I'm not going to repeat his response, but I was quite stunned, he mentioned he had submitted several sword most of which did not pass. Needless to say he was not happy.. I've personally witnessed the "going against" trend.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid a bit of "going against" shinsa results is a trend which may continue or even increase. Many years ago the average nihonto enthusiast was limited to practically zero knowledge into the study of the subject beyond John Yumoto's book "The Samurai Sword" and maybe a couple of others at the local library. The other reference material available in translated text was extremely expensive and unavailable to most. Today, with sites such as the NMB, and other online study and reference material, many with the interest to do so, can become very competent in nihonto evaluation indeed. (Of which several are members of the NMB, and I suspect could easily qualify to sit on a shinsa panel). Basically, even the average sword enthusiasts knowledge of nihonto has increased greatly due to amount of study material available. However, this increase in knowledge does not mean (most) of us are qualified to make an accurate shinsa evaluation beyond a highly expert shinsa team, but shinsa teams most likely still are, and need to remain on top of their game... Nihonto enthusiast are quickly gaining knowledge.

Ahh, Good point Brian. Do you suspect the smith/togishi simply discarded the carved out metal?

Among all other factors, would not a deep wide Hi save a substantial amount of valuable tamahagane.

I agree, the one signed Kane(Sada) appears to be quite real. More pics of this one as Brian mentioned would help. Dave

As the days go by we (Nihonto enthusiast) must face the increasing inevitability we are alone, in a hostile, uninhabited, and meaningless universe. Yet, still we have to laugh...

Sword information combined with relevant history. Excellent!!!

As I mentioned previously, I saw miniature tachi at a Japanese sword auction. There were probably 75 swords or more from Showa to Koto, Yari, etc.. up for auction. During the pre-auction inspection, I noticed 4 or 5 small swords in koshire, in the past I've seen cheap miniature tourist trade tachi, letter openers, and so on. However, these were quite different, they weren't the cheap quality as I had seen before. They were quite well made. Although, as with yourself Jussi, I basically brushed them aside, and eventually purchased a Shinto Sukekuni, a 2nd Gen. Shinto Tadayuki with Shiso-tetsu inscription, and a very nice Shobu Wakizashi. Bigger fish.... Having said this, even though it has now been quite some time, I could never quite get over the curiosity of these small well made Tachi. Hopefully, someone with definitive information regarding these small Tachi will share their knowledge.

Alex, I think it is possible these are relatively "rare" very good quality miniature Tachi to match Boy's Day Armor. Possibly Shinshinto or Meiji period. http://www.jcollector.com/Japanese-Boys-Day-Yoroi-Samurai-Armor-p/jn9j428.htm