dwmc

This sword is an example of late war kai gunto regulation change. It has the single hanger, unadorned ishizuki and kashira , although the fuchi and koiguchi are adorned they were painted black along with all the fittings as per late war regulations. Kind of interesting how there were mixed variations depending on fittings available at the time... Dave M.

Thank you also Steve !! Dave M.

Excellent...Thank You Matt ! Dave M.

I was recently shown the document below and am thinking it is some type of official document from the WWll era. The owner of the document was told it was either a promotion or award document. I'm not looking for a full translation , but just a basic idea of what it is, and of what potential historical significance it may be. Any information will be greatly appreciated ! As always, Thank you in advance, Dave M.

Green paint beneath the black ??? Hummmm... Dave M.

Either way Chris, real or not, I think I would look for a better one. Even if the cost is a bit higher! Dave M.

No offense intended Stephen, not accusing you of anything...simply have heard many opinions about these particular dealers and was just curious if anyone knew them personally. May very well be decent folks simply trying to make a living... Dave M.

This is kind of what I'm curious about Stephen ? Hell of a nice guys until they get it over on you ??? Dave M.

Correction: My sword is actually a company a company grade cavalry sword, not a field grade. However, still looking for screw type Sakura blossom mekugi/menuki. Dave M.

Thanks Mark, So I have unknowingly come across them, as I have attended several SF shows !

Others may personally know who these sword dealers are, Komonjo and Showa 22, northern California... I still to this day have a officers tassel I suspect is repo purchased from 22 . I know, I have had to unknowingly met these individuals having lived in Ca., for 45 years attending sword shows, gun shows, etc. I will also willing admit, I have always been a bit envious of their ability to have access to a seemingly endless supply of Japanese swords and the like. I once thought I had spoken with Showa 22 at a Sacramento, Ca. gun show, and the same for Komonjo at a San Jose show. I was wrong about the suspected Showa 22. The individual I thought was Showa 22, oddly after many years, I recently met again at a Boise gun show and assured me he wasn't 22. ( However, he had a pristine Shinto Sadatoshi in a beautiful gunto mount at the Boise show, made a reasonable offer, wouldn't budge, eventually realized , he was looking to buy what I had, not the other way around.) I became so wrapped up in trying to purchase the Sadatoshi, I failed to asked if he knew who Showa 22 and Komonjo where. There's a antique military dealer near my location with thousands of items, been in business for years, incredible inventory. He had an item I was interested in and we went into a process of negotiation of which he mentioned he would consider a Hircshfanger I own in trade. It was a W.K & C in excellent condition inscribed with owners name, made the trade. I was happy to get the item I wanted, but eventually fell into sellers remorse about the German Hunting dagger. A couple of weeks ago, there was another gun show in the area of which the militaria dealer had a display table. I approached the table and low and behold the owner of the shop was at the table, but in front of the table rather than behind it. I greeted him, we talked for a moment, I casually asked him if he still had the Hircshfanger, as I might be willing to buy it back. He's owned the shop for many years, surprisingly, he told me he had just sold the shop, the dagger was still there, I would need to negotiate with the new owner. Just yesterday. I went to the shop and met the new owner, nice guy from the Sacramento Ca. area, a very avid sword collector, all types including many Japanese. He mentioned he knew many sword collectors in the northern Ca. area and I'm sure he knows who Showa and Komonjo are, again I had my German Dagger in mind and repurchased it for what I considered a very reasonable price. Again, I must apologize about my seemingly never ending bloviating babel, but these are kind of fun quirky things that occur and also enjoy hearing such from others. I will eventually get around to asking one of the individuals mentioned who exactly are Komonjo and Showa 22 are. Does it matter, probably not, but as a individual who remembers what the United States was (before what is now trying to become) I would like to know what type of individuals these dealers are, do they intentionally attempt to deceive, are they personally decent people simply trying to survive and possibly exaggerate a bit...I would like to know!! Dave M.

Still trying to locate a menuki/mekugi for a1886 Cavalry sword, I'll contact them when they reopen... Dave M.

I would guess leather also ! Dave M.

In 1970 I owned a 1965 Pontiac 2+2 421 cu.in engine , gasoline was 25 cents per gallon and I still had trouble keeping fuel in it. ( Damn I loved that car ) I realize the value of the dollar is relative to the time period and prices are often really not different in comparison. I think the minimum wage here in the US in 1970 was around $1.50 per hr. What I recognize most though, is how few Japanese swords are found in local Pawn shops and Antique stores as there used to be, It seemed like back in those days almost any Pawn shop always had several swords, now the shops rarely have any... Dave M.

Johan, Yes, your sword does appear to be a "Boy's sword." In post #5, Ruben provided Youtube videos, one of which James Miller talks about Boy's swords and mentions how rare they are. I had an opportunity several years ago at an estate auction to bid on high quality Boys swords, but unfortunately didn't because I was unsure exactly what they were. I now wish I had gone with my initial instinct regarding the swords because I was impressed with the high quality of the small swords. No one else at the auction knew anything about them either, they all went for less than $100 each. They were all the quality the one in James Miller's video...I try not to think about passing them up too much. Dave M

Still looking and hoping...Beginning to feel these are rare !

Brian, Decent wakizashi, I wouldn't hesitate to make the trade! I can't say what era the sword is, but here are a few of my Shinto nakago for comparison. If I were to guess, I would say the one you are considering would be Shinshinto. Basically judging from nakago and yasurime appearance.

3:30 am...Surely this must be a nightmare...I going back to bed !!! Horrible... Dave M.

Thank you for the reply Dave. The one I have now is a plain type. I'm beginning to think the blossom end ones not already in use are fairly rare indeed! I guess these would be more accurately described as brass Mekugi pins with Sakura blossom ends. Thanks again, Dave M.

I've been trying to locate one of the early screw type menuki for a 1886 Type 19 Cavalry sword. I've also posted the search in the "Want to buy" section without results. I'm beginning to feel this type Sakura blossom menuki may be much more rare than I originally thought judging from lack of response. I therefore decided I would bring the request to a larger audience with the hope of someone happening to have one available. If so please PM me... Thanks, Dave M.

Photo of what I'm trying to find. Dave M.

Hello Alva, The sword you mentioned in the post # 3 is my Sukekuni sword. Even though the hamon is not the same, I do think there are many similarities. For instance, basic shape (sugata) , yasurime (tang file marks) Mekugi ana location, etc... Another thing I have noticed with the 1661 Sukekuni smith is the variations in the signatures. I have studied many, many Sukekuni signatures over the past few years, and have taken notice of the close resemblance in Shinto era Sukekuni sword contruction, yet the slight variation in Mei's The signature on your sword is indicative of the 1661 Shinto era Sukekuni smith (need a better photo of your tang please), it appears as your nakago (tang), and mine as well, do not seem to have the patina of a 1661 sword. This has been something which has led me to question my sword as possibly not being Shinto. Now, suddenly along come yours with a more complete signature, out of all the Sukekuni signatures I have found, only yours, mine, and the 1661 smith have contained the (Minamoto) character??? The Koto Sukekuni smiths are ruled out, the modern Sukekuni smiths are out, there are a couple of Shin Shinto smiths 1800-1850's, but little or no information, and no (Minamoto) in signature. Without a better photo of your sword signature it will be difficult to determine if Gimei. However, I personally would not think our 1661 smith would warrant being of Gimei status, although I would consider him having many slight variants in his signature, possibly Dai Mei, etc... Dave M.

Hello, I'm looking for a screw or compression type sakura blossom menuki for my field grade cavalry sword. If anyone should happen to have one available, please contact me. Dave M.

Back side possibly " Bishu Osafune-junin " Dave M.

Hawley page 774. Dave M.