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Everything posted by Bruce Pennington
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Where is the audience for Showa Gunto?
Bruce Pennington replied to Peter Bleed's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Dang, that's really messed up! It's not normal to see a stamp right in the mei, but I have seen it before. The prefecture isn't even readable due to the effort to obliterate the stamp. -
Where is the audience for Showa Gunto?
Bruce Pennington replied to Peter Bleed's topic in Military Swords of Japan
I could see the obliterated Showa stamp on the Ichinori. Couldn't make one out on that first one, though. Thanks for the links, Dee! -
Where is the audience for Showa Gunto?
Bruce Pennington replied to Peter Bleed's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Peter, I'll have to do some rooting around on Ohmura's site, but he has a page where he strongly agues that WWII swords, showato, were simply the latest evolution of the Japanese sword and deserve respect from the sword community as the latest version of Nihon (Japan) To (sword). Now, whether he has made a dent in Japan or not, I cannot say. Guys that live there, and guys that live among the NTHK & NBTHK worlds would have more of a feel for that. I would echo Robert's point about the slowly growing number of war swords that are getting papered. A crack has opened in the nihonto dam and trickles of WWII swords are slowly leaking through. I'm flattered that you mention my work, but seriously there are many of us who are pressing hard into this part of Sword World. I do have an appreciation for all those who work hard to uphold traditions of any kind, whether that be swords, or hand made cakes, or ballroom dancing. But I can vouch for the fact that many commercially made cakes i have eaten were pretty darn good; and the majority of people prefer dancing of almost everything else but ballroom. Maybe time and public attention will turn the tide on recognition for the merits of WWII swords. -
We've seen some 'hail in rain' designs before, but I thought I'd post this one, found on a late-war T98 on ebay
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Textbook fake with all the red flags. For sale on ebay, not even going to post the link. Don't even have to enlarge on each section of the sword. I could see from the expanded shot that the haikan was mounted too far down the saya, for starters:
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A Pretty Crude Late War Gunto.
Bruce Pennington replied to MacTheWhopper's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Ok, then not necessary. Only do it if it's something you want to pursue. -
A Pretty Crude Late War Gunto.
Bruce Pennington replied to MacTheWhopper's topic in Military Swords of Japan
It strikes me as an effort by collaboration sword makers to make an NCO sword. Collaborators had NCO ranks, too. It's just something we've never seen discussed. Nor do we know enough about, nor have enough wartime photos of, to base real decisions on. We all know what the nakago will likely look like, but you ought to pop the tsuka off on the chance there is a Java mei. If so, it locks it in. Without it, we are back to speculation. -
A word about amateur polishing
Bruce Pennington replied to Brian's topic in General Nihonto Related Discussion
The reality is that guys are doing this all over the world, every day. Only a fraction of a fraction of 1% ever come to NMB and talk about it. This discussion is good, as it will make some guys think about it in ways they might not have considered before. We are educating new guys. As to Dan's example above. In both the before and after states, the blade can still be professionally polished. It's better that the rust is gone. -
Hi Mark! Safe to assume you've taken a look at the lacing to see if it can be unlaced? If the leather isn't shrink fitted, in other words, if it has a little play, you might be able to remove the sarute (you actually have to pry/bend it to get it out of the holes), then unscrew the barrel screw that the sarute sits in, and see if the kabutogane will come off, allowing you to slide the leather cover up and off. Never tried something like that, though.
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A word about amateur polishing
Bruce Pennington replied to Brian's topic in General Nihonto Related Discussion
Good points, Mark. I suppose if I were the one wanting to try my hand at it, I'd take the blade to the Nihonto Forum and ask - Is this salvageable or trash? THEN, move from there, depending upon opinions given. The guys, like you say, that argue with the experts cannot be helped. We do see that often, unfortunately. Makes you wonder why they even ask, if they aren't prepared to accept what they hear. -
A word about amateur polishing
Bruce Pennington replied to Brian's topic in General Nihonto Related Discussion
I always get into trouble when I join conversations like this, but I see Joe's point, a bit. A guy buys a trashed blade and brings it to NMB and everyone says "Junk! Ruined! Zero Value! etc, etc, etc" But if the guy brought that same blade and said "Hey, I'm going to polish this myself" .... everyone flips out. Now, I understand the fear is that the rookie may have a blade that actually IS recoverable, and is incorrectly assuming it is ruined, so therefore his amateur polish WILL ruin a blade that could have been saved. But, my original point seems to be what I don't get. -
Requesting info on gunto!
Bruce Pennington replied to Tibetman18's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Alex, Rob said "sue Koto" so: Sword Eras SUE KOTO The end of the era of old swords is generally considered to be the Oei Period(1394). Swords produced after this era are referred to as SUE KOTO or late old swords. With the onset of the Oei period, Japan suffered through a series of civil wars. During this period, the quality of sword making fell off due to the great demand for weapons. Many mass produced blades from the era survive due to the great numbers produced. Private order blades were of finer quality. However, blades from this era seldom rivaled the quality of earlier work. The end of civil war brought an era of peace to Japan. The unification came under the rule of the Tokugawa Shoguns, who moved the center of politics from Kyoto to their home city of Edo, which is today modern day Tokyo. The end of the era of Koto is generally established to coincide with the rise of the Tokugawa in the Keicho era, which began in 1596. (From: Warrelics - A Brief Introduction to Sword Making Eras) -
Glen, Your hamon (temper pattern) is called Hitatsura, and is not that common, but I find it striking. I'm not expert on that stuff, but it would look amazing with a professional polish. Japanese Sword Blade Terminology
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Real or reproduction tassel
Bruce Pennington replied to William Jennings's topic in Military Swords of Japan
William and I chatted a little via PM. For the price, I would buy it just for the blade! It's a legit Okimitsu, star-stamped gendaito. A guy could put it in shirasaya and have a great item. But that's just me. -
Real or reproduction tassel
Bruce Pennington replied to William Jennings's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Waiting for John - @PNSSHOGUN -
Here is a classy leather cover set on a civil sword, posted by @Glenn HERE. Unique method for attaching the tassel, and the haikan appears to straddle the kurikata
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Glen, Gorgeous sword! Some technical info for you - It was a civil sword either brought to the war by the owner, or donated, or bought by the military and fitted out with the leather cover. The blue/brown tassel was used by Compay grade officers, Lt's and Capt's. Here's a good page for sword care: Japanese Sword Care - JSI
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Thanks for sharing, Alex. Interesting article. Me thinks master Watts suffered a bit from the tendency to romanticize the samurai and the "old ways." While I am very minimally read in Japanese war history, I do recall reading about how farmers were conscripted for large armies and marched into battle. I suspect they were just as much cannon fodder as the enlisted troops of WWII. HIs complaint of the use of modern weaponry of mass destruction, having lost any sense of Zen, just wanton destruction, is too focused on the act of pulling the trigger. Their use on the grand scale, the tactical/strategic planner during WWII was no different than the samurai commander over an entire army that set his plan into action, using all the weapons and people at his disposal. There is no Zen in that. It is just strategy of war.
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Awful YouTube video on military swords.
Bruce Pennington replied to KungFooey's topic in Military Swords of Japan
@KungFooey I second Sam's comments. You have joined a bunch of old farts that can speak without any filters. Regardless of what we say, we honestly enjoy your company! Plus, you have to keep in mind how easy it is to misunderstand things said in text. In person, one has body language, facial expressions, and tones of voice to help read comments the way they are meant. Conversations online lose all that, and easily get going sideways, when that never would have happened in person. -
Haven't seen that one before, however, we have one in seal script that we think is of the same shop:
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Nice video on making and wrapping tsuka
Bruce Pennington replied to Brian's topic in General Nihonto Related Discussion
That's simply incredible. -
Mumei with Tokugawa Mon/Seal
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in General Nihonto Related Discussion
No, it was exactly the same mon as the one I’ve posted. It might have been on one of the other forums, like Warrelics or Wehrmacht-awards. -
Nlf Gunto Discussion
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Yes, I understand. But that is characteristic of many of the late-war mei. Like Mal said, we have 7 others with this mei, that's just how they look. -
Nlf Gunto Discussion
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
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Nlf Gunto Discussion
Bruce Pennington replied to Bruce Pennington's topic in Military Swords of Japan
Exciting News! A second souvenir has showed up with PX cert.! A Hiratoshi blade with large circled-anchor, in standard souvenir fittings. Comes with 8th Army PX certificate and shipping box from 1950. At this Mileston Auction. Starting price is $1,000USD. I'd go for it, and would love to have it but I'm in some pretty deep debt already and would have to buy it on credit. I hope one of us could get it from the auction! Interesting note, that this is the first Hiratoshi we have in souvenir fittings. I have several of his blades on file, but none of them are souvenir. They are all kaigunto.