Bruce Pennington

I agree. He blocked me, I can't even buy a mekugi from him, because I pointed out the fakery of his stuff. And like Steve said - I wouldn't put good stuff willingly in his hands to be butchered with his bad horimono.

David, I have records of the Seki stamp from '41 - '45. Gifu just '44-'45. So they were used simultaneously. Don't know WHO was using one or the other, though.

Ah, the sword upright on the naugahyde seat!!! Definitely the Monkey. BACK AWAY FROM THE MONKEY PRODUCT....THE RUN! (not kidding.)

Neil (IJASWORDS), I believe, has a tsuka that appears original that has no mekugi ana. But I don't think it came on a blade.

Well now ....... after seeing the close-ups of the ito, it doesn't look like it was ever held/carried. I'm starting to think this tsuka was a Type 98, and someone has started to covert it to a Rinji tsuka, and they didn't finish the job. I'm thinking the wrap-job is just a Bubba-job.

The stamp if a “Gifu” inspection stamp, if that helps. Gifu was a specific area.

Just realized I had 2 examples of the early ito wrap. One a Gifu, as mentioned earlier, and the other a Tokyo. Pics posted for comparison.

Hi Jeff, You've got a Contingency Model of the officer Type 98 gunto. Often refered to by collectors as the Type 3. You will lately see more and more calling it the Rinji-seishiki model (which is simply the Japanese words for contengency, or temporary, model). Long intro, but this wasn't an "official" model or Type. It was designed to test simpler fittings that could withstand the rigors of combat a bit better than the standard Type 98 fittings. It was also intended to be cheaper. Officers had to buy their own swords. Like Chris said, the ito (wrap) has shifted and covered the holes. I've attached a photo of one of mine so you can see where to look. It won't hurt anything to lightly move the wrap up and down, here and there, till you find them. Most Rinji models used a metal screw in the hole nearest the tsuba and a mekugi in the upper hole. I'm sure I speak for everyone here - PLEASE give us some full pics of the nakago (both sides) and blade! We have addictions that need their fix and the forum has been a bit slow lately. I've been starting to get the shakes! {Note to Brian - this could move to the Military forum}

That's really cool Neil. So you weren't looking for Kanemichi, they just kept popping up as you found a gunto you liked? Also, with the 3 blades you show, to my untrained eye, they are all so different in style that it makes me wonder about shinsa teams trying to attribute a mumei blade to a particular smith.

Here's another Sadayoshi, found on a link by SteveM, at the Hattori Samurai Art Shop http://www.katana-hattori.com/katana/gassan.html

Pic added from Steve's link (in case the item isn't there in the future). Wow! I've never seen a mei with the sword shop's name!

Jeff, That's amazing! It looks new, like made yesterday! Hopefully the translation guys can help. I wonder about that star. Could it be a versioin of the Yamamoto Guntoya company:

It’s truly quite interesting Neil. Even the leather ashi! Hope someone has an idea about your question though. Interesting possibility.

Crow, I use both of those books extensively, worth the price! Another fabulous resource for learning, and FREE, is Ohmura's website: http://ohmura-study.net/900.html As to this gunto, If that 795 is USD, it's an Ok price. Don't know the UK market. I don't see anything wrong with the mounts. The tsuba is thinner than I've ever seen. The all-brown tassel likely indicates this gunto was carried by a Gunzuko officer (the civilians working for the Army. They had uniforms and rank). But at that price you could get a gunto in better condition, though some guys like the worn, used, battle-proven look like this one.

Raphael, Yes, I remember that we chatted. Welcome! As to your question - in your location I don't know what's available. Do you have Craigslist? It's free. There are new competitors to ebay popping up. Here is an article about their 10 best online sales sites: https://www.oberlo.com/blog/online-selling-sites Auction houses also sell on commission. I haven't looked into it, but I think they all charge about 20%. Warning: If you do try Craigslist, be ready for the scammers to hit almost instantly. The usual scheme is: "I'll pay your asking price. Please remove the item for sale. I will send and check to you, with an added amount. The extra is to pay my delivery man who will pick up the item." So the forged bank check arrives, you cash it, he all of a sudden lost his delivery guy and wants you to mail the extra cash back to him (he couldn't care less about the sword). 3 weeks later the check bounces as a forgery and your bank wants their cash back.

JT, There is also a vast amount of info online, if you are a reader. Many articles here, at NMB, can be found here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/17-articles/ Rich Stein built a small kingdom of information on this website: http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm You didn't mention whether you had discovered the vast, beautiful world of WWII shingunto. There are more pages than one can read on Ohmura'sans website, with gorgeous pictures as well: http://ohmura-study.net/900.html There are many more. Welcome to the club!

Thank you dirk, and everyone else, for the help. I’ve added the Sadakazu kakihan to the ducument.

David, do you mean that those are a progression of names a single smith went through, or are those a line of smiths? Sorry for the Newbie questions! I just have the Sadakatsu kakihan in the Stamps document, and I'm trying to figure out if I've named it correctly, or if there was a succession of guys with slightly varied kakihan.

Ed, forgive my gross ignorance, but are Sadakazu & Sadakatsu just two attempts to spell the same name? Fuller lists him as Gassan Sadakatsu. Thanks!

I agree. Even his kakihan isn't standardized.

As per NMB rules please add your first name to the posts (this can be done each time, or in your settings) Thanks! Item #1 is a gunto made as a souvenir by the Toyokawa arsenal AFTER the war. They had a contract with the Allied Army PX for 8,000 of them. Cool piece of history (I have one) but not worth more than $500. Big discussion of them, with period documents, here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22400-nlf-gunto-discussion/?hl=%2Bgunto+%2Bdiscussion https://youtu.be/pre5EXnhGE0

Nice example! That price seems to the the going rate for D-guard Kyugunto. It's what I paid for mine (ok, my wife bought it for me!). Looks like you've got a nice gendaito there. I like the D-guard Type 19s. The always have a fighting blade. At least in my limited experience with them. Hamish could say if that's true or not.

See - we really ARE like family! HA! Arguing like two kids in the back seat of a car on a long trip. "MOM, BILLY TOUCHED ME!"..."WELL SHE'S CROWDING ONTO MY HALF OF THE CAR!" ..."MOM, HE DID IT AGAIN!" Just shows we're human. What I DO like is that we stick it out and resolve stuff. Thanks Hamish for your hearing the other guys. This discussion is another case showing the differences in different people's interests. "One man's trash - another man's treasure". That's all this is. I know I'm going to wear this out, but I love it!!!:

John,Forgive my nosing into something I know almost nothing about, but a website purporting to show Samurai clan mon says this one is "Kunishi". Link: http://www.samurai-archives.com/crest3.html I don't know how much credence to put on that. I have a hanging wysteria mon, that most guys say is "Fujiwara", but this site says it is "Naito".

Christian, Looks like you're searching for nihonto, but I can tempt you with a Mantetsu, or a Type 95 NCO, I have both for sale.