IJASWORDS

Big difference, George has a "fully" civilian mounted sword, tsuba, seppa and tzuka, and looks original in all respects. No spacers on this one.

Great family heirloom, make sure it is documented for future generations of your family. While it is probably not a national treasure, it is worth preserving as is as a great WW2 artifact. Some members on this forum will ask you to pull it apart to show other details, just be careful, it is already fragile.

Thanks Chris, sorry that I beat you to it mate, it will look better when I follow Stephen's cleaning instructions.

Thanks mate, I will.

I will come to me. Its paid for by now. Dan has been a great seller to deal with. It will go to a loving caring home down under. Steve, what do you mean clean it up? How would you do it? A professional polisher?

I don't think Chris picked it up.

Wow, nice "tale".

Definitely not a navy Kai Gunto, as it is a Shin Gunto army style. Need to see the tang, but there are some reproduction parts on it. The tzuka definitely not original wrap.

Didier, on close inspection of your great photos, I suspect the iron tsuba is a non original fitment. Why? Because in my experience the seppa never over hang the hole where the leather securing tab passes through. The seppa are normally relieved (filed) to match the hole in the tsuba. See photo.

Photos of a family blade adapted for service.

Not usually.

All the ones offered here have bright brassy yellow freshly engraved looking habaki. The original genuine ones I own/seen have lightly cut copper habaki.

Dave, I also collect original unpublished photos of sword carrying soldiers, here are a couple. I think it would make a great thread if we could see photos of soldiers carrying the swords, with hangers and belts (that I also collect). It would add context to see these period photos.

It is common to see this type of ito and fittings on WW2 swords. Because of the diversity of swords that officers could carry in all branches of the military, I don't think that they are particular to any branch.

To be honest, it has worried me since I first saw it. But I hate being critical without seeing it in the hand.

Picking up on Dave R's point, in my early years of collecting I bought a beautiful type 3, complete with sword bag. I was so exited about the purchase, I didn't check the tang, thinking even if it was a Showato it looked great, and a bargain. When I got home and inspected the tang, I found a Chinese copy blade cut down to fit the WW2 koshirae. Bummer!!! As Dave says, its about the blade, I keep it to remind me to always check the blade. By the way, do you know any one who wants to buy a great type3 complete with sword bag?

Yep, you are 100% correct it is a Nagamitsu. I have a star stamp Endo Tomonari in identical koshirae (not in photos).

I note with great interest and admiration, that Chris not only has done a great job of his web site, but has some really nice type3 examples. In actual fact, I find the type 3 koshirae most interesting, and some times with great blades contained. There are single button with no dust cover and German silver seppa. Celluloid same, and plain ito. There single button, dust cover, clear lacquered ito. There are of course the premium koshirae, with a contrasting red, brown or black painted ito tzuka. And many other variations that surface from time to time.

Chris, great subject. In each of my photos from the top down..... 1. Masanao (Minatowgawa) Sept 1942. 2. Kotani Yasunori (Yasukuni) June 1942. 3. Kanetoki 1937. 4. Hoke Saburo Nobufusa. 5. Star Stamped Kanetoshi July 1944.

Here are a couple I have. The General tassel is the one shown in Dawson's book page 159. Hope they aid the discussion.

This is a beautiful way to present your swords. Your photography is really professional. What camera do you use? What lighting method to stop glare? What background do you photograph the swords on? This is really well done, congratulations.

Hey Bruce, do these stamps on Navy KAI-GUNTO stuff have any significance?

Hey Bruce, it is dated June 1942.

Brian, my guess it had a leather all-weather combat cover with an integral "sewn-in" hanger, quite common.

Thanks for the links Chris. I still need guidance relating to YASUKUNI-To in aluminium saya specifically. Photos of blade attached.