Ontario_Archaeology

I came across this auction and although I can't read the documents attached with this sword the translation of the description has some interesting information! https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/l638857617 It states: "Since you cannot take it with you before boarding the special attack aircraft, it will be handed over to the mechanic and returned to your family. There are documents of the proof of the Special Attack Units. It seems that the mechanic said that the kamikaze aircraft on which this person was aboard had passed away without the Hinomaru due to lack of supplies at the end." If this is to be believed then there would never really be a need for pilots to carry anything shorter, and further put the nail in the coffin about the "pilot/tanker" sword myth.

Recently on buyee I saw two sets of tassels go up. It would be cool if they were genuine, but I have my doubts,especially about the general tassels. Set 1 Set two

Estimate 15-25k.  7 years ago. Wow 😭😭

Here are three examples I've saved images of from auctions over the past few years.

Sorry about that, made the thread after a few too many drinks

I know a thread already exists or they have been discussed at length somewhere, I just cant find it, but I know these have been discussed somewhere. Either way, I'd like this thread to be a place where we all can post our examples and be an end all be all of information about them. Thanks

Interesting, hard to tell really. But it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to assume maybe some family members used the tassels as a status symbol while their fathers or husbands were fighting the war. Maybe those whos family members died fighting were able to wear them with their regular dress. It is an interesting route to go down.

From many other threads here I think "we" as a forum have concluded that the waks were not necessarily used for submarines, tanks and aircraft but either bought by the government late in the war to make up for lack of sword production or a family heirlooms that special mounts to fit them were for. Here is a link to a thread referring to them as pilot swords

I just wish the original pictures of the sale and the pictures of what appears to be mis represented were posted

Everything looks great! Now I'm wondering if there is a "dark" mode for mobile 👀 Matt

What a find!

I'd side on real. When the brown and blue stripe is reversed on the edges, I have seen it called a "premium" version of the tassel and I have not seen that on any repos. A similar pattern can see on picture 5 on the first post

Hello again, I have another tassel that I would like a second opinion on. After comparing it to known repos I think it looks alright Thanks!

Very cool I look forward to hearing more about it!

I saw this gunto document on buyee and was not sure if we already have it translated / know of it. Thought it better to post here just incase. https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/488417065/detail

I found that the colours of fakes can be hard to actually determine unless it is put side by side with a real one. Different lighting really affects how the colour comes out.

Sooner or later it is going to be important to track the swords owners back as far as possible to try and predate when these good fakes start coming onto market....hopefully they miss a major detail on the final product that screams fake.

He has a lot of great content on his channel and plenty of pictures and videos of swords "in the field" in his videos. Can't help but feel bad for the white Russians, seemed doomed where ever they went.

It appears the best way to tell if it is a brown navy vs army is colour as the lengths are varying. Unless someone wanted to start making a chart documenting the lengths to see if there is a standard deviation for each.

This is a cool short one. 40cm I think https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/b477753250

40" total https://www.ebay.com/itm/203026129781

Yup, and I've learned a thing or two haha. Thanks for all your help

Side by side shots. The first one I posted is on the left, most recent one that came out of the box on the right. I'm pretty sure the left one is a repo

What exactly do you mean by early? Did they change a bit over time?

My collection has grown, a few months ago I decided to find a second general which will allow me to compare the first one too. Side by side shots will come eventually..... The tassel also came with this..... Anyone have any ideas? I think that is a family Mon, but don't know the purpose. Thanks!