PNSSHOGUN

Nothing wrong with it at all if it's for your own satisfaction, or replacing a missing one confirmed through provenance. It only becomes an issue if you're selling it and claim the tassel is original to the sword.

Past topics: and

Was always under the impression an angled or flat surface was easier to achieve for a smith, rather than a rounded surface that is consistent the entire length of the Nagasa. The only sword in my collection with Marumune is by Hayama Enshin, it's certainly a unique effect.

Marumune is not seen very often, partly due to the considerable difficulty.

This is the first Koa Isshin I can recall seeing with this type of Nakagojiri. Good find, the early Koa Isshin have something a little special about them one way or the other.

Mitsumune and Marumune can be Kantei points for particular schools and smiths.

Conway, does your sword have Iriyama Gata Nakagojiri?

Kitae Ware, or forging flaw.

This is clearly an older blade, certainly not made in 1942. From the shape of the Nakago perhaps Sue Bizen. It's a good idea to learn how to identify if a sword is old or new before charging headlong into a purchase.

Still available.

Thank you Mal, no revelations but one might imagine the unit has relation to the IJA 7th Army.

I come with hat in hand for translation help with this surrender tag:

The Ito on the sword in question looks to have been re-wrapped after the war.

Looks to be a decent sword, though the execution of the Mei doesn't inspire confidence. Mounts are traditional Handachi, converted for military use with leather combat cover and Sarute. The red and brown tassel indicate a field grade officer; Major-Colonel ranks.

Hi Joe, welcome to the forum. Yes you have an authentic Kai Gunto, it has a stainless steel blade and the lack of a second hanger indicates this was made late in the war. The writing on the handle can sometimes be the officers name.

Thank you, Rayhan & Markus. These are invaluable considering the detail to be found in the Zufu, the lack of widely available English translations has no doubt stopped many from investing in these volumes.

It may be the photos but the polish appears to be a recent non-traditional type. Not the end of the world, generally you wouldn't receive a proper polish on a Showato anyway, but if you're after an original war time sword then hold off.

The mounts are early Shin Gunto, the presence of a Mon on the Fuchi indicates good quality.

For 800 Euros it's a gamble, the blade has a good shape but there are some large Mune-Ware that give one pause. Decent quality Koshirae, it could be something good but would require quite a bit of money and expertise invested.

Both appear to be original examples, there was a rather wide range of colours used for Saya and that sort of red (akin to Azuki - red bean) is seen now and again. http://ohmura-study.net/904.html

It is likely to be entirely leather, on occasion you will see leather Sarute on good quality mounts.

A useful guide, thank you for sharing. Sources (where reasonable) are always welcome and elevate the quality of any text.

That example appears to be an oil quenched sword, the dark peaks of the Hamon are a textbook sign. If there is a true Amahide Gendai shown anywhere, it will appear in Mal's excellent article:

More likely to be the Shin Shinto Yasunori: https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/YAS356

Hi Minh, unfortunately this is very crude work on the Saya and most likely something cooked up recently and unrelated to the Tsuka. Note how the mouth of the Saya has no Kurikata and is uneven? The Tsuba looks to be a modern casting of poor quality. There are vast quantities of assembled items like this being passed off as original Koshirae from Japan, dealers buy this stuff by weight and offload it on ebay. Don't feel too disheartened, many of us bought similar things early on without realising we were swindled. All I can suggest is looking closely at high quality Koshirae, and investing in some good reference books that show what quality original Koshirae should look like.