PNSSHOGUN

You can zoom in on them a little but it really precludes any online bidding. No way anyone is going to gamble a few thousand pounds on a single photo.

He's back up and running, I got a quote from him the other week.

Highly likely it is Gimei, looks Ubu as well.

Example on ohmura with similar blackened fittings with very high quality mounts and blade: http://ohmura-study.net/714.html

Might help to link the actual auction page http://www.thomasdelmar.com/Catalogues/as061217/index.html

I'd love to see a Minagotawa Shrine Kai Gunto or Imperial Gift Type 94/98.

I wish, a koshirae with field grade tassel for $200 would be a very good deal.

This thread needs some more nice Gunto, here's my now complete Field grade Kyu Gunto with correct tassel.

A few pictures of the stamp. Koshirae is in really good condition, the Ito is still rock solid.

I think the hamon is etched on, consistent with Anti-rust blades. Very nice example.

Nicely cut mei for a Seki stamped blade, can we see some photos of the blade?

I don't know about chinese fakes but they certainly aren't as good looking or desired among collectors, I don't of anyone purposefully seeking out this pattern to collect. They just seem to be either what you get with the blade or cheaper than a comparative Type 98. They seem to have been popular among the troops looking for simple, practical yet robust and lightweight mountings for combat use. Not to mention lighter on the officers wallet....

The investment pieces are always going to be either Gendaito, Ancestral blades, important historical swords like Generals grade and swords with provenance or rare variations, high quality mounts etc etc Your regular run of the mill Type 98 Shin Gunto with oil tempered blade is the bread and butter of Military sword collecting. The prices will always stay accessible relative to the rare and exciting swords. I think your sword is a good investment simply due to the fantastic condition the mounts and blades are in, they will always be in demand and are desirable to many collectors. The price will not skyrocket like copper handled NCO's or a Mantetsu, but it won't go down either.

Hold on to it, that's a virtually a mint example. Interest will always be high in a really good condition Gunto like that.

Nice condition for what it is, but not at 750 quid. I'd be comfortable at half that price.

I'll get some photos when it arrives, I saw it and remembered this thread and had a go, sometimes you do get lucky on ebay.

I just picked up a koshirae with one of these stickers on ebay for cheap, same combat grade pattern as some of the others. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/98-TYPE-Japanese-GUNTO-KOSHIRAE-WOOD-SHEATH-and-SKIN-COVER-WW2-/322898351076?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=A0jVOIoXxbUxEZtlj838kWWltLU%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I think we all regret not buying that one!

Very nice example, Ed. Odd there are no stamps as it is clearly some sort of stainless steel.

Wakizashi is nice. Neither of them are anything sensational for the money.

Don't worry, I've already got a nice one. If this had a high quality sarute and tassel it would be perfect.

I'm with Paul, simply avoids confusion. The only english words I tend to use are sword and blade

Excellent package, nice condition high quality mounts with good looking blade. Will certainly go higher but worth it, hard to top a piece like that IMO. I must admit I have never seen something like that on Showa era swords before either, quite novel.

You to have circle the blade not once, not twice but thrice on the first morning of a leap year and pray to Masamune that your oil doesn't bead up.

Some tissues and mineral oil on the tsuba is safe, used many times.