PNSSHOGUN

Highly accurate, cheap and durable Tsunagi will be an incredible advancement for collectors everywhere.

If you have a proper 3D scan of it it can be printed.

Wow, at $2100 you did well for something like this, good Horimono, Tachi mounts and decent sword. For that price it may be worth getting it polished.

Thank you Grant, I'm looking in particular at ones with Nihonto in them and preferably the higher quality examples of mounting used by Field/General grade officers. Thank you for the book recommendation as well, looks like a must have.

Good thing it doesn't have a cutting test inlaid, with the number of bodies a sword like this could go through all the gold might make kantei strictly for weightlifters....

They are regarded as some of the strongest and capable cutting swords made. They were made from the ground up to be effective combat weapons using high quality manchurian steel, advanced metallurgy and special forging methods. Officers prized them and you will see General grade swords with Koa Isshin swords mounted. This excellent article on Ohmura has alot of information on them: http://ohmura-study.net/998.html

I believe these would be fairly similar to Iaido swords, aluminium blades, for basic brandishing and swinging etc.

Lately I've become interested in Kyu Gunto however there is mighty little information or examples of high quality swords available. I'm wondering if anybody has good examples in their collection, specifically Generals grade. Any help would be much appreciated.

This blade has a powerful look about it, reminds me of Soshu school. I am very interested in seeing how shinsa turns out.

Is it just me or do those look like chips in the nakago? Possibly suriage?

Honestly Matt,high quality microfibre and alcohol is all you need. Oil is up in the air, I just stick with choji but different people will advise different things.

A futile, but noble gesture. It is like telling the ocean it has too much salt.

For US market I would say under $1000.

I think only a handful of those still exist and they have a different trigger mechanism. I think I can make out Nagoya arsenal stamps and 1943 date stamp, the mystery deepens! EDIT: Mystery solved, thank you Geraint.

I sincerely wish there was another, the trick will be to advertise it correctly for collectors in the region so we can have as many submissions as possible.

Me either, I'm wondering if it is a custom field modification. I have never seen or heard of a variant like this expect for the "baby" Type B Nambu. Perhaps these kanji can shed some more light on this unique example.

If possible some close ups of the kanji and arsenal stamps/markings would help alot.

I suppose Generals would have high quality custom army pattern mounts, perhaps that is what he is looking for?

Joe, that katana is going to look incredible after mukansa. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your papers on it as well!

You are a luckier man than I am, Dave!

Julien I'm not sure what options are available in France, perhaps some other members can recommend someone, but if there's a good koshirae maker you may be able to get some army mounts refitted to your blade. It won't be cheap, as you'll have to purchase separate mounts which aren't getting any cheaper these days, but it may be your best option if you really want it back in wartime condition.

Considering the Kikusui on the blade and habaki it's more likely to have kai gunto mounts than army ones. Like today, Navy and Army are fiercely independent branches, even more so in Showa Japan, to the detriment of the war effort in fact. It's entirely possible it had army mounts originally, but personally I would assume it was in kai gunto mounts simply due to how staunch the Army/Navy rivalry was then. In any case finding replacement army mounts would be a bit of a wild goose chase, I naively tried once and the sword is still in shirasaya......

Those mountings are in very good condition, especially the tsuka ito. I believe this would be a very beautiful blade in full polish. You got a very fine deal on this piece, thanks for sharing.

Could be time to get the shirasaya split and adjusted accordingly if it doesn't even out as season changes.

An ''approved'' seller list would be very handy however it is open to problems in itself. Some have no issues with one seller while others have nightmares. It's entirely subjective sometimes and that can be difficult to tally. Doing your research first is the first point in buying any high price item, no exceptions! Even if you're purchasing from Christies you must research it thoroughly. Usually the problems I have encountered were from trying to get a cheap or "good" deal. Buying from trusted, reputable dealers who have been in business for years is often more pricey, but usually precludes any headaches. But I agree, a pinned topic with the most trusted and well received dealers, websites, ebay sellers would be handy for those unsure or new to collecting.