Mister Gunto

Late War publication date, 1944. Interesting timing to push loyalty as virtue, as things were collapsing on both fronts for Germany at the time.

Please, never feel like you have to rush to buy a sword. I've made that mistake myself. There are plenty on the market, with new blades turning up all the time. Take your time, be sure of what you want, and like. Also, at those price ranges, there are several dealers here on this board who have some amazing blades on hand already here in the USA. You won't have to wait a month or more for export permission, nor risk having to pay extra on a tariff.

They say "Stupidity should be painful." And you know, sometimes it is!

Somebody watched a Samurai film and decided that they could swing their sword around too. FAFO

Very nice blade! My two most recent swords bought from Japanese sellers both took exactly 3 weeks to get the export permission, then 1-2 weeks shipping time.

I love it!

A lot to like about this blade, and it's still salvageable.

Excellent article!!!

That is some serious sori.

I believe so. Interesting hamon!

Looks like a fairly clean break. A good weld would fix it nicely, and hold. Please send pics of the blade when you have the chance!

Beautiful display!

As mentioned above, if your blade is Edo period or later, (unless it's in Shin-Gunto mounts) the chances it was ever used to kill are quite low. And even if it's Koto, remember that the primary killers on a Japanese battlefield back then would have been Bow and arrows, Yari and Naginata, or towards the later period, Tanegashima (matchlock muskets). Swords were usually secondary weapons. A blade in Shin-Gunto mounts makes the kill probability higher, as WW2-era Japanese officers were rather keen on "testing" their blades, usually on the necks of helpless prisoners. But if your blade is coming out of Japan, the previous owner may never have been deployed overseas. This will sound "Hippy-Dippy", but hey, I'm from California... If your wife is that concerned, you can burn some sage or incense next to the blade while playing some Japanese Temple Music or Mantras via YouTube and such. Just a little karmic cleansing to smooth things over if the blade's Kami is a little shook by the move from good ol' Nippon to the Lone Star State. I do it with all my blades.

Never seen one like this. Very suspicious.

Jonathan, looks like it's still a nice blade. I don't think nihonto are considered tired until they start showing core metal. Michael, I don't see nearly as many blades at 9mm as I do 8mm and less. But I have seen a few in person and at least listed as such on Ebay. I do have 2 swords in my own collection with 9mm Motokasanes. One's a Wartime Gunto, the other a (possibly) Koto Aoe Tachi. Unfortunately, on the latter, Bubba got to it before I did, and scrubbed the blade, so it's just bright metal at this point. Trying to do more research on it to decide if it's worth the restoration cost.

For a 68cm Nagasa, if the Motokasane is 5.5mm, it's probably safe to assume the blade has been through several polishes, and is getting thin. In my (limited) experience, usually 9-7mm is more common for katanas. I can't say if a blade like that would've been considered for combat in the old days. But it'd certainly be fine for Iaido practice.

Welcome, all!

Auction Houses gonna Auction. I've seen a few that do actually try to be very honest in their descriptions. Others just want to bang that gavel and cash in.

Definately looks to be an old O-suriage nihonto blade. Nice habaki as well. Must admit, that's a much better bone tsuka than I usually see.

Now that is a beautiful Type 3!

Another vote here for that brand of Camellia Oil. I use it on all my blades. Has worked very well.

Perhaps a Commerical Export blade made in Japan or China, and re-handled later by a local shop in the Philippines?

Considering the age, (going on 80 years now) and that it was carried by a Japanese Officer during the war, the koshirae looks very good! The darkened same isn't exactly rare, but still uncommon. I have no experience with Shinsa, so I'm not sure if this smith's name would be enough to get it papers, or if they would reject it due to the Showa stamp/ Non-Gendaito. Regardless, you have a very nice Wartime Type 98 sword! There are so many out there in far lesser condition.

Even if it this one doesn't meet the standards to be called a "Nihonto", it's still a beautiful and excellently made authentic Japanese sword, by a well-regarded smith no less. I think as time passes, the Japanese are starting to get past the old "Showato" label, and are becoming able to look at the wartime-period blades and realize that some of them are quite good. Also, any pics of the Type 98 koshirae?

One of those "Super Ninja" swords we're always hearing about...