Kolekt-To

If the tassel/portepee has been attached for 50+ years, it is probably original. I don't believe that reproduction tassels were being produced back then. These tassels were probably readily available during the post-war years (and demand was probably not high - soldiers wanting souvenirs were more focused on the sword itself, not the tassels), so repros were probably not a thing. Today, the situation is quite different - original NCO tassels are rare, and they are expensive to purchase. An original NCO tassel in decent shape can sell for well over $300.00 USD, currently. Repro tassels are available and, obviously, cost a fraction of an original. I will also say that it is unusual to find a Type 95 with its tassel attached - normally, the tassel is missing and, if you want one for your sword, you have to hunt for them and/or be patient while you await one to surface on the market. I've seen a huge demand for these things - when they go to auction on eBay, it's like a shark feeding frenzy with intense competition among potential buyers that ensures the sold price will be high.

I am not currently in need of this, but I sincerely appreciate the work you and others do here in preventing potential buyers from getting screwed by Fake Type 95 sellers! (pun intended).

Interesting that you refer to the Same as "Paper". I've always known the term "Oil Cloth" used for this type of Same. And, yes, that's a good example to which I am referring.

These Tsuka are no longer available - they were sold.

Thanks Bruce! Also, I don't think I've ever seen oil cloth "Same" on anything other than Type 97 Tsuka. Appears that this is particular to late-war Navy swords. The army had their own late-war downgrade - the "Pineapple" sword.

This appears to me to be another example of a Type 97 Oil Cloth Tsuka.

The items are no longer available - they were sold.

The saya is no longer available - it was sold.

I've been wondering about this for awhile and can't seem to find definitive information on the topic - what do we know about the use of black Oil Cloth as a substitute for ray skin or shark skin on the Type 97 Tsuka? Is this a late-war phenomenon to minimize the use of animal skins? How common was the oil cloth in terms of production numbers? What information do we have about who authorized this? What are the details about the oil cloth itself (example: where was it sourced?)? So many questions! See attached image for reference. Thanks in advance for information provided. Best regards, Geoff

I mistakenly referred to the item as an "Ishizuke" - it is a Kabutogane.

The Ashi (and associated parts displayed here) are no longer available - they have sold.

Ron, the seppas are paired with Type 97 (Navy) tsubas and sold as such - I have a couple of sets for sale in the "Tsuba" section of the For Sale forum (one set with rayed seppas only, the other with the typical type - may be used with either Navy or Army swords, I'm thinking). I'm selling these seppas with the tsubas from which they were originally matched.

I offered more Type 97 and Type 98 fittings/koshirae - most items are in the fittings/koshirae section of the For Sale forum, however I do have a few tsubas to offer (found in the Tsuba section of the For Sale forum), and there are accompanying seppas with a couple of them. I may offer a sword or two in the weeks ahead, as well. Best, Geoff

Here we have a Type 97 (Navy) saya. It is missing a kuchigane/koiguchi (saya mouth fitting/mouth opening). Asking $225.00 USD. Cost of shipping is included. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Here we have five Type 97 (Navy) kabutogane for sale. $50.00 USD each, or $200.00 USD for all five. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Here we have a Type 98 (Army) Ishizuke. Asking $50.00 USD. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Here we have a pair of Type 97 (Navy) ashi with saya ornament included. Asking $70.00 USD. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Here we have a Type 98 (Army) tsuba of the strap-lock style. Asking $60.00 USD. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Here we have a locking style Type 97 (Navy) tsuba with matching rayed seppas. Asking $140.00 USD. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Leather-covered saya. Asking $250.00 USD. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via PayPal.

Hi Ron and John, Thanks for your interest. I currently only have a pair of bare (with ray skins only) Type 97 tsukas listed, but will begin listing other items tonight. These will include the seppas, one leather-covered saya, and a Type 97 saya. More items will follow and I will provide updates. The sales section of the forum is divided into categories, as you all are aware, therefore I will list the items in their appropriate categories (tsubas in the tsuba section, seppas and sayas in the parts/koshirae section, etc.). John, in answer to your question specifically, I don't have a separate leather cover to offer, however, as mentioned, one of the sayas I will offer does have a leather covering. I will price the items reasonably and will accept offers. I prefer that these items go to NMB members who will put them to good use. Best, Geoff

Hello everyone, I made a recent decision that I will no longer purchase swords that need work (including "project" swords) and, therefore, I'm no longer in need of the parts/fittings and koshirae that I've accumulated over the past few years. I will be posting items for sale in the proper forums on this site. I prefer to offer these items to NMB members before I attempt to sell them anywhere else. I have mostly Type 97 and Type 98 parts/fittings and koshirae to offer - tsukas, tsubas, seppas, fuchi, kabutogane, ishizuke, sayas, etc. If you are looking for a specific fitting, let me know. I'm hoping that there are members who can put these items to good use. Thanks, Geoff

Here is another image - features the reverse side of the tsukas.

These two Type 97 (Navy) tsukas are without their wraps and fittings - they feature their ray skins, only. These could be useful for restoration projects. Asking $120.00 for the pair. I will cover the cost of shipping. Payment can be made via my PayPal account.

Agreed John! For this one, I wanted to take some creative license with the tsuka-maki color and go with the lighter, less common, golden brown. So, the color choice was intentional and I like the way it turned out, in part because it provides an extra splash of color for a display. And, for the record, the saya is not original to the sword (and it's a press fit - there is no chuso), although the blade fits nicely. For another sword, at another time, I probably would have chosen the more common darker brown wrap. This was not a high-end gunto, and some of the koshirae may not even be original to the sword (the saya for sure is not), so I figured if I was going to choose a less conventional color for the wrap, this sword would be a good choice. Best, Geoff