type 19 kyu gunto dress swords, i love them.

[Kantaro]

18 minutes ago, Conway S said:

If you have Dawson’s Cyclopedia or the Plimpton Collection book, you will also find there are some hybrid swords out there with Army backs straps, but police style guards. Both Dawson and Plimpton group these as Police swords. Here is an example of an Army cavalry sword with a release button. 

Conway 

 

Japanese WWII Army Sword Cavalry -Old/Antique Samurai -as early as Russo War era

 

Nice one Conway!

 

I like it, and the price seems OK.

 

But is the locking mechanism missing? I see the botton but not the rest??

 

[Scogg]

Nice examples guys. I'm enjoying reading along, and it's really incredible how affordable some of these sabers can be. 

Not to derail anything - but just something I can add. I once purchased what I thought was a parade saber, that had a black horn mekugi, company grade backstrap, and a button lock for the saya. I cannot remember if it had one or two hangers. The nakago was mumei and had a Seki Stamp above the ana. I wish I had taken photos... I ended up trading it at the same event that I purchased it at - for a nihonto wakizashi with green ito in civ gunto mounts. 

Wish I still had that one, because now it's lost to time .
Cheers,
-Sam

[Kiipu]

On 2/27/2025 at 6:57 AM, Kantaro said:

Any one has an example of an army one with a locking mechanism?

 

Not a dress sword, but does has a scabbard release latch mounted on the bottom of the hilt.  Always thought it was interesting.

A little introduction and my first kyu gunto!

[Kantaro]

10 hours ago, Kiipu said:

 

Not a dress sword, but does has a scabbard release latch mounted on the bottom of the hilt.  Always thought it was interesting.

A little introduction and my first kyu gunto!

 

Wow, nice piece with an interesting release latch Thomas, never saw that before!

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

(But indeed it is a Type 19 with fighting blade.)

 

 

[dwmc]

On 2/28/2025 at 5:02 AM, Kantaro said:

I have been scanning the net but it seems difficult to find one...anyone has an example of an army Type 19 parade sword with a locking mechanism and 2 hangers?

 

 

I found this topic hereunder from 2020 and the sword Dave showed had a botton for locking. The one Bruce showed had none...but it seemed a policesword.

 

 

 

 

Here on the picture you can see a rare ARMY general officers parade sabre with a spring clip retention...so it does exist.

aha...now I am talking to myself.

This sword appears to be what you were referring to. Ebay # 226633772531

[Kantaro]

Looks like a Policesword?

 

Got a Link Dave?

[Bruce Pennington]

Couldn't find Dave's item, but found this one - with double bohi! - in the process!

 

WWII Era Japanese Police Superintendent’s Sword - Nice!

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Ah, found Dave's:

Japanese Japan WW2 Police Officer's Sword w/ Scabbard

 

Latch was broken or cut off:

[Sable]

Hey, yall!

I was recently given this Sword along with a type 98 shin gunto. I believe this is a general grade sabre, and is a parade style, I don't know if the mon on the handle belongs to a clan but looks just like the Sakai clan symbol. If anyone knows more about it I'd love to know!

 

[Nazar]

Have a dress sword too. Nothing fancy, though. No mon, no markings. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nazar]

 

 

 

[Scogg]

Hi @Sable, and welcome to the forum! Sorry for the late response about your saber, I wanted to refer to my book from Jim Dawson “Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 Cyclopedia Edition”.

 

It looks like you have some really interesting swords there. I’d love to see more of that type 98 too, in another thread maybe. 
 

Your parade saber indeed appears to be a Type 19 General Grade Kyu-Gunto. 
 

What differentiates the general grade from the field grade is the hawksbill turtle shell handle. In Dawsons book he notes that they exhibit high quality workmanship, and often have some additions. Like a mon or etching on the blade.

 

They're pretty desirable to collectors, so congrats on being given one! I’ve never seen on in-hand personally. 
 

Does it have any stamps in the brass area, around where the blade enters the handle? Is there anything decorative etched on the blade?

 

Thanks for sharing,

-Sam 

[Scogg]

I recently picked up this interesting one. @Kantaro, does this fit the description you’re looking for? With the button and double hanger?

 

I bought this one in a lot with another saber. Priced generally as two parade sabers, but this one caught my eye with the habaki, engraving, and sharpened blade. The engraved kamon(?) on the backstrap was a nice surprise. 
 

(Note: I put the tassel there, it was found without one.)

 

 

[Hector]

Hi Sam, @Scogg

 

Your sword also seems to have the officer's name carved on it. 
井大 "Idai"? (Big Well?)

 

Best,

Hector

[PNSSHOGUN]

I suspect this isn't a dress sword, but a proper sword meant for combat. 

[Bugyotsuji]

More likely 大井 Ōi, Ooi, etc.

[Scogg]

Thanks guys,

It's much more sturdy than the other dress saber that it came with, and any other parade saber that I've ever handled. It's sharp, but slender. The hamon is looks to be applied artificially. It came covered in grease and rust; and it's amazing what a wipe down with some isopropyl was able to accomplish. Awesome that it still has its second hanger.

I agree with John, that it's likely a proper sword. To me, it seems very unlike other dress sabers I’ve encountered. 
 
@PNSSHOGUN If not a "dress sword", how would you recommend that I classify it? Something like "Custom Type 19 Kyu Gunto" perhaps?

I cannot find any stamps anywhere. 
Thanks again everyone,
-Sam

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

It may qualify as a 兼用刀 - combination sword : http://ohmura-study.net/210.html

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

a 兼用刀 - combination sword

That's interesting, John.  I've managed to have never read that page on Ohmura's site.  Don't know how I missed it.  

[Scogg]

Thank you John, I find this very interesting and exciting. 

Likewise, Bruce; It's not every day that I encounter a Japanese Military Sword that i've never heard of!

I will go home, and take some very careful measurements. If enough aspects match one of the 4 specifications of this type of sword, maybe I'll create a new thread about "Combination Swords"... If specifications do not match, I'll share those measurements here. 

Thanks again!
These are the kinds of exciting revelations that makes collecting military swords enjoyable to me 
-Sam

[Bruce Pennington]

Dawson has a couple examples of these and calls them simply Type 19 Kyu gunto.  But he may simply be describing what he physically sees. I suspect Omara has gone a little deeper and explained how and why they were created in the first place.

[Scogg]

Just finished with my measurements. 

 

On Ohmura’s site, his specification table states that the measurements are approximate. Although, I feel my sword is far enough outside the specifications to say it’s probably not a combination sword? I’d be curious to hear others interpretations.

 

I will attach the table below of the combination sword specifications. 

http://ohmura-study.net/210.html

 

The measurements of my sword:

Total without scabbard = 845mm

Total with scabbard = 875mm

Nagasa = 695mm

Motokasane = 5.5mm

Sakikasane = 3mm

Motohaba = 22mm

Sakihaba = 13.5mm

Kissaki = 23mm

 

Handle, from pommel to lip of guard = 139mm.

 

Handle, from pommel to end of quillion?/finial? = 160mm.

 

Side-by-side with the dress sword it was bundled with, it’s slightly shorter. The handle is slightly longer and larger. The engravings are slightly deeper and more detailed. The brass guard appears slightly more thick. 

I had told myself I wouldn’t get any more of these sabers after my field grade find. Funny how things change 

-Sam

 

 

[Conway S]

Nice find, Sam! It looks like the nakago on your’s should be threaded since there is no mekugi ana in the grip? Prior to seeing the link to the Ohmura page, I had also never heard of a reference to these combination swords. Here’s a Type 19 I have with a non-parade blade. I took some measurements a few days ago when I first saw your post, but I think I was a little sloppy with the caliper. I’ll have to re-measure.  

 

 

[Conway S]

Here’s the measurements of my sword:

 

Total without scabbard = 838.2mm
Kissaki with scabbard = 863.6mm
Nagasa = 680mm
Motokasane = 5.5mm
Sakikasane = 3.3mm
Motohaba = 23.2mm
Sakihaba = 16.5mm
Kissaki = 26.8mm

 

 

No stamps and mumei:

 

[Scogg]

Great example, Conway! 

It looks like the measurements of both our swords are a bit different, and also different than the combination sword example on Ohmuras site. Although, yours is a bit closer to those specs.

I believe the tang of mine is probably threaded, and I suspect it's threaded into that decorative Sakura flower at the pommel. I do not dare risk taking it apart, out of fear of damaging it.

I hope @Kantaro is OK... We haven't seen him in a while.

All the best and thank you for sharing,
-Sam

[Kantaro]

On 3/2/2026 at 7:06 PM, Scogg said:

I hope @Kantaro is OK... We haven't seen him in a while.

@Scogg 

 

Hi, thanks for thinking about me. 

 

Been in West Australia for a month, which was fun.

I only found one interesting private museum on a farm with some Japanese stuff.

Will make a topic of it.

 

I do love the sword you found! Interesting blade on it too.

Also found something similar but with a parade blade. I will post pictures soon.

 

Kind regards

 

 

[Kantaro]

@Scogg do you have a picture of the engravings on the handle? 

 

Thanks.

 

[Scogg]

Hi @Kantaro,

The engravings in question are shown above, and highlighted by Hector. The engraving is of the kanji: 大井 = Ōi or Ooi

I recently won a bid for a general grade dress sword. It is a pretty standard one, no mon or blade engravings; but it has some interesting stamps and the nice tortoise handle. Hoping to complete my collection with a Company, Field, and General grade saber. I will share photos of my three side-by-side when/if it arrives.

I don't think I will try for the Emperor grade 
-Sam
 

[Kantaro]

Sorry, I mean like this: here is a picture of my handles.

[Scogg]

Woops, my misunderstanding.

Of course, in typical fashion, it looks like I neglected to photograph one of the most important parts! (The entire backstrap).
 

I will get a better photo later today or when the general-grade arrives. 
 

For now, here’s what I’ve got. 
-Sam