Can You Id This Gunto Blade

[bchboy1206]

I am interested in purchasing this but would like to find out more about it. He gave the name of a maker but I cannot make the connection with the name but it doesn't have the same characters. Any help would be appreciated before I drop a bunch of money on this!!!

 

Thanks in Advance

Jim

 

 

 

[Brian]

I wouldn't drop a bunch of money on it. That kind of "chippy" signature is seldom a sign of good quality. I suspect this is a WW2 Showato..arsenal blade.

[Stephen]

+1

[drdata]

The first pic makes the nagako (tang) seems a bit wonky. Brian's good avice applies that much more if its been altered in anyway. Are there any stamps on the nakago?

 

Regards

[bchboy1206]

The first pic makes the nagako (tang) seems a bit wonky. Brian's good avice applies that much more if its been altered in anyway. Are there any stamps on the nakago?

 

Regards

I don't see any other markings on the nakago, You all may have saved me some money again!!!

 

What would you say the value of a sword like that be?  

[reeder]

Dated Showa 19 & signed kanesada.

[Dave R]

 It all depends on what you are looking for, does it not. Militaria and Nihonto are judged by different criteria. I have seen some very shabby Gunto and even NCO swords go for over $800 and Hanwei does a replica at over $1,000.

[MAXBLISS888]

Expensive part is the polishing...

[mauser99]

run of the mill officer swords In standard type98 mounting are selling in the 7-1300 usd range at the moment on any given day. 

If the sword is complete and you are buying in that range I don't think you are overpaying because that's what they cost.

 

 

I agree what was said about the kanji as that looks like  every late 44/45 dated tang Ive seen.

[bchboy1206]

I think I may get it, it looks good and in my price range! I can always look for better ones as I learn more and the wallet allows!

 

 

Thanks again for all the valuable knowledge!!!!

Jim

[SteveM]

I'm wondering about "Kanesada". There is only one Kanesada in the Showato database, and that is 兼定, so that would suggest this sword is either from a Kanesada that isn't in the database, or that the name is different. I think Brandon is thinking of 兼貞, but I couldn't find this smith in the database, and the kanji on the sword looks like a very distant cousin to 貞, so...it makes me wonder. 

 

The second character in the mei hints (albeit poorly) at 高 which was my first guess, but the 兼高 signatures in the database don't really look like this mei either. Not to mention the 兼 in the Kanetakas of the database don't look like the 兼 in this sword. Its a puzzle. 

 

I'm not ready to completely write-off 兼貞 or 兼高, but I also don't have great confidence in either of them.  

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/index.htm