Fake Shin Gunto?

[FletchSan]

Hi All,

 

Pretty sure this is a chinese fake listed on Ebay though don't think the seller would be aware based on the description & reputation.

Koshirae looks okay to me though nagako is very odd?

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WW2-Japanese-SWORD-with-framed-silk-SURRENDER-TAG-Major-Takihara-/141974614540?hash=item210e58b20c:g:p8oAAOSwiYFXIcld

 

Ben

[SteveM]

Doesn't look particularly strange to me. A few of the transliterations of the tag are wrong: should be Takehara (and I'm not quite sure if he was a Major or not. Maybe Chief Warrant Officer? 兵曹長?). Can't find any reference for this Matsumoto Platoon either. But the sword itself and the fittings look OK. 

[Stephen]

looks like a NCO blade put into Gunto mounts

[FletchSan]

Ah okay - not too familiar with NCO blades. The nagako yasurimei and mei threw me.

[Stephen]

agreed Ben, strange to see a machine made blade finished, must be more to it.

[FletchSan]

Yes - i would have thought that the sword is fake based on the nagako and flat mune and missing serial number and the Tsuka and maybe the Tsuba are original. The saya looks off to me as well - maybe aged?

I swear I see the letter R at the top of the nagako as well

[SteveM]

They are random kanji numbers stamped on to the nakago: 6, 3, something, 5.  The "something" may have been a 4 that has had another kanji stamped over it. 

[Kai-Gunto]

Dosnt look fake to me.

[FletchSan]

Okay cool - is it unusual to have no serial # on the blade for an NCO sword and stamped numbers on the nagako? Also the patina on the nagako is a lot darker than I would have thought, most showato I've seen anyway have a much more subtle patina - though as I said not really familiar with NCO swords. Thanks all.

[Stephen]

Seppa suggest a put together, not the norm Shingunto for sure.  

[Kai-Gunto]

Seppa suggest a put together, not the norm Shingunto for sure.

 

I cant see it?

[Stephen]

I thought the one by the habaki was off, i may be wrong

[brannow]

Its not fake.  Its an early arsenal blade.  These are always in high quality fittings.