Wooden Saya

[CarlosFandango]

Hello all,

 

Odd question maybe but, are you likely to see a Type 95 with a wooden saya that has a leather covering?

 

If so, should the wooden saya be numbered?

 

Kind regards,

 

Simon.

[Bruce Pennington]

Carlos, Fuller had some 95s with wooden saya. There are pics of both wooden and metal saya in leather. I've never read about the wooden saya having serial numbers, though. I'd be surprised if they did.

[CarlosFandango]

Carlos, Fuller had some 95s with wooden saya. There are pics of both wooden and metal saya in leather. I've never read about the wooden saya having serial numbers, though. I'd be surprised if they did.

Bruce,

 

Thanks as always for getting back to me and for your knowledge on the subject

 

There's one I've got my eye on that fits my description above and I was curious if I might be looking at a lemon.

 

Cheers,

 

Simon.

[b.hennick]

I have a signed hand made WWII swords where the saya is a shirasaya with leather cover regular antique tsuka etc.

Regards, Barry Hennick

[Bruce Pennington]

Here are a couple of them in Fuller & Gregory's 1987 Ed.:

[Kai-Gunto]

Here are a couple of them in Fuller & Gregory's 1987 Ed.:

They are just normal 95 with metal saya and one with leather cover.

I would not buy one with a wood saya and cover.99% a postwar put together.

[Stegel]

That particular one in F&G is actually not a complete cover over the scabbard, it is a 'sleeve' some 8-10 inches (200-250mm) long. It converts the scabbard to a double hanger 'tachi' type of mount (as in the type94 or Naval gunto)

It is not very common but a few samples have appeared over the last 10yrs or so.

 

I would tend to agree with Thomas that most type 95's with wooden scabbards are post war mods, but then again in fairness, you cant rule out 'in the field' repairs and replacements, especially in the last year of the war, i would think.

[Bruce Pennington]

The really late-war 95s came with wooden saya. I haven't personnally seen one of those with a leather cover, but I'm fairly new to this. That was obviously a personal option, so it's clearly possible. Just haven't seen that kind with cover.

[mauser99]

As far as what's been said.  I have never seen an early NCO gunto with wooden saya with combat cover.  Yes the last NCO saya's have a composite saya wood body with metal ends.    There is a NCO gunto on ebay right now with a leather cover and hanger and tassel and it looks legit.

[Shamsy]

Stegel has pretty much covered this question. There are the three wooden handle variants which have a standard wooden scabbard for 95's. Anything else is likely just an NCO slipped into a wooden field saya. That MAY have happened in the field, but unless the sword came from your own grandfather you'll never know. Being pretty consistent with gunto in terms of length and dimensions, a 95 will slip into most field saya.

 

The pictures Bruce provides are of;

 

The brass tsuba model with sleeve for extra retaining ring (which I believe is later stated to be a potential Chinese addition).

 

The crude, field made aluminum handle variant, (which I've never seen an example of) but that one could very well have had a wooden saya and combat cover.

 

The sword on ebay looked like it had a pretty loose leather cover. I admit I've not seen it bar on my tiny phone screen though. Did anyone get a good look to confirm it was tightly shrunken to the scabbard and not slipped over? The foot of the cover looked far too big for a thin 95 saya.

[mauser99]

I didn't study it all too close.  But, all his offerings were suspicious.  I did like it at first glance though.  

[CarlosFandango]

All,

 

Apologies for not responding earlier.

 

Your replies make very interesting reading and I very much appreciate the information given, thank you.

 

Unfortunately, due to pressing work commitments I was unable to pursue the sword any further, but will certainly use the information here to make an informed choice should I be presented with a similar item in the future.

 

Thanks again,

 

Simon.