Hizen Munetsugu with Kai-Gunto Modification

[Death-Ace]

Hey gents!

 

Here's a blade I "picked up" a month ago, and think it will be my final until things are sorted out at home and all is well here in Japan.

 

I don't really buy off the internet anymore, but got it for a very decent price from a down to Earth fellow militaria collector, mostly due to it being an older blade (although Shinto), and in converted koshirae. The blade is in decent shape, and from pics and my dad who currently has it, is in great shape, minus what is seen, although the pics make the rust look worse than it is.

 

Judging from the mei, and the generations of Munetsugu, it looks off. At least, one of the characters appears spread further apart as well. What are your opinions?

 

In any case, will have decent pics and actual measurements and such next time I go on leave and pick it up. Think it will be happy being next to the Mikasa in my apartment, haha.

[Bruce Pennington]

Lev,

 

Sorry to interject, I have nothing in answer to your questions (someone will!!!), but I'm fascinated by the tsuka. Like you say, it was re-fitted for Navy use. I find it interesting that they left the same' white. I personally haven't seen that many older blades converted for the navy, mostly army, so I don't have any background for comparison.

 

(could this even account for some of the pictures in F & G of Naval officers wearing gunto with white same'?)

Dave? Neil?

[Death-Ace]

Lev,

Sorry to interject, I have nothing in answer to your questions (someone will!!!), but I'm fascinated by the tsuka. Like you say, it was re-fitted for Navy use. I find it interesting that they left the same' white. I personally haven't seen that many older blades converted for the navy, mostly army, so I don't have any background for comparison.

(could this even account for some of the pictures in F & G of Naval officers wearing gunto with white same'?)

Dave? Neil?

Bruce,

 

Thanks for your interest! It is something that intrigues me as well. We've seen quite a few "draftees" that have had the tsuka fully replaced, but use the "original" saya and other mounts, and others that have had the tsuka's fuchi and kashira replaced. I have to say that this is honestly the only example I have seen with the naval Kai-Gunto's F/K on an original tsuka. Maybe original to the blade or a refitted different tsuka, but age looks Edo era on the ito. The remaining tosugu on the saya looks handachi/tachi in nature, unless those are also Kai-Gunto fittings. But I'll verify that when I have it in hand.

 

I have seen a few custom examples (online and one in person), that have white, undyed same on the tsuka, but like you said, the first I have seen that retains the possibly original tsuka, with naval f/k. Possibly to save time and funds, without having to create an entirely new koshirae and give it the Kai-Gunto appearance.

 

As for older blades in naval mounts, I agree. Most wakizashi and katana mounted for the IJN during the late 30s to 1945 seem to have been fully converted to Kai Gunto fittings, with quite a few retaining the older tsuba. Those in traditional koshirae having the universal one ashi and leather cover (leading to unknown servive branch providence unless picture proof and surrender tag is taken as to where it was gained); although, there seems to have been quite a few katana/tachi in original mounts with two ashi and the black dyed leather cover. It's always intriguing to see these variations and wonder what shops did it and why.

 

Regardless, I do like the blade, no hakobore that was seen. There was a fear that there was a long fukure leading into the hamon, but just a rust spot most likely where water was retained from moisture or an attempted cleaning.

 

Edit: Looking closer at the ito, it looks more likely a Showa era redo with the brown ito. If so, and the original tsuka, makes me wonder why the whole thing was not replaced? May still have been easier just retaining it as a base.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Period Tsuka but custom made for the sword, the saya would've had a leather cover with integral hangers. Old tsuka were not suitable for a combat sword, there is an account in a book by master Nakamura Taisaburo accounts of Iaido students having the tsuka crumble in their hands from Shibori using an old Edo period tsuka.

[vajo]

I love that tsuba 

[Death-Ace]

Thanks guys!

 

John, you're definitely right. Although many went to war with their owners, the tsuka would have been too fragile, either Edo or prior. Thankfully, refit solved that for those that believe they would need to use theirs in combat, especially China deployments. Or just so it wouldn't crumble, haha.

 

The saya appears to have been fitted for the ashi/hangers at one point. But that along with the koiguchi are now lost.

[Bruce Pennington]

Period Tsuka but custom made for the sword, the saya would've had a leather cover with integral hangers. Old tsuka were not suitable for a combat sword, there is an account in a book by master Nakamura Taisaburo accounts of Iaido students having the tsuka crumble in their hands from Shibori using an old Edo period tsuka.

John, then that makes the white same' even more puzzling. I have a Muromachi era blade mounted in kaigunto fittings. The ito was laquered black. But none of the fittings are old. It was a total re-fit.

 

Lev,

You'll find a much great number of nihonto experts on the Translation Assistance forum, here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/15-translation-assistance/ for your mei question.

[David Flynn]

Can't beat google here.  Just type in, Koyam Munetsugu and compare the sigs.

[Death-Ace]

Bruce, I hear you! Standard Kai-Gunto we know to have black ito. I think this was a case of just recycling the original tsuka and just refitting it. Funny story, a fellow Louisiana collector has an old Muromachi wakizashi in good polish that he had bought from a veteran. A literal barn find. They struck a deal, but before he came back for it, the old GI wanted to be nice and cleaned the entire thing, including the nakago! While indeed a friendly gesture, a sure wouldn't want to be that guy! Just like my dad's old Lee Enfield "jungle" carbine he bought mint im the early '70s, when they were cheap. He loaned to a friend a year down to road to hunt, and the guy thought it would be a surprise to have it sporterized for my dad, lol.

 

Chris, how have you been?! And I agree, the tsuba was another buting point for me.

 

David, thank you. That is where I have been doing my research along with a few pages from a book. I agree, Google is the best, haha. Just like for fellow collectors to take a whack, but I do believe after looking, it is most likely gimei. Inposted it in the translation forum, per Bruce's advise too. I just didn't want to take up too much bandwidth, haha.

[Ed]

Lev, I remember that story  , though it is a katana not wakizashi (24.375" nagasa).

[Death-Ace]

Lev, I remember that story , though it is a katana not wakizashi (24.375" nagasa).

Haha, apologies, Ed! Hope you didn't mind me posting it! I got details mixed since the last time we met!

 

A retired Marine buddy of mine who was SF in Vietnam told me some horror stories. Lived in Japan as a kid and teen due to his dad being stationed there in the '50s and actually got hands on knowldege then. Apparently his buddy had a really nice blade he bought from a vet in NC back in the 80s, and supposedly had a line to a Japanese buyer. Unfortunately his bud thought the best thing to do to make it look better was polish out a pit...leading to what he said looked more like a well by the time he was done and negated the deal.

[Ed]

No worries.  I was just glad that all the vet did was clean the nakago with a little naval jelly.  Fortunately, he didn't take a grinder or sandpaper to it. 

 

He actually gave the sword to me and thought he was doing me a favor by cleaning it, so what could I say, other than thank you.

I rushed home and neutralized the nakago with a baking soda wash, as that naval jelly contains muriatic acid.

 

BTW: I suspect your sword is gimei.

[Dave R]

 There is a a "sort of legend" that when you have a sword with mixed style Army/Navy fittings, that it was for the Naval Landing Force! Like I say, a sort of legend that has turned up on other Gunto threads and forums.

 

 My bet would be that there were issues with lacquering the Same, it is a time consuming process and involves special skills and is preferably done at certain times of the year only. Pressure of time (and money) probably accounts for most of the oddities we see on Gunto.