Jump to content

Grandpa's WWII cache


mtexter

Recommended Posts

It might take a while, but that can be part of the fun of the hobby.  It took me 2 years to find all the parts that were missing on my dad's Mantetsu.  But it's worth the time and effort.  In the end, you wind up with a really good looking gunto and the pleasure of making it all happen.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/3/2020 at 1:27 PM, mtexter said:

Interesting Bruce, I might just have to look around and see if I can't find some original parts to make it whole again.  Thanks for lending your knowledge!

 

 Ebay is your friend for that job, but I suggest buying from Japanese vendors and US only. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
On 9/5/2020 at 3:28 PM, Smee78 said:

They were likely covered in cosmoline and that's why they were so protected all these years.

This is exactly right!  We didn't know the name of the substance, but this has to have been it.  I've removed it all now, but that's an important thing to know about the history of these.  Thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, mtexter said:

the history of these.

Mike,

Just noticed the worn foil label on the saya.  I have never seen one that was readable, but it is said they are of the Seki Cutlery Co. which made fittings as well as Type 95 NCO gunto. [Edited: both pictures are from the same thread and gunto]

 

Red string.jpg

Redstring2.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Dave R said:

"The red string of fate"??

Dave,

 

At first I thought you said that in jest, but the more I think about it after reading the legend and it’s meaning the more I wonder if the soldier actually was given that string by his loved one before leaving for the war, and he tied it around his saya!

 

Makes for a nice story though doesn’t it?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, IJASWORDS said:

already got a photo of this in your stamp document. 

Oooo ... but now I have a much better one!  Thanks Neil!

 

My other pictures of this made the label look like it had 5 points, whereas the silver label had 3 with rounded "cheeks."  But now I can see they are the same.  Why some are gold and others are silver ... ?  The silver one's I've seen are so worn and unreadable, maybe the "gold" is simply worn off.

 

I've swapped the photos in the Stamps doc, thanks!   Getting little odds and ends like this for 7.3, but not enough to warrant a re-publish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
  • 3 months later...
  • 1 month later...
On 7/9/2021 at 1:07 AM, MichaelSeeley said:

@mtexter I wanted to follow up on this thread. Did you ever get any photos of the actual blades or learn anything further rom these? Thanks!

So here are some links to other threads I started on the complete blades that Grandpa brought back:

Type 98 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33084-type-98-my-cousins/?tab=comments#comment-342680

Type 97 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33233-type-97/?tab=comments#comment-344312
Kuniyuki Wakizashi - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33129-kuniyuki-wakizashi/?tab=comments#comment-343294

Mumei Tanto - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33165-mumei-tanto/?tab=comments#comment-343700

There are imgur links for all but the type 98 which belongs to my cousin, so I got what I could from that.  May pay him a visit if people are interested to see more on that one.  

Cheers everyone,

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, mtexter said:

So here are some links to other threads I started on the complete blades that Grandpa brought back:

Type 98 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33084-type-98-my-cousins/?tab=comments#comment-342680

Type 97 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33233-type-97/?tab=comments#comment-344312
Kuniyuki Wakizashi - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33129-kuniyuki-wakizashi/?tab=comments#comment-343294

Mumei Tanto - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33165-mumei-tanto/?tab=comments#comment-343700

There are imgur links for all but the type 98 which belongs to my cousin, so I got what I could from that.  May pay him a visit if people are interested to see more on that one.  

Cheers everyone,

 


Thank you so much, Mike! Looking forward to perusing these :)

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...