Rai Kunizane Nanbokucho?

[Utopianarian]

Pic

[PNSSHOGUN]

All original fittings, nothing to be worried about there. The Mei does not inspire confidence at all and looks very poorly done.

[Utopianarian]

Pic

[Utopianarian]

Thank you John. You are my go to man with the Guntos… You know your stuff!! I was surprised they are real 😳

[Utopianarian]

That paper wrap under tsuka ito looks newish which made me also doubt. I’ve never seen that exposed paper look so newish and bright

[PNSSHOGUN]

1 hour ago, Utopianarian said:

Thank you John. You are my go to man with the Guntos… You know your stuff!! I was surprised they are real 😳

 

Ha! I know just enough to be dangerous.....

 

That paper is the original hishigami, most Gunto will have it. Some types of silk used on Gunto Tsuka were made from weighted silk (silk treated with metallic salts to increase their weight and luster), the problem is those salts act like little razor blades and over the decades it can make the silk fall apart if not handled with care.

[robinalexander]

2 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

All original fittings, nothing to be worried about there

John I can't (dare not 🙄) comment on the blade, but do you think the Koiguchi, Semagane and Ishizuke all look a little rough cast?