Fittings Thread

[Scogg]

1 minute ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Found on this Shigure-militaria sale site.

 

Very nice, Bruce! I always really liked those green ito + combat cover civ guntos. 

I once had one in very similar fittings. A hirazukuri wakizashi in civ gunto fittings and leather combat cover.
Might even be the same fuchi/kashira... Unfortunately, I sold this one a while back; to prioritize another sword project.

I think I will always regret letting this one go 
-Sam

[Rawa]

Is this normal for type 98 to have all sakura flowers kinda more shiny? Also release button have sharp finish.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

I have seen buttons like that.  Not the "norm" but not uncommon.  The patina/finish on the fittings looks to be legit.  You will see variations in such things.  Various shops that made them sometimes did their own thing, plus custom work often diverted from the norms/standard.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks to @Rawa for bringing this one to us.  Found at this Jauce Auction

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Second time I've seen a tsuba with the 3-5-3 kiri, this week!  

 

Don't know the significance.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thought I would add this unique WWII tsuba, posted by @aftakas  HERE:

 

Could be a modern repro, but I don't think so.  Looks legit to me, and as such would be quite a custom job.

[Bruce Pennington]

Had to post this seppa cut from black lacquered ray skin!  I regularly hear about folks making seppa from leather, but this is a first.

[Rawa]

On 6/16/2025 at 3:25 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

Thought I would add this unique WWII tsuba, posted by @aftakas  HERE:

 

Could be a modern repro, but I don't think so.  Looks legit to me, and as such would be quite a custom job.

It's so good that you are so detail focused! I knew I saw it somewhere and after 2 months here are results.

http://ohmura-study.net/906.html

Number 3 -special order 1/1 match. [No chuso ana]

[Bruce Pennington]

24 minutes ago, Rawa said:

Number 3 -special order

Dang, good observation Marvin!

[Lareon]

Higo No Kami Kuniyasu blade one side has the typical gunto menuki but the other side has a fly, whether this was post war i have no idea.



 

[Lareon]

Leather Cord wrapped around the Saya, is old and probably of the era. 
blade inside is Kozori Hidekage, the kabutogane also has a silver decoration

 

[Rawa]

I would like to post this kabutogane with nice crest implementation. Looks like made for crest not a rework of existing 2 leaf cherry. Rest of sword had maybe interesting lacquered tsuba and a lot of damage.

[Scogg]

Thick gunto fittings with unusual kamon placement, and the mon is only on one side. With a 10mm pierced brass tsuba and two piece habaki. 
 

Blade signed Bushu ju fujiwara Kanenaga  and dated August 1660. Thanks to @Ganko’s translation in the translation section. 

 

Polish in decent condition for an “as found” sword. I can even make out the boshi and activities in the hamon. But the blade has a slight bend 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Nice find Sam, there are a few swords with this peculiar Mon placement saved in the thread below. I had thought this was a quirk of a particular sword shop but the unique hanger on your example differs from my example.
 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

14 hours ago, Scogg said:

“as found” sword.

Wow, Sam, wonder why the ito was cut away like that?  

 

Also, I've only seen maybe one other gunto with the haikan worn this much.  Guy must have worn it every day and done a lot of walking!

[Rawa]

10 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Wow, Sam, wonder why the ito was cut away like that?  

 

Also, I've only seen maybe one other gunto with the haikan worn this much.  Guy must have worn it every day and done a lot of walking!

Someone extracted one menuki. It could be menuki with crest on it. As I recall on tsuka there is only one with crest and the other is common.

[Rawa]

And here T98 example. Wakase but with replica blade I suppose.

[Scogg]

10 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Wow, Same, wonder why the ito was cut away like that?  

 

Also, I've only seen maybe one other gunto with the haikan worn this much.  Guy must have worn it every day and done a lot of walking!

 

I wonder too, but Marcin’s theory makes sense. The ito is still remarkably tight for missing that section. It does not feel delicate to hold. Like the haikan, the whole tsuka looks “well traveled”. It was apparent the tsuka had not been removed in a long time, and took some serious effort and time to release. It’s missing the saya drag, and the wooden saya is splitting. 

The chunky Haikan is what originally caught my eye. The thickness and size of all the fittings gives it a rather “large” look. Even the kabutogane is longer than I typically see. I added a little clasped hands sarute to see how it looks 

(Sword in question is on left, with the sarute)

 

[Scogg]

Thank you @PNSSHOGUN, that’s a really interesting thread. Cool to see the variety of mon placement. I knew of a couple different spots you typically see, but I had no idea it could vary that much.

 

Much appreciated,

-Sam 

Edit: just measured nagasa, ~28.2 inches (~71.6 cm)