Gunt Koshirae Help

[Curran]

Hi guys,

 

I've been helping and learning mostly in the Tosogu section for the last 20 years.

A while back I inherited this gunto koshirae and loved the leather condition right away---    but I have never bothered learning the terminology.

 

On a whim, I listed it in the For Sale section with some photos and very little knowledge of what I was listing.

I've received a few questions about it, and I really don't know how to answer some of them.

 

Can you guys have a look and help me learn the terminology.

What is good about it?  What is bad about it?  What is missing or married?

 

My knowledge of koshirae has a dead stop before WWII.  I'd like to learn.

NOT interested in the monetary value.   Attached should be some pics. 

[Curran]

More pics.

[Curran]

and

[ChrisW]

The kashira is called a "Kabutogane", the fuchi is the same name. Menuki are pretty standard. That tsuba appears to be a decent non-pierced mid to late war tsuba. The piece at the throat of the saya is called a kuchigane. The hanger is called a haikan; it is interesting that there's two and it appears it is tachi-slung! The metal fixture 2/3 of the way down on the scabbard is called a semegane (I think). And the end piece is called an ishizuki (similar term to what is found on a naginata's pole).

The particular pieces on this gunto appear to haave gold trim which is a nice bonus. The leather is indeed very supple still shown by the fact that you're able to remove it and put it back on! The stitching on the combat cover appears to be an optional upgrade they chose.

Afraid I can't see much of the blade to give an opinion of that, but the habaki appears to be a standard gunto habaki.

Lastly, its nice that you have the weather cover original to this blade! Most of the time, those were discarded/thrown away.

The mounts appear to be missing a sarute and rank-appropriate tassel, so can't say much there!


I own several showato/gendaito and have sold several too; as well as having several older blades in gunto mounts. The mounts for this one are in very nice condition and has a lot going for it in terms of quality too.

[Rawa]

Here we have leather saya cover for saya with kurigata. Leather saya have own hanger. 

 

 

[Rawa]

For your metal saya cover should look like this. No extra hanger on cover. Yours probably was made for traditional blade.

 

Thats why as you see on photos you have extra unused features.

[Rawa]

In this thread below you have examples of cover with kurigata

 

 

 

[Curran]

@ChrisW   and @Rawa  .    Thank you both for this.

Chris' explanations helped me on one or two things I was wonder, and Marcin's image posted will be helpful in remembering the new-to-me terminology.

 

I now understand the leather cap on the top of the saya is missing, hence the patina shift between the covered and uncovered part.

    Yes to Chris's comment on what type of sword it maybe once carried. By the tsunagi and other measurements of the inside of the saya, I suspect it was made for an older sword.

 

What?- we will probably never know.