Murata-to or something else?

[Lareon]

Saw this online and was avoiding it at first. It has a mon on the Koshirae which looks to be made specifically for the sword.

The blade itself is Kogerasu-Maru but one side looks blunt (if you zoom right in)

Was chatting with bruce about it potentially being Murato-to or a western repurposed blade but not seen anything super similar. Also the Nakago is mumei and shape wise unsure, couldn't find a similar nakago on the Murata pictures.

As a curio It's interesting but was wondering if anyone had any opinions on this.
 

[EdWolf]

If the Japanese reused  a foreign blade it is unlikely that they don't make use of a habaki. More likely a post war fix. Just my opinion. 

[Lareon]

47 minutes ago, EdWolf said:

If the Japanese reused  a foreign blade it is unlikely that they don't make use of a habaki. More likely a post war fix. Just my opinion. 

yeah no habaki but the koshirae seems to be made for the sword

[Kiipu]

Reminds me of the light weight Type 98.

 

There were Murata imitations as Murata himself mentioned it in an interview.  This interview can be found over Ohmura's website.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

I agree with Thomas, it looks a lot like a light weight Type 98. I own one that is similar. Just the proportions make me think it is a light weight. 

 

 

[Conway S]

If you don’t have Dawson’s Cyclopedia, here is a picture of a similar lightweight gunto featured on page 161:

 

[Lareon]

I do have Dawson's yeah. When I'm at my books I'll take a look. Cheers. For some reason didn't think to look at it!

[Lareon]

Took a look at it. It's 100% a lightweight gunto.

 

All of the fittings as described in dawsons are smaller than normal. It is very light in the hand. Feels more like a police saber in all ways. There is no edge to the blade, not even a false hamon. The fittings are of high quality and the blade is obviously plated. 

 

No habaki and seems like it was never intended to have one. The saya wouldn't fit if it did.

 

I've actually never come across one before but then again the UK market is more limited.

[Rawa]

Any measurements? Nagasa especially.

[Lareon]

I'm away for a few weeks now but when I get back I'll take photos and provide measurements of everything 

[Bruce Pennington]

3 hours ago, Lareon said:

the blade is obviously plated. 

Interesting Tony!  My light-weight gunto has a chrome plated blade as well and has a fuller, though the kissaki is standard shape.

[Lareon]

Ok, I'm back from My business trip and have had a little while to look at the sword.

measurements:

Nagasa: 78.5cm
Sori: 2cm
Nakago: 15cm

Tsuba W: 4.7cm   L:5.5cm

Fuchi: W 2cm L 3.2cm

Mon: Hiogi - cypress fan

[Lareon]

Happy to take more photos and measurements while i have it 

all fittings have a western numeric 1 stamped in 

one thing i noticed that i've not seen before is the fittings all have dimples on them with corresponding raised sections so they fit together without moving.

as described in Dawsons, everything is smaller, even the mon

[PNSSHOGUN]

Very interesting to see in detail, thank you for sharing.

[Conway S]

It’s a cool piece. I really enjoy seeing these oddities with the reduced scale fittings. Thanks for the additional pictures. 

[Lareon]

interesting as a curio for sure, seems like they didn't really follow a standard style or manufacturing process, except smaller dimensions. my curiosity on it got the better of me tbh and i ended up buying it.

[Lareon]

hard to see with the eye but with my dslr looks like the mon used to have gold on it in places

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Great sword, Tony!  Nice addition to the collection.