Help identifying Sword (Shin Guntō?)

[Bloodaxe924]

I’m very new at sword collecting and this is my first sword. It was given to me by a relative who was on Midway island right before the US dropped the bombs on Japan. He was fortunate to have never seen action and the story is he traded a pack of cigarettes for this sword at the base he was stationed at. I guess I just mainly want to share the sword and see if anyone has insights. From what I gathered from the interwebs it is an earlier model aluminum hilt made at the Suya Sho Ten company in Tokyo for the navy. I have yet to see one with a black scabbard but the serial numbers match on the blade and scabbard. I know that the Kai-Gunto sometimes had a black lacquered scabbard but this is clearly the 95 type. TIA!

[Scogg]

Hi Shaun, much of what you gathered is correct

 

You have a very nice Pattern 2, Type 95 NCO Shin Gunto. From Suya Shoten Co at Tokyo First Arsenal. Nice early serial number. These are often called NCO Gunto for non commissioned officers, and are not associated with the navy, as far as I know. 

The black paint is less common, but not unheard of. Whether yours is wartime or later, hard to say. I can say that I’ve seen several with black painted scabbards, and it’s a nice look. 

Cool sword and thanks for sharing!

It’s definitely genuine, incase you had any doubt. 
All the best,

-Sam 

 

[robinalexander]

Hi Shaun, 

 

Yep as Sam said.

 

These were only Army (IJA) and one day we might be lucky enough to find out why a few saya's were painted black.  IMO that is a wartime/period touch up.

 

You may be aware that the tsuka (hand) was originally painted brown and that has all gone now but thats also not uncommon. 

 

Matching numbers is very good.

 

These Type 95's were issued to NCO's wheras Officerx had to buy or provide their own.

 

Importantly nothing to be gained by pulling the tsuka off to look at the nakago.......unlike the officers swords (Types 94,97 and 98's etc) there is nothing to see under this one. You only run the risk of things not going back together as tightly.

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Full discussion of the black painting, but the guys above have already summarized what we know

 

[Bloodaxe924]

2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Full discussion of the black painting, but the guys above have already summarized what we know

 

If it helps the debate about originality or whether the black painted saya is a war time alteration, I know that this sword has been kept in a trunk buried deep inside a (very hoarded) basement since my relative came back from the war. So I’m 99% sure that he did not paint it himself and that this is the way it was when he acquired it in 1945. Also, after looking closely at the saya, there are some worn down spots where it looks like there is a brownish/green paint underneath. The top of the saya where the serial number is located has drippings from the paint job that made it difficult to see the serial number. It’s hard to get a picture of the number but in person you can see the serial does match the blade. Does the black saya affect the value of the sword?

[Scogg]

3 hours ago, Bloodaxe924 said:

Does the black saya affect the value of the sword?

I doubt it will affect the price much. Personally, as someone who researches these swords, it adds a level of interest for me. Although it detracts from "factory mint condition" status (but very few 95's meet that criteria anyway.).  They are factory made blades that appeal to the militaria collectors, so some "wear and tear" is acceptable, and sometimes that even adds to the romance/allure of the sword itself. 

 

These Type 95 Gunto are usually dinged up a bit, and often altered - so it's pretty normal to see some funky paint schemes; and at least the black paint is believed to have wartime origin.

I've seen a Type 95 spray painted entirely pink (post war obviously), so take that as you will .

Below is a photo of a couple of my beloved Type 95 Gunto. You can see the one with the string wrapped saya. An example of some of the customization/alterations found on these. I can’t tell if my string is wartime or not, but I think it makes it stand apart - like the black painted saya does on your sword. 
All the best,
-Sam