Leather combat covers

[EdWolf]

1 hour ago, vajo said:

I have only one sword with leather cover (i think).

Kanbun Norisada in gunto mounts.

 

Hi Chris, beautiful sword. Is the tassel made of leather or is it just my bad eyes?

[vajo]

Hi Ed. Its a leather one. It was on the sword so i let it there. I don't know if it was original on it or only decoration but the leather looks old.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Remnants of a leather cover on a good early sword from the Battle of Wewak in 1945. Regrettably the leather covers, tassels, and hanger were lost before it came to me.  

 

 

[vajo]

What blade is that John?

[PNSSHOGUN]

Blade is 1st Generation Chounsai Tsunatoshi. It has some remarkable provenance which will be saved for a comprehensive article in the not too distant future. 

[vajo]

Beautiful flamboyant hamon. 

[Nicholas]

Leather combat cover off of a Nidai Minamoto Yoshichika.

[Nicholas]

[Bruce Pennington]

Wow, 2 of the fold-over flaps in one day!  I also like the metal drag protector.  Seen that once before, but rare.

[Bruce Pennington]

I thought this was an interesting variation.  They put a, for lack of a better term, reinforcement band past the haikan.  Found on this Wehrmact-awards thread.

 

[EdWolf]

Bruce, the reinforcement band is an interesting addition. Thanks for sharing. 

[dwmc]

Thought I would add these combat covers mainly just for the heck of it with a couple of "Been There" examples, and also a late war pig skin cover.

The upper and lower covers are obviously well used with the upper showing wear as to one can only imagine to where it was worn during the war. The lower cover is in the worst condition, however it apparently did its job as the saya is in overall great condition. It is the original to the sword cover as it was sewn on the saya when it came into my possession yet it became so fragile I eventually removed it.

The middle sword very nice Shinto era sword with what appears to be a very supple pig skin cover and almost a tin toy type buckle. It shows practically no wear and almost has to be a late war lack of traditional material situation.

[Lareon]

I've got a few In good condition.

 

Also have 4 on their own that I picked up at an arms fair

 

 

[EdWolf]

The latest addition to my collection. Old blade, civil tsuba and an inscription by a soldier of the RAF Regiment on the leather combat cover. G.J. Southard RAFR Malaya 1945.

[Bruce Pennington]

Nice one, Ed!  All brown Gunzoku tassel.

[EdWolf]

@Bruce Pennington Hi Bruce,

I've been trying to find more information about the RAF soldier. I can only find one G.J. Southard, but without access to his service records, I don't know if this is the right person.

Regards, Ed

 

[Rawa]

Usally I don't grab small arms koshirae but this tiny piece looks like custom order blackened one. Tsuba is in bad shape but haikan was a sell.  rubber addon. Maybe saya would be metal.

[PNSSHOGUN]

This has been crudely assembled from parts and the Saya chopped down, not an original example. 

[Rawa]

So I bought cheap parts  will post here when it arrives. Tsuka is short. Maybe it have ishizuki.

[Bruce Pennington]

8 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

This has been crudely assembled from parts and the Saya chopped down, not an original example. 

John,

The leather seems to be custom fit for the saya.  How would it have been cut down?

[Rawa]

Below haikan aniki @Bruce Pennington and rubber was added on cut. I want to look closer on tsuba. Was its mimi grinded?

[Trenchnut]

@Rawa the tell tale is the lower end of the saya. no matching material of colour and NOT sewed to. I fear John is right...

 

By the way, my two cents to the subject.

[Rawa]

At the end of saya is rubber! Dunno what I will find under. I know how entire leather should look.

[Ian B3HR2UH]

This one has the owners details written on it Ogawa group Army Captain Amano Kojiro

[Navy]

My humble addition to this topic.

Long wakizashi (57 cm) in wooden saya, leather covered, brass koiguchi.

Notice the peculiar style of press studs. 

[Lareon]

a couple of years ago I purchased from the estate of a collector a bag full of parts.

It contained some interesting items, a tsuka wrapped in a cloth, some seppa, fuchi kabutogane etc was supposed to be a bag of unused parts not reclaimed from items but collected post war.
all of the parts were pristine and brand new

a few items that came with it too were leather gunto covers i've sold a couple of them since but i still have a couple

my photos here are of two covers, one is full but with an original patch of leather in the middle fixing a break, potentially battlefield fix

the second is a complete leather part that hasn't been finished by the workshop, no end cap and no stitching marks of a removed one

I've kept them smooth and supple with leather wax and basalm and they are pretty nice

 

[WillFalstaff]

 

Wow! I haven't posted since August 2023.

Here's my one and only gunto, with leather combat cover. I picked it up, with the horrendous condition blade, for a mere pittance.

 

Question: How does one care for the leather. It's in great condition and I want to keep it that way.   

 

 

[WillFalstaff]

[WillFalstaff]

[EdWolf]

@WillFalstaff You can use leather wax. I use a thin coat of petroleum jelly. Cheap and gives a good result. Used it for more than 40 years to preserve leather liners of German helmets.