Gunto with long Chounsai Emura mei

[Pav]

Charlesf, I think its the same sword listed twice on the same website under two different prices which doesn’t bother a seller apparently. If you use google you can find exactly the same sword from that seller but on different selling platform, with asking price nearly 3k🤷🏻

[Rawa]

If you speaking about one with niji mei in T98 it's same sword. Nakago jiri same as majority posted here already.

[Sam Smith]

9 hours ago, charlesf said:

Sam,

         There are Emura blades 'out there',I know of two in an English antique shop in poor condition and grossly over priced (I think one of Pav's photos is one of them).

I think your estimate of 'several thousand' blades is a bit strong considering that the personnel involved were not trained sword smiths having served an apprenticeship but inmates schooled by an amateur sword smith.

Although the forge was state sponsored that would not guarantee an endless flow of raw material,the economy was on a war footing so there must have been restrictions on supply,priority (who got first call) and transport.

I also read that Emura-san was responsible for all yaki-ire,which I presume means from applying the clay to quenching the blade,all very time consuming and would limit output,the Yasukuni smiths produced just over 8,000 swords from 1933-1945 and while it's wrong to draw a direct comparison it gives at least some idea of sword production.

Emura-to were produced with power hammers apparently,which would be quicker than hand forging but still a lengthy process.

I am a big Emura fan,I think they show 'character' as opposed to many RJT blades that can look a bit bland and those that I own and have owned have all been good in the hand,well built and designed for combat.

Keep the Emura faith!

 

charles.

Dear Charles,

 

I once had the chance to examine an Emura blade and, like you, found it to be a thoroughly practical, combat-ready piece.

 

Mr. Omura’s article contains an obvious contradiction: on the one hand he describes a large-scale, mechanised shop, while on the other he insists that Emura-san personally performed every yaki-ire. If the machine totals and manpower figures are accurate, the warden would have had no time left for prison administration—he would have spent every minute quenching blades (•_•). My guess is that he must have trained a small group of inmates to handle at least part of the heat-treatment; the report is probably not as literal as it sounds. (I don’t doubt the existence of the hammers—East-Asian penal institutions have long used similar labour schemes, and a state-sponsored workshop could certainly obtain both machines and men far more easily than it could obtain one warden doing every single quench.)

 

All of the above is only my own speculation and rambling, of course; I hope it doesn’t spoil your mood. Like you, I’m still hoping for hard figures and solid documentation.

 

Best regards,

 

Sam

[Pav]

@Rawa check this

 

https://www.militariazone.com/swords/Japanese-2ww-officers-army-sword/itm87292

https://www.militariazone.com/swords/Japanese-army-officers-2ww-sword/itm86029

 

and that 

 

https://www.antiquestobuy.co.uk/listings/katana/

Isn’t it the same piece? 

[Rawa]

44 minutes ago, Pav said:

@Rawa check this

 

https://www.militariazone.com/swords/Japanese-2ww-officers-army-sword/itm87292

https://www.militariazone.com/swords/Japanese-army-officers-2ww-sword/itm86029

 

and that 

 

https://www.antiquestobuy.co.uk/listings/katana/

Isn’t it the same piece? 

Yes I was mentioning it exactly. Look on scratches near end of nakago. Compare 1 and 3 and 2 and 3. Inflation hits hard out there 

Edited Friday at 07:27 AM by Rawa

[charlesf]

4 hours ago, Pav said:

Charlesf, I think its the same sword listed twice on the same website under two different prices which doesn’t bother a seller apparently. If you use google you can find exactly the same sword from that seller but on different selling platform, with asking price nearly 3k🤷🏻

Thanks Pav,

                    Yes,I got quite excited at finding another Emura . . . . . . until I saw the price.

The seller did have two,one mounted and the other a bare blade,this would be a couple of years ago,both blades in poor condition with lots of pitting,I did email him for his best price,he replied "Make an offer ....".

I thought he might be offended by £300 so didn't respond . . . .

Like the No. 10 bus,there'll be another come along shortly!

regards,

             charles.

[charlesf]

3 hours ago, Sam Smith said:

Dear Charles,

 

I once had the chance to examine an Emura blade and, like you, found it to be a thoroughly practical, combat-ready piece.

 

Mr. Omura’s article contains an obvious contradiction: on the one hand he describes a large-scale, mechanised shop, while on the other he insists that Emura-san personally performed every yaki-ire. If the machine totals and manpower figures are accurate, the warden would have had no time left for prison administration—he would have spent every minute quenching blades (•_•). My guess is that he must have trained a small group of inmates to handle at least part of the heat-treatment; the report is probably not as literal as it sounds. (I don’t doubt the existence of the hammers—East-Asian penal institutions have long used similar labour schemes, and a state-sponsored workshop could certainly obtain both machines and men far more easily than it could obtain one warden doing every single quench.)

 

All of the above is only my own speculation and rambling, of course; I hope it doesn’t spoil your mood. Like you, I’m still hoping for hard figures and solid documentation.

 

Best regards,

 

Sam

Dear Sam,

                 You won't spoil my mood!

I thoroughly enjoy the discussion and interaction on this thread and your input is most valuable,it's always good to have a different perspective on the issue.

Thanks and kind regards,

                                          charles.

[charlesf]

Here's a nice one from Ikedaart,doesn't say how much it sold for but interestingly is signed katana mei,also shows the Emura elongated kissaki whicj I think makes them look sharper and more elegant.

 

charles.

[Rawa]

5 hours ago, charlesf said:

Here's a nice one from Ikedaart,doesn't say how much it sold for but interestingly is signed katana mei,also shows the Emura elongated kissaki whicj I think makes them look sharper and more elegant.

 

charles.

It had any mountings? Looks like T3 candidate.

[charlesf]

Repurposed for iaido,you're probably correct about it being for a Type 3 although I have seen Type 98's with blades drilled with two holes.

 

charles.