Battara Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 Greetings folks, Been a while since I last posted. I received a shin gunto with an unsigned blade (I'm sure machine made) and with a black lacquered says. One can see the wear at the bottom of the scabbard and it is missing a fuchi gane at a throat. Is this normal? Could this be some sort of marine piece? Any help on this piece would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. 1 Quote
ChrisW Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 Hello Jose! I noticed you're in Kentucky. Its a bit of a drive, but if you ever want to attend an Indiana Token Kai (sword club) meeting, we meet in a very central part of the state which is right off of I-69. Message me and I'll get you more details if you like. We meed the third Saturday of each month. As for your blade, the black lacquer paint, while not common, is something you see from time to time. Originally, this blade would have likely had a leather combat cover to protect the wooden saya better and to help keep the hanger in place. ~Chris 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 I think it orginally had a leather covered scabbard. Looks like a mid-war army Type 98 sword. Quote
Justin Grant Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 Here is my 98 with black lacquer saya and what remains of the leather saya cover. 1 1 Quote
Stegel Posted February 21 Report Posted February 21 Hi Jose, I have a similar piece, my first ever sword actually. It came with a Sam Browne style belt. Thought i'd share some photo's for your interest. 3 Quote
Battara Posted February 22 Author Report Posted February 22 Thank you folks. This was another possibility I forgot about - a combat leather cover. So no fuchi gane at the throat either I gather. What belonged there then? Quote
Justin Grant Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 46 minutes ago, Battara said: Thank you folks. This was another possibility I forgot about - a combat leather cover. So no fuchi gane at the throat either I gather. What belonged there then? Here is a picture of mine. Small metal band without any decoration. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 12 hours ago, Justin Grant said: 12 hours ago, Battara said: Thank you folks. This was another possibility I forgot about - a combat leather cover. So no fuchi gane at the throat either I gather. What belonged there then? Here is a picture of mine. Small metal band without any decoration Justin, Does yours have a screw to hold it on? Most of these do not seem to be attached in any permanent way. That is why most of them are missing at the time you see them. Quote
Justin Grant Posted February 22 Report Posted February 22 (edited) No, the leather that remains seems to be holding it on. The leather wraps over it very tightly. Seems this style of cover was never intended to removed , so maybe the lack of screw was by design. Edited February 22 by Justin Grant 1 Quote
Battara Posted February 23 Author Report Posted February 23 Great. Ok a leather covering ad a simple steal band. Would it improve the value if I replaced it with a new simple steal band? Quote
Justin Grant Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 Not in my opinion. It would not be original, so leave it be, or find an original one online, if lucky enough. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 If you are intending to sell it, I would think that experienced collectors would be put off if the new one looked recently made. Now, if you explained in your description that you did it to simply cover/protect the exposed wood, then it likely wouldn't hurt. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted February 23 Report Posted February 23 13 hours ago, Battara said: Great. Ok a leather covering ad a simple steal band. Would it improve the value if I replaced it with a new simple steal band? A "steal" band would not help, even not a steel band. As I wrote above, it is called KUCHI GANE (not fuchi gane), and it is made of brass. 1 Quote
Battara Posted February 28 Author Report Posted February 28 Thank you folks. I will think about making a simple brass band to stabilize the wood scabbard. I will patina it if I make one. Quote
Battara Posted March 29 Author Report Posted March 29 Well I made a simple brass band and put a simple patina on it. I did this to stabilize the scabbard. The scabbard no longer comes apart. See pics. I also realized that the blade is a nihonto mumei! Too bad it has sections of rust. 6 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 29 Report Posted March 29 And it matches the look of the haikan band. Nice job. Quote
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