paul griff

Hello, Agree with Chris..Same is very “ clean”...no dust or grime between the nodules,Ito also very clean and bright but the menuki have an aged patina to them..Made up not so long ago would be my guess...On the plus side it’s handy to have in the parts bin.. Regards, Paul..

Hello, Not sure this is the right place for the post but I’m sure Brian will move it if not...! Bought the type 98 that Adam recently advertised and just to say...A superb sword that really has to be “ held “ to be appreciated...!..Adam is a gentleman to do do business with,my second sword off him now and highly recommended... Best Regards, Paul..

Hello, Interesting sword..Would be nice to see what is stamped on the blade half hidden beneath the Habaki ( picture eight on the site it is advertised on )...The offset seppa seem very well made especially with that cutout for the safety latch....! Regards, Paul..

Hello, I can understand the caution but to be honest it looks ok to me...The sword as a whole looks good with nicely fitting parts..I have a similar 95 with the steel a fuchi that stands out in much the same way ( no photo’s at the moment )... Regards, Paul...

Hello, It's a good one...Nice to find one with a good amount of original paint on the hilt...Stabilise that corrosion on the tip of the blade and you are good to go..! Regards, Paul.

Hello Chris, Well done,superb job.. Regards, Paul..

Hello, Excellent synopsis...Thank's for posting.. Regards, Paul...

Hello Ken, As above...100% fake and not worth the journey.... Regards, Paul..

Hello Chris, Very nice collection and excellent format..Your site is far better in fact than the majority of professional sites...Well done.. Regards, Paul...

Luis, You may be right...I know someone who has been buying blades from Japan including Showa period blades for years,admittedly they have modern fittings or shirasaya non have been housed in gunto mounts.....Where there is money involved nothing surprises me...! Regards, Paul...

Hello, Who knows Dave...Hand to hand means resorting to desperate measures..One thing for sure the helmet proved it's worth over soft headgear...! Regards, Paul...

Hello, Yes,well said Chris...Also,but slightly off topic.Having compared different type of gunto fittings I agree with one of your earlier posts and with reference to : 1944 pattern type 3 shin-gunto...They do indeed look and feel like a more purposeful weapon as does the end of war variations of the nco model 95 with wooden hilt...no frills,bells or whistles but does what it says on the tin.... Regards, Paul..

Hello, All of these posts actually make interesting reading ...I find my knowledge of the NCO variation greatly increasing after every bout...thank's to all...! I never really liked or appreciated the nco variants until these debates started....Just wish I'd bought them when they were relatively cheap and not so popular.. Regards, Paul...

Hello, That was one hell of a "swing" to put a dent in a combat helmet..! Regards, Paul.

Hello, Agree,it's a good one...Unusual to see a green not brown painted Ito on the hilt...! but it does look original to it... Regards, Paul

Hello Chris, Looks like a good one to me..Working from right to left...Habaki is the right colour and comes out at the right angle..Tsuba has a nice patina and the seppa behind it looks correct..Fuchi and stamps looks fine, understand your concerns but if you have Jim Dawson's Imperial swords of Japan on page 187 you will see not all of the fuchi are flush fitting,in fact,the one in your photo is very good and the stamps look correct...! Hilt has the correct brown paint and nicely worn with the correct colour to the painted same..finally that locking catch looks just right....When I get home will take some photo's of a really loose fitting fuchi on a gunto I'm about to sell so you can compare... Regards, Paul...

Hello, It's without doubt a nice quality reproduction and would make a nice display piece...Back to your original post Seth...Don't bother trying to dismantle it you will probably damage it and there is nothing of interest beneath the hilt... Regards, Paul...

Hello Chris, Nice project..Blade looks like it has nice proportions so worthy of a polish and shirasaya.. Regards, Paul...

Hello, Eric..pleasure...no problem..There are no numbers,stamps or katakana present..The nakago is nicely finished,quite tactile actually..As with many swords until you actually pick them up you cannot appreciate the skill involved in he manufacture.. Bruce..No,sword was bought as a "train wreck" and I should have taken before and after photo's...Koshirae lovely but blade was badly chipped and stained , I honestly didn't think it could have been saved but credit where it's due a skilled man resurrected it..! A few hours of uchiko and the ko-itame hada that my poor photography doesn't show will show through..! Chris...I do like it and yes,like you, I think I have restored the sword to the level it was before it left the armoury on it's journey to be used by a proud officer in the Imperial army....Actually bought it as a comparison blade to the Emura I bought from a member of the board ( waiting for some time off to put them side by side...! ) Hamfish...Ah,ah,poor Beyoncé...I take it you mean shinogi ( I think you left your white stick in the other room) ..? No offence meant,taken or inferred..! Good to raise a few pulses,back to the gin and tonic. Regards, Paul...

Hello, In the U.K have used Renaissance micro crystalline wax and Pecard leather dressing a very good U.S product.....The 200ml pot of Renaissance has lasted years on dozens of saya.. Regards, Paul..

Hello Eric, Have attached some photo's of my Nagamitsu...My poor photographic skills don't do the sword justice and my old camera doesn't help . The I-pad takes better ones but I don't know how to reduce them yet.....! If you want more just let me know... Regards, Paul..

Hello, It's a genuine nco's knot that's for certain...Looks like it could do with a bit of leather preservation before it becomes too dried out and brittle...They are becoming quite sought after and indeed enhance the sword it is attached to just like the nice example in the photograph.. Regards, Paul....

Hello. Bruce...Pictures attached of my Mantetsu dated 1942 with assembly markings of "RA" 934.... Chris....Get one,I'm sure you will be impressed by the quality of these swords....This is one of my favourites in my humble collection... Regards, Paul...

Hello, Brian,the bo-hi isn't straight...very badly cut and the kissaki is the wrong shape for a type 32...The throat of the saya is also wrong...should show a brass insert and the locating screw is off-centre...Lots of other things but I'll leave someone else chip in...Good learning example though.... Regards, Paul..

Hello, Yes,agree,has all the hallmarks of end of war island made sword with remnants of leather still attached to the hilt..The cord or rope is very typical of work done by sailors on board ship during a long voyage home... Regards, Paul..