gun addict

Here you go Stephen, my untrained eyes says the lack of Sori puts it somewhere in Kanbun era, Osaka school maybe ?

I’ve always wanted a nice Naval kyu Gunto but ones in mint condition are so few and far in between! thankfully last week I acquired this piece. Absolutely mint Koshaire, Shinto mumei blade in good polish, 25 inches

That is wonderful work Sir! It’s especially helpful now that the city/state of Yamashiro could be identified thanks to your translation

Bruce here is the fittings, very late war and cheaply thrown together. Most likely a family blade donated or sold in the last stage of the war and put into a Gunto mount if you can call it such

Here’s an interesting Gunto in late war mount I just acquired Mei: Cho shu ju fujiwara Moriyasu Inlay: Meiji Boshin war, for leading troops in attacking the state of ??, I was awarded horse and this sword by my lord. For peace of the world, I name this sword the bright Maru, signed Lu Xiang(a Chinese courtesy name)

中佐 is a lieutenant colonel, not an LT

Feast your eyes on ...well, the sorriest genuine Gunto you’ll ever seen Last ditch. Variant 4 Gunto, there are some disputes on wether these were made for NCOs or officers , one thing for sure, this is definitely not a weapon that inspires pride or confidence to the soldier issued it was to! to be quite honest this isn’t typically what I collect , I’d rather trade this for a nice Gendaito or handmade Gunto down the road but for now. I am really marveling at how desperately utilitarian this particular sword is!

I work with a gentleman in China who imports Japanese swords. Thing is fake swords are so well done now in China collectors now refuses to buy anything that does not come with a Japanese registration paper. pm me. I will give you his WeChat info,

It’s very doubtful that this sword was the one that was brought back. This is 100% fake

That is outstanding , Semper Fi if you ever have any interest in selling it let me know. As a Former Marine who grew up in China and collects Japanese militaria, this particular dagger really intrigues me

John I did not have the wall made. The previous house owner is apparently really big into baseball memorabilia and when I saw the display in the basement I knew it would make a great sword wall!

Ive got a Gendaito Yasuhiro. A Bizen Osafune Norimitsu, a Koto Sukehiro, and the rest are unsigned Koto. Shinto or Shinshinto pieces. The kai Gunto on the far right has some traits of a Shinto Osaka school and has a perfect polish, I’m hoping to get it papered if sword shows are back by next year wish I could afford more but military pay is what it is, i have to be pretty selective on what I buy. Just picked up this Koto Bizen in a Kai Gunto from Mike Yamasaki which I’m very happy with. On that display, I am putting to full use to all the bucks I’ve shot over the years !

My Humble submission

A true psychopath and a sadistic war criminal

Interesting. Thanks!

Someone who has more money than he knows what to do with but dont want to standout "too much" I suppose.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Japanese-Army-officers-samurai-sword-antique-shin-gunto-collectible-ww2/202984117193?hash=item2f42cbd3c9:g:XU0AAOSwX2xes0Lb Nice polish, great looking koshiare, but what is going on with that "Mei"? Looks to me like the nakago is shin-shinto era, so was the "Mei" chisseled in later by as it got put into a type 98 mount?

Thank you. Am I correct on reading the other side as some kind of dedication to ..a grandson turning six?

Looks to be late Shinto/shinshinto

Here’s some shots of the blade, the seller isn’t a very good photographer

I believe Kanesumi would be 兼住 and the signature on this one is 兼佑, it helps somewhat that I can read chinese but also, often useless

No I completely understood what you meant Brian, and the mount is NOT the dark laquered saya with wine colored Tsuka-maki so I was expecting a typical showa/seki stamp. A friend of mine picked this sword up and offered it to me but I wont be in town until next week..