Andrew S

I seem to recall some 20+ years ago seeing the same sword in the Atsuta Shrine. I think there was some information about such swords being used by pairs or teams of three of unmounted soldiers to take out cavalry. (Of course, my Japanese wasn't as good then, and it was a long time ago.)

The legible writing on the scabbard is part of an address 山口県深川町,and it is likely that the largely obliterated writing is the remainder of the address or the owner's name.

Thanks for all your replies. I can sleep with a clear conscience - the owner was polishing the blades himself!

Thanks for the quick reply!

This is my first post here - I was recommended this site on another forum. Anyway, an aquaintaince in Australia was showing me his collection of millitaria, which included 3 Japanese swords. Even I could tell that two of them were gunto by the blade and fittings. The third seemed a little different. I'm guessing that it is a gunto too, but here are some pictures I took, hoping someone could confirm (or even better, deny!) my suspicions. At the time I took this, I wasn't aware that gunto had tang marks. On closer inspection the tang marks seem to be machine cut, and that mark by the menuki looks like a stamp. Any information would be appreciated.