Johnny Barracuda

Hello again Hamish, I am interested in the sword you have. An additional question: is it a regular type 19 army kyu gunto (I have one already) or is it a type 19 cavalry officer gunto? Cheers Thibault

Thanks for your quick answer. The pictures and price will define the intensity of my interest!

Thanks for the information. It is rare indeed but fitted with a chrome-plated parade blade. I am looking for a Tpe 19 with a real blade and assembled with a menuki, like on the attached picture.

Hello, I just noticed this Type 25 NCO cavalry sword on eBay. It is an uncommon sword and I do not have my referrence material on hand at the moment so I have no opinion on its authenticity, I just wanted to signal it for anyone looking for such a sword. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-NCO-saber-WWII-Rare-/181681325424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a4d0d0570 Personally, I am looking for a Type 19 cavalry officer sword (either company or field grade). If anyone has one for sale or know someone who does, I would be interested.

Thomas, this is a fantastic collection! I am intrigued by the largest kyu gunto (magnificent, by the way). The saya is covered with rayskin same. Is it a late production just predating the introduction of the kai gunto? To my knowledge the Meiji and Taisho era produced Navy kyu gunto have saya covered either with black leather or with black or brown lacquered sharkskin same. Mine, which was made during the Taisho era, has a saya which is covered with brown lacquered sharkskin same.

Hello, An addition to previous answers by other board members: the Kyu Gunto was used during the Sino-Japanese war, the Japanese invasion of Taiwan, the Boxer Rebellion, the Russo-Japanese war, the annexation of Korea, WW1, the anti-communist fight in Russia, then up to 1934 for the Army versions and 1937 for the Navy version (even longer for some officers decided to keep the Kyu Gunto after the introduction of the Shin and Kai Gunto). The Kyu Gunto was actually used far longer than the Shin and Kai Gunto! I concur with Thomas, the Navy 1883 Kyu Gunto is a splendid weapon, both extremely elegant and combat oriented, to my opinion probably the most beautiful modern military sword. It is also, to my experience, rather rare and expensive when found in great shape. If I remember correctly the Meiji Navy regulations, officers had to have a dirk but were not obliged to purchase an actual sword, they could own only the parade sabre, which was a lot cheaper. Only the Special Naval Landing Forces had to be equipped with actual swords, and photos show that some officers were granted Army Kyu Gunto because the Naval ones were in short supply.

Old site, but rare pictures. Thank you so much. The broken blades broke my heart. By the way, given what I know of weapon control law in Japan, I am always surprised to find on eBay gunto for sale, with arsenal blades, with sellers pretending to sell from Japan. Wouldn't these Swords be illegal in Japan? When I stayed in Japan, at various flea markets, I noticed genuine shin gunto, with arsenal blades, for sale openly. Therefore, I am wondering whether the law has changed in Japan. That would be a good idea, because gunto are of the same historic (I am, of course, not saying artistic) value as nihonto.

Thank you Jean, very sunny, indeed!

Hello, My name is Thibault and I am from Paris. Another Frenchman on the board! Some members of my family started collecting Japanese antiques as soon as the 19th century, but my personal collection is more modest: a few Hiroshige woodblock printings, bronze and brass small objects and three swords: - A Hozon paper mumei (Shimada school) Katana in koshirae, dating from the end of the 16th century; - An Army kyu gunto from the Russo-Japanese war, company level, with golden sword knot; - A Navy kyu gunto with a Naohiro Taisho mei stamp, with sword knot. I like nihonto and have a lot to learn on the subject! I also particularly appreciate Meiji / Taisho gunto, because I think these are weapons which are both very elegant and ruthlessly efficient. On the other hand, I am less interested in WWII swords. Cheers, Thibault