IJASWORDS

Take your pick, all star stamped.

These also occasionally show up on Showa period swords.

A cord sarute color normally matches the color of the handle wrap Ito, both on Navy and Army. A mismatched color normally means the sarute has been added later.

Don't know if I have put this up before, but it's nice enough to see again, An ICHIMONJI MINAMOTO AMAHIDE KORE KITAERU , no date no stamps, that some officer thought enough about to spend a few extra YEN putting in nice mounts. A tan painted saya, with blue Ito handle wrap, and blackened fittings. It is possible the sarute is gold plated.

KATO JUMYO made some nice traditionally made Gendai swords. One of mine with the mei, KATO JUMYO, and probably a special order, with a poem by Rai San'Yo . Rough translation ... "Even when you are in the deepest swamp, you are obliged to your country". In '98 mounts. Nice hada and hamon.

Rob, Francois found mine in another thread. SADAKATSU certainly made some nice stuff.

Rob, I have a 1933, and that price is very close to the going rate today!

An EMURA in black Saya.

Thought I would kick off a thread on Horimono on Gunto swords in WW2 mounts. These are all by Kanetoki/Kanemichi (the same sword smith). So I would love to see others, whether Gendai or old blades remounted for war.

Tang photos are upside down. Can you invert them please, makes them easier to read, thanks.

Could someone help with this part of a MEI, which is the name of the person for which the sword was made, thanks.

So Bruce, following all the work you, Thomas, Trystan and Ohmura have done on Mantetsu, can we now assume the following .... !. Blades were manufactured by the Manchurian Railway Company, from their own puddled steel. 2. Some blades were finished at the Nanman factory in China. 3. The mune stamps were, for a better word, tracking numbers or production numbers, stamped in one or other factory in China. And the mei look all cut to a set style . 4. Finished blades were shipped to Japan for mounting, distribution and sale. This appears confirmed from orders and delivery information and documents. 5. There is NO evidence of any Mantetsu/Koa Isshin blades being made in Japan. 6. We know that during the war, blades were in short supply, and the Mantetsu/Koa Isshin solution was an "outsourcing" exercise. So the "light bulb" over the head moment for me was the realization that ALL the blades are made in China, and none in Japan! It would not surprise me either if puddled steel from the Manchurian Electric Furnace was sent to Japanese sword smiths as a substitute for the limited supply of traditional tamahagane. I have examples of Mantetsu swords with Chinese Manchurian Railway Company stamps, as well as Nanman and Dairen stamps from 1938-1944. So without being too controversial, there are actually blades that are papered MADE IN CHINA. All this being said, the Mantetsu blades were highly praised and sought after by the Japanese Officers. I would be interested in comments on the above.

I understand this is the Kiri Mon, with the Paulowinia flower motif. This is on a '94 mounted Gunto. I have seen it used for the Japanese Government. My question is, what relevance does it have for a family or clan? Or is it a Government sword.

Forgot this one.

My Kyu with a grooved blade. A papered (Shodai) YOSHICHIKA.

I still enjoy finding the small variations found on Shin Gunto. Often written about, not often seen, the "thin" sarute, on the left.

Nice KYU Gunto!

I should have added that the sword is secured by a snap tab, and uses the fairly rare pierced tsuba/seppa set.

Normally used on old blades with a wood Saya, this full leather double hanger is typical.

Every MRS sword I have owned or seen, all have a SARUTE for a tassel.

This is a rough speckled paint example, similar to the paint found on the premium Army RS Shin Gunto. Came with the original securing lanyard as well.

Had a few RS swords with Sarute. This one is original, still has traces of the "bronzing" finish used on many outfits.

So, what is there not to like about a Kai Gunto? And what is there not to like if it has a MINATAGOWA JINJA blade? Here is a January, 1943, MASANAO. A colleague recently commented that war time blades normally have a badly cut nakago, this one proves that some are cut pretty nicely.

Here is a (Kojima) KANEMICHI,1941, and Seki stamp. This is a high-grade Showato blade, which the original owner thought enough about to put it in an aluminum saya, with the rare extended drag. Thanks to Slough for the page from his book.

Have I posted this one before? No idea, but with Australia's lockdown laws, I am looking for something to do. I picked this up ages ago from a collector that didn't like the polish, his loss is my gain I guess, I LOVE it! A Hokke Saburo NOBUFUSA, no date, in my view a very good smith. It also helps being in mint mounts as well. I acknowledge the page from Slough's wonderful book.