Windy

Thanks John, very interesting!

Please excuse my ignorance, re your suggestion on the maker, what kind of age is this?

The hilt was loosely fitted on the tang, with no fixings. Almost certainly a later addition to a recovered Japanese blade?

Many thanks Peter. By the way, that's the hilt, not the scabbard.

There's been some gremlins on the internet tonight, and I've somehow posted this twice. The pics are on the other one. I can't see how to delete this one.....one for the mods? Matt

Second post, so bare with! Apologies if this is in the wrong place. Whilst looking at an NCO Shin Gunto (which I've posted about separately) chap in the place shows me a couple of average looking 'Burmese blades'. However, he said one looked Japanese in origin. Which I agreed with. Long and short of it, I removed the hilt and found something surprising.....interpreting these markings is way beyond my fledgling interest, anyone able to help? The blade is 17" Cheers, Matt

Had another look today. Got a few more pics.

Well, thanks for all your help guys. I feel a lot better about this sword, and had begun to doubt its authenticity, given the number of fakes about.

Thanks for the swift replies chaps. Initially I was worried that the fuchi is painted, as I've seen elsewhere that this is a sign of a repro? Also the paint on the scabbard is in very good condition. I didn't check when I looked at it, but I think the loop swivels completely round the pommel base, again something I thought was a fake identifier? There is a small amount of play between the blade and the hilt, is this common or a problem? I've bunged a couple more pics on to look at. I like the sword, and have wanted to get one for a long time. Sadly I can't yet justify the money for a genuine ancestral type blade! Cheers Matt

Hello, I'm after a bit of help with a Shin Gunto I'm thinking of buying. I've been trawling the net researching these Shin Guntos and came upon this site. I've found a lot of useful and interesting stuff so far. I've been after an NCO Shin Gunto for a while, and can't make my mind up with this one. What say you guys? Cheers.