robinalexander

Enjoyed reading that Adam....love your work!

Hi Jim congratulations you have a genuine Rinji Seishiki (RS) gunto. Commonly called a Type 3. The last of the officers sword 'patterns' in WW2. More info on this sword here http://ohmura-study.net/ (see Type 3) The ring on the ashi looks ok to me (?) and from the pics, the 'grain' on the kissaki (tip) looks a little more like pitting (light rust damage) than grain. Others will chime in I'm sure. Rob

Something is just not right here.

Sorry Jean C.......I agree. Unable to produce any more than I have as this is a sellers photo. The story, and unprovable conviction of the seller, just sends up a lot of red flags. On this occassion, your doubts alone are enough to make me wish I hadn't even posted this. So please any others 'translators' .... your valuable time will be better spent on others. Thanks Rob

This has got the better of me. Its either enormously very special or just chinese but I've given up guessing these types. Any idea? Rob

ditto

Yes, great covers thanks John. The seki Kai (Okada KANEYOSHI) was owned by an Ensign Maehara 14th Base Force (at least, accordingy to the surrender tag). Great pacakage on face value but unfortunately, the same has all but dissappeared in mid to lower sections of the saya and the blade has not been treated well, post war. Another loved orphan 😊 Rob

The Hiromasa is third from the left. @Stephen . A couple of sellers pics attached. I was able to pick it up due to the generosity of an astute sword mate over here. Beautifully made, solid sword with the heaviest metal saya (and cover) I have ever held.

So agree Bruce. But that is a random 'maintenance' snapshot. Initially, I just wanted one 95 ... but I read, I listened, and my first purchase turned out to be a not inexpensive Koto (mumie) in 98 mounts from the UK (good credentials, tks Bill Tagg.). Rob

Just finished some maintenence on saya covers and blades, given our recently extreme humidity here in coastal New South Wales ( thats OZ not South Wales UK 😉) Happy with my work, love this small group of my lot. Thought I would take a picture (and share view 🙂) before I turned the lights out tonight. 95's, nihonto, showato....no discrimination....love em all! As I said, no agenda ....just sharing a nice view. Rob PS....Stephen @Stephencan you pick the Hiromasa?

Now that is just 'a little bit special' Neil. For a Gunto Gendai collector it has so much going for it. Verrry nice! Do you have any mei translation that you could easily post? Also, any closer of pics of the hada and hamon would be nice. Rob

How can having your legs cut off, be passive? 😉

Ahhhh Bruce. I like the way you think.

Thanks Bruce and Kyle, Unfortunately I couldn't locate a clearer picture of document. As to why they would attach yellow tassel's....I guess it just comes down to human nature...many people just like to dress things up either for sale or just to look at. Yellow of course signifying 'courage' (Japan) would be appropriate for a sword. The red ones? .... 'good luck' for the Chinese.....who knows. Rob

Thanks David....I have a tendancy to agree although the cheap presentation in that shot probably dosnt help. Might have to run it past the tsuba guys. Its confusing why there is so much (old?) wear or shine, on the 'corners' if the tsuba and also fuchi that are directly above, and in line with, the hole (???? ana ) for the retention strap. Rob

Hi Erik, No my tsuba does not have any stamps or numbers. Like yours, mine has an oval hole which accommodates a leather retention strap. Typically due to age and use, many tend to break or rot and are missing.. Mine is gone. Interestingly, my copper fuchi (small band on end of tsuka (handle) and the rim of the tsuba are are distinctly shiny (absence of patina) in the precise position the, previously attached, leather retaining clip would have been located. But I digress. The holes in the tsuba both for the blade and the retention clip (chuso) would be made when the blade was mounted. All operationally matching. Mine never had a chuso clip attached to the tsuka nor was my saya ever designed to accommodate a locking clip. Therefore one oval hole. The small punch marks you see are to my knowledge, put there by fitters in order to minutely decrease the size of the hole (nakago-ana) so that the tsuba fits snuggly over the blade. There are lots if 'tsuba guys' on NMB far more knowledgeable than me. Try a couple of key word searches on NMB. I have no idea about authenticity or otherwise of your tsuba (or mine for that matter ) Keep asking questions Rob

Hello David, who's Tsuba are you referring to? Mine (which is shown immeadiatley above your comment), or Erik's? Not disputing, just clarifying. Rob

A clearer shot of my Tsuba shown in Bruce's first picture above....for comparison.

GIven the evolution of this topic and the interest shown... I have found Markus Sesko's book 'Tameshigiri - The History and Development of Japanese Sword Testing' a very interesting read so far. The (reasonably priced) publication has been mentioned on other threads and there are probably a thousand books on the subject out there but...just for what its worth Rob

Very interesting Bruce thanks for that detailed information. Enlightened yet again. Once again proves that everything you think you see the first time, may not be quite right

Three 'tassels' from the 'Liveauctioneers' (Price Results) website. 2 pics of each...long shot and then a close up. Clearly not your regulated IJA/IJN tassels but interesting all the same. The first two (red and brown) look very much like the current products coming out if China but its hard to discount the wear on that red one. Maybe from a Jitte or even bugle?... who knows.

No probs @Stegel. 759. Japanese Sho-Shinto-Shirasaya type sword w/original scabbard and a sarasada | eBay Rob

I came across this on Ebay-Netherlands and thought it might be worth posting. A small engraving on the nakago. The following is copied from the items description...... "The image/symbol on the tang is ENGRAVED and NOT stamped into the metal. I am told that the figure engraved into the Tang is one of the seven gods of Japan. I am told it is the "Happy Buddah" and I've also been told it is of the god "Daikoku", or "Daikokuten", one of the seven Gods of good luck/fortune-for agriculture, farmers, and wealth. I have shown this blade to several acknowledged "experts"-all of whom want the blade but none of whom would/could tell me "specifics." " Never seen anything like that myself and thought it may be better under this thread than a new one....but relocate if you wish. For interest @Bruce Pennington Rob

Folks ...... please open another thread on 'One Upmanship' and leave legitimate posts such as this alone.