ChrisW

That gunto that Dan posted is definitely spurious.. look how shiny the paint is on the tsuka! And how brushed that grease looks. Its pretty obvious someone is trying to make it look "arsenal fresh". I've owned arsenal-released weapons and that is the exact look they're trying to give off. Cosmolene is a real pain in the butt to clean off a mosin, I'll tell you that! But grease does NOT look brushed on like that on a gunto. The seller doesn't appear to be in the business of selling fakes, it looks like they're either trying to sell what they think is real or trying to pass the buck as it were.

That's one heck of a way to display... albeit upside down. I just hope that the screw didn't scratch up the patina.

That nakago is definitely strange.. there's almost a washer-like ring on the first mekugi-ana, as if done by a modern machine and the patina seems a bit off.

Essentially a fukure is a forging flaw that occurs during the smithing process. It is where the metal did not weld together under the proper temperature due to lack of heat or a carbon/mineral impurity. It then opens up under polishing or if its sufficiently close to the surface. Normally fukure are not considered a fatal flaw unless it is substantial (runs deep/long) Yours is not likely to be fatal, but it is an aesthetic flaw which is the likely reason that the smith chose to not sign it (especially considering it is smack in the middle of where their signature would go). They were willing to sell it, but not destroy it. After all, any blade represents a lot of man hours and effort.

That's one heck of a fukure in the nakago. Definitely the reason it didn't get signed.

I think its exactly what Surfson says.. that threading at the bottom of the tang is a strong indication of a more western style of mounting, with the threading being used to keep the grip assembly on. Probably Kyu Gunto style mounts for an older blade. A real shame, but its historic militaria so if you collect militaria, this is a pretty interesting find. Another theory: bought by a European and mounted in European grips. The nihonto was well-known by the west as a quality sword, wakizashi being especially popular.

Laughable price.

Yup.. a very shady put-together job. Makes me cringe to think what that blade would have been worth were it not grinded down to fit.

That's a tall order to fill as each saya fits its katana like a glove. You'd do better to have one made for it.

Komonjo as a seller does have some legitimate items... and also some super spurious fakes. Buyer beware. I think he probably buys from several sources and mixes in real with fake to fool people who are into the idea of being a 'loyal buyer'.

Potential is always there, no matter how ugly.

Bruce, our man! If anyone was an expert on gunto. That guy would be him. I'd ask Bruce any questions you have on guntos.

Hey Andrei! You're look new-ish to NMB. Welcome! Be sure to put your name or how you want to be addressed in your signature! (its in settings) Also, you should start a new thread for your own blade! Be sure to include full photos of the blade, nakago, and close-ups of any mei and the hamon. As for Josh's blade, the file marks were done by hand I presume so there will be some variance in how they're done. I imagine its possible to trace style of file marks on a gunto to a particular smith or region of manufacture even! However, I am not even close to being an expert on this. I don't see anything that jumps out as a red flag to me, it looks like you have a decent quality gunto in original mounts. Everything looks in pretty decent shape and the only thing missing is the sarute ( sword knot loop) and the sword knot itself (which is decorative anyways).

^ What Steve says, I've seen some sellers who are clearly from China with blades that are modern high-quality reproductions/fakes. eBay can be a real shark's cove when it comes to deceiving a buyer, the old adage "buyer beware" has never been more true!

This is a pretty common thing for naginata, which this looks very much liked one.

The patination also supports the idea that this is a gunto.

Steven, I think he means they are sold without either koshirae or shirasaya and he is curious as to why. My opinion on some of them on eBay seems super spurious, especially when there is no habaki present. That to me is a huge red flag. But its fairly common for a blade to be without either... as long as it has its habaki, its more credible in my book. My theory is that many that lack either are just stacked somewhere in a shop's backroom because the original was too damaged to be saved and was discarded.

Oof.. that price, no kidding.

Welcome to the NMB! Make sure to put your name in your signature so that other members can properly address you! Also, just my opinion, but the Ito doesn't particularly look like silk, more like cotton so I think its been assembled from parts. But I am just a novice myself! I do know the experts will want to see the whole blade without its fittings, in particular the nakago (the tang!) So much can be told from the pattern of the hamon and the shape/patination of the nakago.

Its a gunto (WWII sword, likely non-traditional make) with surrender tags. I am sure other members will easily be able to translate them for you. Its in pretty rough shape overall.

Ah, yeah.. that fukure in the mune would have me spooked too because its more of a scar: one doesn't know how deep into the metal it might go. Usually fukure are not a fatal flaw, unless they are substantial or go into the hardened steel. On the other hand, you guys are right, that's a pretty aesthetically displeasing flaw which brings down the overall appearance. Its unlikely that polishing it would remove it, it'd remove more steel that I'd be comfortable with.

I would say more pictures of the overall blade are required as well as pictures of the habaki and a closeup of the kissaki. I am just a novice, but I think that's what the resident experts will ask of you.

That forging flaw is called a fukure (carbon blister/pocket) and unless its deep/in the hamon is not usually fatal I think. Its all dependent on what you feel makes it not worth holding onto I suppose. Biggest lesson you can take away from this is that always before buying, if you cannot hold it in your hands first, you need to see every last millimeter in detailed, non-blurry photos from tip to tang, with and without habaki.

Welcome to the NMB! Everyone has to start somewhere. My first blade was a gunto (which I still need to show here). I don't think its particularly a special one (mine), but everyone's first blade is special to them! You live in Florida so that salty sea/tropical air is a concern, get some Choji Oil asap!

The man is a bit of a legend. I'll have to grab a couple of my hard-to-read wakis and see if I can give him a challenge!