lonely panet

Hi Matt, That's a fantastic Generals dress sword, a pitty that you had to part with it but we cant keep everything. The beefy blade is infact a just a very large Nichol plated blade, but its very broad compared to a type 19 cavalary sword considering the blade construction is basically the same. the logo shown from the sword is unknown to me and not recorded in any books I have so im assuming it could be a early model. just out of interest whats the going rate for a generals grade dress sword? im in the market for one and a price range would give me something to save for. regrads Hamish

pt 2

Good morning all, I know most collectors don't really like the dress sword/parade saber, and if you asked me 1 year ago I would have been in the same boat. But I picked up 1 or 2 to complete a collecting gap and I was hooked, I found that there can be some interesting variations between them. Im posting some quick pics to show the difference in size, shape, length and quality. they are 2 company grade and 2 field grade Kyu gunto. please post pics of any other your dress swords if they are interesting versions please. regards Hamish

morning all, please don't remount it, all you will have is a PUT TOGEATHER piece, and there is no shortage of those on the market. The lack of a mekugiana, point outs that the blade would be held in the tsuka by a threaded nut on the end of the nakago. this usally means the blade fitted to this koshare would have had a lot of reshaping done to the nakago. I have seen traditional blades which have and this done, and traditional nihonto collectors don't think highty of them, using the term "molested" to describe them. just my humble thoughts regards Hamish

well Im looking at the sword and not taking any notice to the story, I think its a very highly priced. does anyone agree with me? I think you could get some very nice items out of Japan for that price range. regards Hamish

Good morning all, I'm having trouble with a mei translation, Im sure its gimei because the last few characters appear to be cut a bit more sloppy compared to the rest. I'm sure its not as hard as it looks but for the life of me I cant get it and its starting to piss me off too. please can I have some help? Regards Hamish

Hello all, if any one was interested the blade was only a chromuim plated, i can take some pics if any one wishes. also i would like to point out that the 1883 model has a solid hand guard were as mine has a pireced hand gaurd simular to the 1873 to 1883 series naval sabers please look at page 238 in jim dawsons book. i wait your thoughs, also if any one knows Micheal Quigley (USA) please let me know as i would like to talk swords with him. regards Hamish

Hello all, I was looking on ebay and noticed that there was a nice type 8 for sale, at a closer look it appears to be from the book Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945. It looks like Mr Dawson is moving on some of his collection, i wish i had some spare cash right about now. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Japanese-Typ ... 1c38e29484 along with a few other nice pieces too regards Hamish

Value? who knows, i only know of a few (3) and none have changed hands in years. i might evan go as fare to say that admirals flag swords are even rarer than a generals grade dress sabers(and more costly too). somebody mentioned the blade, well its just a chromium pladed blade without a habaki. (i can take photos if anyone would like)Im lead to believe that early meji sabers were rather crude compared to the normal standard of sabers incountered from 1930s-40s. regards H

and more

pt2

Hello all, I hope you are all well and collecting madly. after asking the original question, i thought i would post some quick pics of the sword i mentioned. once again, a very large thanks to the friend who passed it on to me. It means alot when a long term collecter pass's on his beloved items to the next generation for safe keeping. regards Hamish

Thanks for the replys, how many models did they make?? i have the meji (sargents) police dirk, and it didnt look simular at all. it this a later version, due to the false hamon? regards Hamish

pt3

pt 2

Hi gents I have been unable to fully identify this dirk, it has simular points compared to the two swords listed in Fuller & Gregory second book the first is on page 132 and the second is page 204. it has a nickel plated blade and scabbard, laqured same grip with brass wire binding. Im thinking naval or civil, but there only quess's. please can you offer any ideas. regards Hamish

no photos, just a average market price is what im looking for regards Hamish

Hello all Im looking for a price guide gentlemen, i was offered a rare sword by a friend and neither of us really know what the market value is. Its a naval sword for flag rank officers (admiral rank) it appears to be a early version, leather scabbard, a shorter blade then the normal naval dress saber. condition is good, but i havnt seen or heard of one for sale or what they are fetching in todays market can anyone advise me of a price please, I was thinking about $1500 to $2000 AUD regards Hamish

Hi buddy, there were to smiths working at the "nihonto tanren kai" that went by the smith name of YASUNORI, the first one , Kajiyama Yasunori and Katoni Yasunori. the first, Kajiyama yasunori who became a member during 1933 actually was the teacher to Katoni yasunori who who was awarded the same name during 1935, once this occured kajiyama yasunori changed the shape of his nakago to prevent the two from being confused from that point onward. its abit hard to judge, because of the amonut of chalk on the nakago, and there being no pics of the whole blade but the mei looks very close the kajiyama yasunori's mei and shape of nakago is correct too. try to read the date to see what is says regards Hamish

Hello all, since moving from collecting koto pieces to military swords my collection is looking nice. 1, typ2 98 shin gunto- showato signed nagamura kiyonobu 2, shingunto with rare cast iron tsuba, blade broken, signed fukumoto kunimune 3, crew gunto, late war with weather cover for tsuka 4, type 32 cavarly saber, dated to FEB 1915 5, type 32 cavarly saber, not dated, prob 32, 36 or 36 being the last years of manufacture, black finish and with a unsharpened blade 6,type 32 nco's saber, dated 1913 with the finger loop intact 7,company grade army dress sword with company grade tassel 8, ofield grade army dress sword, with late war tassel ( never seen one with a straight blade before) 9, rare naval/patrolmans dress saber,(this sword has been used as referance in jim dawsons last book) im really happy with it so far, if im wrong with the discriptions please write as we never stop learning regards Hamish

Hi all, im still unsure about this gunto fitting regards Hamish

Hi George thanks for the quick reply, i did compare the tsuka to one of my shingunto saya's but it was actually sizeably larger, but the shape did look abit odd to me. thankyou for your advice George, not just one this subject but on all the other military subjects that i have needed advice on. the tsuka did come off a rough gunto, but the blade turned out to signed by a gassen school smith using sadakazu's name ???? the blade was polished in Japan and the sword was looked at and was said tobe signed under dai saku?? i will just keep him as a ww2 oddity regards Hamish

Hello gentlemen, i hope were all well and collecting madly, iv just been given a tsuka for a shingunto that has a kabuto gane that looks to completely handmade, and pinned to the handle using small nails. has anybody seen one like it before? regards Hamish PS if stu C from tassie is reading this please email me i have lost your number

Iv added som photos so peaple can see how this type of tassel looks on a dress saber and a crew gunto if it helps at all regards Hamish

Hi Malcolm I have had a look at what i think you were aiming at, and it appears to be the same colour. bbbuttt when i looked at the other 2 tassals i have noticed that the company grade tassal has a yellow coloured thread and the naval tassal has one end tied off with blue coloured thread. does this mean any thing? regards Hamish