Scogg

Probably not relevant to what you're looking for, BUT Early Type 95 shin-gunto tsuba were 11mm thick! Later they shrunk them down to 9mm. So even up to the late 1930's, very thick tsuba were being made and used en masse. -Sam

If such a scenario arrises, In a comment you can tag me using the @ symbol, and then selecting my username from the dropdown menu. That gives me a notification, and I can address your needs sooner. I am always happy to assist if it adheres to the forum rules. Like Brian has said above, the delete function can be abused; so this is the best way available. All that being said, the Izakaya is an island, and only Brian can moderate that section. All the best, -Sam

My first thought was a Meiji period “battle flag” pole. I’m not sure the Japanese name for one. I once saw one for sale at a militaria show that had a kirimon brass ball on the end, and 3 legs to mount/plant into the ground. Two of those three legs looked similar to that inverted U shape. Been spending the last couple days looking for an example online with no luck; so I think all the opinions above are probably closer to the mark. -Sam

Here we go again Locking the thread due to all the off topic arguing. All my mod decisions are reversible; and I always defer to Brians better judgement. @Brian will have to review and decide what to do with this one. It's late in his timezone, so ya'll will have to wait. For now, I see no reason to allow this to continue. -Sam

Wise words. I collect and study Nihonto. It's slow and deliberate, and for me, the progress comes at a snails pace. My budget keeps me grounded. I seek out quality swords that I will never afford at shows and museums; while collecting those "lesser" Nihonto that offer something meaningful to me. I enjoy treasure hunting; but treasure hunting to me is simply finding something in the wild, that I like for my collection (even that is rare these days). I'm under no illusions that I'll come upon some lost Masamune I also collect militaria swords for the quicker gratification. They're easier to study, with clear origins and purposes; which makes learning about them more immediate. I enjoy cataloging, and learning about various conflicts and manufacture methods. Both offer different and gratifying paths, that need not intertwine. Just knowing what you have without conflating or lying to yourself; is an important lesson. -Sam Is sword collecting over? Certainly not for me!

A little hard to see, so below are my theories: There's a stamp in @Bruce Pennington stamps document called "Kami", that looks very similar, although in the document it's inside a sakura flower. Listed as: " (iii) ‘Kami’( meaning ‘God’) stamp. Significance unknown. Found only on shin-guntō tsuba. Very rare." A couple possibilities that come to mind: 岐 = Gifu 岐 = Gifu Stamp. 社 社 = SHA 各民間工場 Each civilian/private factory

I’d like to clarify my actions regarding the locked thread. I locked the discussion after repeated warnings to stop the arguing were ignored. My intent wasn’t to take sides, but to stop an unproductive exchange and ease the burden on Brian during his recovery. The comment “hard words but well said” was in response to a personal accusation about how I interpreted tone. I see now how it could be taken as biased, and I regret saying it, I apologize. I strive to moderate fairly and objectively, but I’m not infallible. Since I’m now personally involved, I’ll step back and leave this matter for @Brian to handle when he’s able. Lets please be patient and keep it as civil as possible in the meantime, and that's directed evenly at everyone. Sincerely, -Sam

I’m not a dealer, so please understand the following is speculation from a buyer/collector perspective. With lower end items inherently comes more flaws and issues, and things in poorer state of polish. These things cause more questions, and therefore more time spent during the attempted sale. With that, comes less satisfaction as the buyer learns more, becomes more experienced, and/or develops an eye for higher quality. All these things contribute to a sellers long term reputation, of which, I can only imagine, they value and want to maintain. So maybe the simple answer is, that the juice is not worth the squeeze. That being said, there’s no shortage of lower end items out there in the market, and even a few dealers out there who sell things at lower price points. Sincerely, -Sam

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is a fake gunto. See similar example in the link below https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html Sincerely, -Sam

As said above, definitely a fake. You're correct to flag the bohi. The font of the serial number on the saya is also wrong and the wrong size. The shape of the saya opening is off, also. The other photos are conveniently distant, which possibly helps obscure more fake identifiers. Would love to see the Type32! In my limited experience, those are faked less often; but never say never. Blade length is an important feature on those, to determine if it's the OTSU type, or the KO type. All the best, -Sam

Hard words, but well said.. I think we’ll leave it there. This thread has drifted too far off topic now. And I imagine it’s not going to drift back soon. As always, I will defer to Brian if he wants to open it back up. All the best, -Sam

I want to emphasize, despite my friendly candor, that these warnings are not being given out lightly. Please take them seriously. It's important to remember that decisions around locking threads are made by the moderation team and the administrator (Brian). It’s not appropriate for members to argue their way to someone else's thread being locked, just because they don't like it. Plenty of threads like this are allowed to continue after their "usefulness", without issue or hostilities. Whether or not you agree with how moderation is handled, this is the process we follow. Let's try to give Brian a much needed break, and put this behind us. -Sam

Fair enough, but that's no excuse for hostilities, or baiting arguments. If you're unable to keep it civil, then it's not the thread that's the problem. -Sam

Babysitter on duty But really guys, lets keep the temperature low enough so not to require a re-temper. Really don't want to lock this thread. There has been some good input between the noise. -Sam

I think it's important to remember that personal collections aren’t the only path to learning or appreciating swords. I often visit shows and museums to study blades I could never dream of owning; and honestly, that's where some of the most valuable learning happens, especially through conversations with more advanced collectors. There are incredible swords, books, and displays out there that can teach and inspire us, no matter what’s in our own collections. Having handled only a few truly high-end blades, it's clear to me that no entry-level price point; whether it's X, Y, or Z; can really compare in terms of quality or significance. After seeing a Go Yoshihiro in person this year and some Juyo+ Aoe blades; I realize there’s probably no amount I could have spent on my own collection (with my income) that would evoke that same feeling of awe, or approach that level of quality. So where does that leave me? It brings me back to collecting what resonates with me, what I enjoy, what I can afford, and what feels meaningful. And that’s absolutely valid for any collector. I really like Shneed’s approach, -Sam

Met him in SF, and he had some awesome Gunto on display. A very kind gentleman who spent time chatting with me over his swords. I also do not personally know of his restoration work. -Sam

Even if I don't agree 100%, I do believe Rayhan means well. Let's keep it civil; and limit the pointed remarks. We're all good now, but I'm keeping an eye on the thread. -Sam

Howdy ya'll, If you ever need moderation assistance; such as with double posts, minor edits, or moving threads. Please feel free to tag me using @Scogg. When you start typing the @ symbol followed by my name, a dropdown should appear for you to select me. This sends me a direct notification and helps me respond more quickly. As long as it's aligned with the forum rules, I'm more than happy to assist. I check the forum regularly throughout the day, but tagging me ensures I can address your needs sooner. I'm here to help and want to do what I can to support the community and give Brian as much of a break as possible during his recovery. Feel free to reach out with any questions, All the best, -Sam

Hoshi has summed up my feelings about the topic in one comment better than I could in a few

But you're not simply urging people to look deeply before making a purchase. You're saying that newcomers should strive to meet a criteria, defined by you, for what makes a "good" first purchase, also defined by you. This field is way to nuanced to make such sweeping claims about how much someone else should spend. -Sam

Yeah, i'm a bit lost at this point . Too many assumptions levied on too many hypothetical parties. I'll end my input by saying: Nobody, as far as I can tell, has discouraged going to shows, museums, or spending time learning before a purchase.

I don’t disagree that education and patience are key; of course we should all aim to learn before buying blindly. But the idea that someone must wait X amount of time, study X amount of hours, and spend X amount to avoid a “burn” overlooks that collecting is often personal, not transactional. Experience isn't always linear or curated through perfect choices. Sometimes a “mistake” sword sparks deeper interest, or sentimental value outweighs market logic. Gatekeeping what’s considered a valid entry point risks discouraging genuine curiosity. Encouraging people to engage, even imperfectly, isn’t toxic, it’s how many of us started.

What do you say to those individuals, who may not be as fortunate as you, who cannot meet the expectations of saving for a "quality" blade at 8k? Don't bother?

Maybe I'm misinterpreting the point you're making, but: I think where we disagree is in the assumption that most collectors are, or should be, moving toward a focused thematic collection built around a particular era or category like Gendaito. That kind of direction certainly has merit, especially for those who enjoy the academic or historical side of the hobby. But not all collectors approach this with that framework in mind. Some are drawn to individual pieces for personal, aesthetic, or even sentimental reasons; regardless of period, maker, quality, or school. For those collectors, the goal isn’t to “build a collection” in the traditional sense, but to find pieces that speak to them on a more immediate level. One of my favorite pieces, ya'll would probably rate a 2 out of 10 (it's personally sentimental). In that context, applying a structured collecting logic, like saving $8K to target the best of Gendaito, may not resonate at all. It’s not that they necessarily lack experience or knowledge, it’s that their goals are different. They’re not trying to optimize within a category; they’re pursuing connection, variety, or even just curiosity. So while I respect your point about direction and learning over time, I don’t think it’s the only, or even the most valid, way to approach this hobby. That’s exactly why I emphasized subjectivity. What matters to one collector might mean very little to another, and that diversity is part of what keeps this field interesting. Who are we to say that a first sword at 2k isn't a learning opportunity, or even a treasured piece in somebody else's collection? I agree that saving for a nice item is a good thing, and should be encouraged for newbies. I just don't agree on placing these arbitrary monetary figures on collectors across the board. I believe using those types of sweeping broad-brush expectations are what causes many people to view the hobby as "elitist". I subscribe to the opinion that an OK sword can be found at a variety of price levels, can be learned from, and those levels are different for every individual. -Sam

I stand by my previous comment on quality. But for the average collectors point of view: the perceived quality of available blades will range; what one collector sees as a “good” blade at $12,000, another might not consider worthwhile unless it’s over $100,000. These evaluations are shaped by personal taste, collecting goals, and financial means. Saving for a $12K blade is a commendable goal, but that price point is ultimately arbitrary and varies widely among collectors. Given that swords range from a few hundred to well over six figures, it’s all relative. -Sam