MatsumotoKen

Hello All, I recently picked up this sword at a antique store. It looks to be a family blade in a earlier Guntō fittings. The signature is 肥前國住人藤(原) hizenkoku jyūnin fuji(wara) The blade has a nicer hamon than a Guntō sword and it has a heft, width, and length that well exceed the Type 98 Guntō I have. So based on all of this I can semi-accurately conclude it is a family sword in military fittings. The tang also looks to be cut for this mounting as well. Most interesting of all is the military scabbard cover which says: 海軍軍医大佐南里専一 第八海軍(病)院 -kaigun guni taisa(minamisato/nanri)senichi dai hachi kaigun byōin -Navy Doctor Captain Minamisato(nanri) Senichi Eighth Navy Hospital I am looking for anyone that can expand on the: date of the sword, possibly confirming the name, and any other things that can be shared. I greatly appreciate all of the assistance. Ken

I appreciate all of the interest in this topic of this lowly Gunto. It is in remarkably good condition, no nicks, so it was probably never used in combat. It has a weird leather ring on the bottom, no tassel. My assumption is that it was most likely a GI bring back. Maybe a surrender sword? That is lost to history. I bought it in Delaware for 500 dollars. I hope now that anyone that stumbles upon this type of Gunto may learn more. In Japan they are expressly forbidden to own.

The marks are lightly struck, very minuscule and small. First picture is 岐 gifu and the second is 関 seki upside down. According to what I see in other threads, it is normal for them to be struck with a bit more force. Is that abnormal for these marks to be small and lightly struck? - Ken

I just came back from Japan so sorry for the late response. Matsumoto is my last name and I am from Nagasaki. Thank you all for the insight. Upon further examination it seems to have a 岐 Gifu and 関 seki stamp, though it is faint. This means it is a non-traditional, oil quenched sword. I do not know if that means that it is machine made as well. Does non-traditional also mean machine made? I hope this adds to this websites database of sorts of gunto swords and can be helpful to others. If this sword was made in Seki, Gifu-ken then I have been there and have visited the Seki Traditional Sword Smith Museum. I will try to post the swords from that trip on another thread. -Matsumoto C.

All, I have a sword I bought a few years ago and I have had a devil of a time finding more information about it. It says: "Shōwa 19, November" on one side and "Sadamitsu" on the other. Who is Sadamitsu? Any information on him? Looks to be a standard late Gunto nothing special. I am thinking that this is a machine made or non traditional sword as the time period makes me suspect it. It came with a brown steel scabbard with one hangar. Any information would be very helpful. -Ken