Austo1

SOLD............. Thank you to the buyer and to all those who who shown interest. Kind regards Doug

For Sale Again...........Unfortunately buyer could not come up with the funds

On Hold pending payment.

Shingunto Mei - Kikumon Shinano no Kami Fujiwara Nobuyoshi (1st generation) Kanbun period 1661 Nagasa - 67.2 cm Sori - 1.3 cm Mekugi - 2 Width Hamachi - 2.83 cm Widith Kissaki 1.93 cm Kasane 0.68 cm The blade is suriage however flawless with well grained Koitame Hada and Gunome Midare Hamon with Tobiyaki. The shingunto koshirae is in excellent to near mint condition with a Company Grade Tassel. The sword was originally purchased from Aoi Art some years ago and they gave a 100% Guarantee at the time that it would pass NBTHK Hozon. Price $5,750 AUD (Australian Dollars) which is about $4,400US...........Payment by Bank Transfer Only Additional photo can be found here: http://www.guntoartswords.com/nobuyoshi.html It is time to sell some nice pieces Kind Regards Doug

The very vivid zig zag pattern generals Tassels in the photographs look like they are of the rarer Cotton Type Zig Zag stitching. Regards DougGeneral Tassel.docx

From the pic. The first generals tassel looks bad to me. The crowns look too loose and the red colour doesn't look right. The red in all the repro's that i have seen, tends to have a pinky red shade to them. The red colour can vary on different genuine tassels however the colour of the repro's in incorrect compared to the genuine type they are copied from. (Pink/Red Shade is my best way to try and describe the incorrect colour) The difference is clearly seen when laid beside an original. Kind Regards Doug

Hi John I just read your earlier post.......... Look up Gunto Art Swords 010802 Lt. general Hoshino Toshimoto Shingunto. Order made showato with a 30" cutting edge. From memory it was about 45 inches overall length and in excellant condition. Regards Doug

Hi Bruce Scarce as hens Teeth but Danny Watson Crimson Mist Military Antiques has one for $45 AUD Doug

Hitachi no Kami Mune Shige Circa 1600's

I agree with Hamfish and Stephen...... I dont know why NCO swords are so popular. In the early days, I wouldn't even make an offer for them and later paid from $40 up to $200 for one in similar condition to the one I now have for sale. They are not something that I would keep in my personal collection, although I would personally say the same for Emura and Mantetsu. However there is a collecting niche for them all. That is what collecting is all about and collectors set the market value of any item. We as collectors, will only pay what the item is worth.....to us. If there are any collectors out there who have picked up good NCO's a number of years back for a just a few dollars and now want to part with them, then i would be happy to offer them what they paid back then, if they don't think they are worth their current market value. All of us collectors like a bargain. Happy Collecting Doug

Hi All Collectors of expensive high rank tassels particularly General Grade. The more commonly found type of generals Tassel with 3 rows of bullion stitching always has a very tight knited crown above the tassel. I have never seen a genuine tassel of this type with a loose knitted crown. Recently I have seen aged reproduction Chinese tassels sold as originals. Please beware................ The attached pics show the tight knit/weave crown found on original examples. Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com

Attached a couple more pics of a normal type 94 for comparison. Please note the standard size pierced tsuba and normal one piece kabuto-gane. Interesting this 94 was carried by a Major in the 228 infantry Regiment which was part of the 38 Division which took part in many well nown campaigns. Enjoy..... Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com

Hi Neil The early 94 pat. gunto has many more distinctive features other than just having double ashi. The second ashi was removed from most with the arival of the 98 and many can now be found in collection with just the single ashi. Regards Doug

Hi All Attached a couple of pics of 3 custom ordered type 94 koshirae. Note that all have the larger and thicker pierced tsuba than the normal pierced type usually found on type 94 and the seperate roundel for the sarute other then the standard one piece kabuto-gane one usually sees. The top Generals koshirae with its early bordered edge tassel has an overall length of approx. 42 inches. This length is much longer than the standard gunto. The centre standard length gunto was found in Japan with a well worn and damaged generals Tassel attached however It was removed and sold a couple of years back to a collector in the US. The bottom gunto is a genuine crew gunto @ appox. 32 inches. It is special ordered made with smaller fittings than the standard. Hope you enjoy. Kind Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com

Thanks Thomas............. Its probably worth more being a rare senior foresters dirk than a cadet/petty officers. Doug

Hil All Maybe some of the dagger specialist can help identify a dagger that I have in stock before I list it on my website. It looks very similar to an early Naval Cadet Dirk however the backstrap shape and motif on the pommel is different and it has a curved same saya and traditional forged blade. Also looks similar to a 2nd patern forestry officals dagger. Also has a Suya Logo on the guard. The dagger is is mint condition and comes with registration certificate dated 1951 - Mumei Tanto The length of the nagasa is 8 1/4 inches or 21 cm. Overall length of koshirae is 15 11/16" or 39.8 cm.Thanks in advance Doug

PM sent for Daisho Doug

Sold Thank you to the buyer. Kind Regards Doug

Final Offer $4000AUD .......or currently approx $2800US This is the actual presentation sword from page 150 of John Slough's book and it comes with NTHK Kanteisho for proof of authenticity and quality. Price is plus shipping and fees Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com

Okay, Lets try $4250AUD or curently approx 2950US A fair price for a good sword. Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com

If interested, make an offer, I can only say no.............. Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com

I don't know, in fact another translation on the rear of the work sheet refers to it as the Order of the Leopard ? It is also interesting that it is dated the 8th December...............probably to commemoroate the attack on pearl harbour on the 7th December which would have been the 8th December Japanese time. It is indeed a very interesting and good sword that would fill a niche in most gendaito collections. Kind Regards Doug

The middle pic shows what looks like a serious flaw however it is just from the reflection of the camera flash. There has been rust in the area that has been rubbed and left the area shinny and the flash has reflected off it. There is no chip and no damage that a polish will not remove. The blade was awarded 70 points (Kanteisho) by the NTHK in its current condition. A gendaito with flaws would never be awarded a kanteisho certificate........... Kind Regards Doug

Attached 3 additional pics which show the true colour of the blade. I am also lowering the price to $4500AUD.....approx. $3200US Kind regards Doug

Special oder made high quality gendaiuto by (Imai) Sadashige in late war kaigunto koshirae 2 million yen rated smith. Taira Sadashige made this sword on December 8, 1943 asa prize to the Naval Panther Unit for distinguished service in the Great East Asia War and it was presented by the mayor of Matsuyama city. Please refer: page 150 of John Slough's book for more information. This is the actual sword from the book. 25 inch nagasa with itame hada and gunome/choji hamon. The blade is dull and has minor stains, scratches, etc although it has no major damage and was awarded NTHK Kanteisho. The koshirae is late war type with black leather covered wood saya with a single ashi. Koshirae is in great condition. Additional pics and full description will be listed on my website in the next day or so. Price $4900AUD.....or approx $3500US Kind Regards Doug www.guntoartswords.com