Lordd_Humungous

I'll never stop being surprised by the kinds of guntos out there (until I buy that encyclopedia on them that gets recommended here). I mean, you have family heirloom katanas in some or most of their original koshirae, naginata naoshi wakizashi, tantos crammed into double hanger Kai Gunto mounts, it's all just crazy. I've been especially fascinated by late war guntos recently, since it seems like many of the factories just had to work with whatever parts or metals they had on hand, which led to all sorts of interesting hodge podge koshirae (like mixing type 3 and type 98 parts), makeshift fittings (my favorite being one that used what Ohmura calls an "oblong plate" as a menuki) and other features that aren't found on any early war swords (it really seems like for some of the late swords, they just found a local guy who had a random kabutogane and recasted it). I'm not sure if there's already a thread on this, so let me know if there is. If not, let's see those feats of resourcefulness!

I tried to have a replica of a Kai gunto made, but they used different parts. Now I'm trying to see if I can have some of those incorrect parts switched out for the shin gunto parts that are found on "Naval Landing Forces" guntos so the sword is at least accurate to some kind of real historical sword.

I have a sword that was made to look like a "kai gunto" that has some major inaccuracies which have only started to bother me recently. I contacted the Fred Lohman company because I know they make repro shin gunto fittings (so I could have it converted to an NLF style gunto) but when I reached out, I received an email back saying that the company has shut down for the foreseeable future. If anyone knows of another avenue to have the saya fittings and/or kabutogane switched out for shin gunto fittings, or if there's a saya maker who can at least make a new saya in the NLF style, let me know. I suppose a saya with a black leather cover could also simulate something you'd see from the Japanese Navy. If this thread is off-topic because it deals in repros, I apologize and ask where else could I post these questions? Thank you

If you were looking to restore a type 95 that's had its paint all or mostly worn off, how would you do it? I know that may be haram on here, but I'm genuinely curious so if anyone has ideas on other places to ask (such as communities based around painting aluminum models) let me know. There's a type 95 for $299 at a store near me (it may be a fake, but then that's even more reason to repaint) that's in that kind of condition and since I would put it in the same display as my reproductions I'd want to restore it for aesthetic reasons. I anticipate correct colors such as brownish copper for the fuchi and yellowish brass for the menuki may be the hardest part.

Well that explains the switch to iron fittings for the type 3

Is it usually copper plated? On ohmura and the threads in this forum it looks like most swords fittings have a reddish tint if not a dark brownish red finish.

Which was used most commonly for type 98s, copper (with brass accents), brass, or brass with copper plating? Reading around, I've seen claims that all three were used to some degree but it looks like in terms of commonality it goes copper>copper-plated>brass

I have a sword that's missing the ring on the scabbards hanger. It's a replica, the maker said they just couldn't get the ring on then forgot to send it along with the sword. So I was wondering if there's any precedent for this, like if anyone has an idea on how to add a ring. The reproduction rings have a cut through them, but they don't seem easy to pry open then force "closed" again.