markturner Posted September 27, 2012 Report Posted September 27, 2012 Hi, I recently acquired a very nice Hokke Saburo Nobufusa, almost identical to this sword here: http://www.samuraisword.com/nihonto_c/S ... /index.htm It's come in Shirasaya, but I am considering maybe getting it mounted in the future. As it's a Gendaito, made approx 1940, perhaps more traditional mounts would not be appropriate, so was thinking maybe to use Gunto style mounts. Where is the best place to look for these? I cant recall seeing any specialists anywhere on the net and while I have seen plenty of swords in mounts for sale, never Koshirae or individual components. Can you point me in the right direction for any specialist webstes etc or on line resources? Thank you, Mark Quote
cabowen Posted September 27, 2012 Report Posted September 27, 2012 It would be rather simple to find all parts of a gunto koshirae with the exception of a fitting saya. Many of these parts are for sale on ebay. I would suggest obtaining a matching set of parts rather than trying to piece together. There are a few sites, one in Australia (can't remember the url) that sells gunto koshirae rather regularly... As for the saya, you could go with a wooden one finished per the navy mounting or the type 3 as I recall.... Quote
chrisf Posted September 27, 2012 Report Posted September 27, 2012 Are you thinking of 'Gunto Art Swords'? Quote
markturner Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Posted September 28, 2012 Thanks, that's a good site. But..........I am not sure I am very keen on the mounts looking at them in detail. All a bit too orange and brown and somehow a bit cheap looking.....I will have to give this some thought meanwhile. What are your opinions? Do you think a traditional koshirae would be better? Would be interested in peoples opinions and reasoning. Regards, Mark Quote
paulb Posted September 28, 2012 Report Posted September 28, 2012 Hi Mark, As it is a Genadaito why limit yourself to Gunto mounts? It is an opportunity for you to do what countless generations of Samurai have done in the past and have a koshirae put together for it to your own taste. Whatever you do, gunto or traditional will not be authentic to the piece so you may as well put something together you really like. Quote
David Flynn Posted September 28, 2012 Report Posted September 28, 2012 I had a koshirae made for one of my Gendaito. In hindsight, I regret doing this. The main reason is, the cost. I will never be able to recoup the money spent. I know when one decides to mount a sword, it is done with a strong attachment. However, times and tastes change. Sometimes one needs to sell a sword to help pay for a better one. Yes there are always better ones. Now if I get the chance, I would only mount them as gunto and then only if the Koshirae is cost effective. Quote
cabowen Posted September 28, 2012 Report Posted September 28, 2012 Personally, if I was to mount a sword, any sword, it would be done in traditional mounts. I have no love for the mass produced WWII military mountings. Great for a showa-to, but I wouldn't keep a traditionally made blade in them.... You ought ask yourself why you wish to remount the sword. If you aren't concerned with a potential financial loss if and when you sell it, then by all means go right ahead. While there are plenty of people here who will tell you that you won't get your money back if you have a koshirae made, they fail to mention the value one gets from creating something, as well as the value of pride of ownership. Not all things are measured in dollars and cents.... Quote
Bruno Posted September 28, 2012 Report Posted September 28, 2012 Hi Mark, What about civilian gunto mounts? They are from WW2 so will match the age ofyour gendaito,and they have a traditionnal look. Not sure however if gendaito have ever been mounted in these mounts at that time... http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_037.htm Regards Quote
markturner Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Posted September 28, 2012 Hi plenty of food for thought there, thanks. I am not overly worried about the money aspect, for me the enjoyment of finding and assembling the mounts and then time spent enjoying looking at it is much more value than possible resale at some stage in the future. The civilian gunto mounts are certainly nicer than the war ones, but I think I am coming to the conclusion that I will assemble a traditional koshirae for the blade. After all, it will always be able to be displayed separately and even sold separately if that need ever arose. Quality components should also hold their value as individual pieces after all. I guess I would only "lose" the cost of specialist trades like wrapping the Tsuka and getting the saya made.. Thanks for the input everyone, regards, Mark Quote
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