Where to buy a genuine WWII Japanese officer's gunto sword?

[DaveM4P99]

Looking to buy a WWII Japanese officers sword...around $500...maybe a little more...where is a trust worthy website or dealer you guys can recommend?

 

What do I look for in terms of quality?

 

What types? Type 98...all I know really.

 

Thanks!

 

Dave

[Lee J]

Here is a somewhat blasphemous, but very interesting, website that covers military variations in great detail: http://ohmura-study.net/900.html

[DaveM4P99]

Here is a somewhat blasphemous, but very interesting, website that covers military variations in great detail: http://ohmura-study.net/900.html

 

An nice...thank you...spent some time reading it over...I have a better idea now.

 

So are there any reputable dealers for military swords?

 

I don't want to end up with a Chinese fake.

[george trotter]

The best avenue of avoiding Chinese fakes is study...followed by study...then do some study :D

There is no easy shortcut. Look at swords in collections, books, on-line...you will start to see the "pointers".

A good place to start is probably a search here on "is it fake?" etc.

Hope this helps,

[Dr Fox]

As a suggestion! Why not ask if any of the members have anything to pass on. There are some good Gunto guys here, and you could do your discussions through PM's.

[reeder]

PM sent. I love guntos as well. I just really like the military mounts for some reason, I know most here hate them but that's okay . I need to find a Katana Kai-Gunto (only will do rayskin scabbard) and wakizashi kai-gunto with traditionally made/gendaito blades in polish, and a set of Kyu-Guntos.

 

-Brandon

[Alan Morton]

Dave,

where abouts in this big world do you live.

There must be lots of collectors around you

to help you move along this tricky path.

 

Alan.

[Stu W]

You would probably benefit from watching the International sale section of the Estand over at Wehrmacht Awards Forum. Although originally German based the Japanese section has grown considerably and gunto are often available. However, you will need more than 500 to get into anything decent these days. Better budget for 1200 USD unless your tastes run to the more salty.

 

Regards,

Stu