High Quality Type 3 Gunto

[Bruce Pennington]

All,

 

After seeing a couple of very high quality Type 3 gunto, including the koshirae, I got to re-reading Nick Komiya & Chris Bowen's dicussion of the origins of the Type 3 (http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/deflating-another-myth-type-3-army-officer-s-sword-expanded-version-584796/). The predominent thought is that it was designed as a more durable (koshirae) gunto that was also cheaper than the average standard Type 94/98. But almost every one I've seen have really good looking blades (mine included) and a couple of them now, (one owned by IJASWORDS) have REALLY high quality upgrades to the koshirae.

 

Any thoughts about WHY the Type 3s have such nice blades if they were originally designed to be cheap?

[Brian]

When we talk about "Type 3" I think we really have to treat them as 2 totally different types, the olive drab ones with metal scabbard that hardly ever contain a decent blade, and the other lacquered darker one that almost always contains Gendaito. Perhaps that is where the answer lies....they are certainly very different animals...the 2 types.

[Bruce Pennington]

Maybe the "durability" of the 3 attracted guys with money to spend and were willing to upgrade the fittings.

 

I think by "decent" we have differing tastes, though. Mine is the metal saya with a shingunto by Sukekuni. It's a pretty blade. It's dated 1945, so mabye the beauty of many Type 3s hinge on not seeing as much time in the feild?

[Shamsy]

Hi Bruce,

 

I was shown this thread because the comments on NCOs interested me, but you may find it answers questions regarding the so called 'Type 3'.

 

http://wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=824972

[Windy]

My first blade is dated December 1941 in type 3 mounts. It's by Yamagami Akihisa. It has the dark lacquered saya.

 

I believe Akihisa was a fairly well thought of Smith, and won a Special Honour Seat. My blade is in war polish, so not too sure what 'lies within it'.

[Bruce Pennington]

Have to share this insight from Nick Komiya on Warrelics:

 

"That is a question similar to asking "why would a rich guy rather buy a spartan sports car than a luxury sedan". The newspapers introducing the sword talked about the sword strictly meaning business and named features like the Kansuke Yamamoto style Tsukamaki for a real fighting man. If one's life may once have to depend on it, many might be made to feel that he would rather have a real fighting sword than the bells and whistles. A name like Kansuke Yamamoto's can go a long way, like a Colt Single Action Army sold as a Wyatt Earp Special. That's marketing and here's Kansuke."

[Shamsy]

Here is the full article by Nick. Probably should have put it up first, but the other was easier to find. This has previously been posted on NMB but it seems to have been largely forgotten. For anyone interested in the 'Type 3' worth carefully reading.

 

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/deflating-another-myth-type-3-army-officer-s-sword-expanded-version-584796/

[Bruce Pennington]

Steve, it's there in the second line of my first post, but thanks dude!

[Shamsy]

Apologies Bruce, my oversight!