Check The Bottom Of Your Gunto Saya

[PNSSHOGUN]

Recently got what could be a Type 94 Gunto or early Type 98, certainly seen some use, just have a look at the state of the Ishikuze....

[Bruce Pennington]

That's really worn alright! So a 94! I'm assuming it has 2 ashi, can we see? I've never seen one other than in books, or Ohmura's site.

[PNSSHOGUN]

I think Type 94 might be way off base, probably early Type 98? Big pierced tsuba, the thicker style ashi I've seen on earlier swords and overall wear made me think it's an older model. Blade is signed Musashi No Kami Kunitsugu, from Kanbun era and is Ubu.

[Dave R]

 Nice looking  sword. Looking at how often you see them  worn or carried at the trail, I am surprised we don't see more very worn ishizuki.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Finish is all but worn off all the fittings including the menuki, a little bit of reddish thick paint left on the saya. The blade has a slight warp + those ominous spidery rust stains around the monouchi. Ito is hard with sweat and oil like an old well used Iaito.

 

If only these swords could talk....

[Bruce Pennington]

Looks like somebody used it for a cane! You're guess is as good as anyone's on the 94/98 question. If this was in the field the removable ashi could have been lost early on. Nice find!

[Dave R]

  On 8/16/2017 at 3:29 PM, PNSSHOGUN said:

 

 

If only these swords could talk....

 

 Personally I am damn glad they can't! I think we would find it hard to give them houseroom if they could...

 

One of those blades where you really wonder about polishing, recovering the original beauty,vs retaining the history.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Would keep the children out of the room, that's for sure.

 

Well yes, this could be a good candidate for polish and shinsa, uncommon to find signed works by Kunitsugu and he was a Wazamono rated smith. I'm more for keeping it as is for now, these sorts of examples are much more interesting with all the bends, stains and character kept intact.