Naval Dirk Tassel?

[george trotter]

I picked up an interesting kai-gunto yesterday...blade ordinary, but it has  the details of both the Australian officer who obtained it in 1945 and the Japanese Naval Ensign who owned/surrendered it. It had the surrender tag and brown rank tassel as one would expect to see (FYI...it also has the extra protruding type scabbard ishizuke (chape) as illustrated in F&G "Jap. Mil. and Civil Swords and Dirks" pp.70 & 129).

 

My question however relates to the little "tassel" attached to the top scabbard suspension ring. I just don't know exactly what these are. I have seen about 3 over the last 45 years and wonder if anyone knows something about them. Apart from this one on this scabbard, I have seen them twice on navy dirks, also hanging from the suspension ring.

They are brown, good quality "cord" with a plaited/woven "ball"...also of good quality like the usual quality tassels seen on navy and army swords.

Anyone know anything?

Regards,.

[Kai-Gunto]

They are for the kaigunto. Its a lock strap.

[george trotter]

Well, I'll be....thanks for that. Who says the young can't teach the old!

Just to expand a little...do they appear on army gunto also?

Regards,

[george trotter]

Well I'll be...thanks for that.

Regards,.

[Kai-Gunto]

I have never seen them on shingunto

[Kai-Gunto]

Heres some period photos.

[Dave R]

 Shin Gunto tend to solve the problem with metal latches (Chuso stoppers) on metal saya, and leather tabs with buckles or popper studs on the field saya.

[Bazza]

I have one coloured brown on a Shingunto housing a Gassan Sadakatsu blade.  It was attached to the sarute so I don't see how that could be a lock-strap - that could be one use, but I suspect there might be another aspect to it.

 

BaZZa.

[Kai-Gunto]

I have one coloured brown on a Shingunto housing a Gassan Sadakatsu blade.  It was attached to the sarute so I don't see how that could be a lock-strap - that could be one use, but I suspect there might be another aspect to it.

 

BaZZa.

Does the gunto have a lock clip?

Maybe post-war mounted.

I wouldnt relie on a thin strap as a tassel, it has to be mounted onto the wrist. Do You have a picture of it?

 

Heres one more period photo

[PNSSHOGUN]

I recently acquired one of these, I think they are so rare/unknown nobody on ebay knew what it was...