Red Kaigunto?

[Peter Bleed]

I am scheduled to see what looks like a Japanese Kaigunto that seems to have red saya. Has anyone ever seen such a thing - or might this be a post-War production?, mebbe even Chinese???
Peer

[Ontario_Archaeology]

does it look red like the one on this page does?

http://ohmura-study.net/735.html

 

Matt

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Or even like this? although this is on a T 98. . .

http://ohmura-study.net/715.html

 

Pictures would help

 

Matt

[vajo]

Hello Matt, the first one is a redish brown. It looks very beautifull. I think there where many different colors all type of gunto where made. I like also the purple ones.

[Ontario_Archaeology]

Hi Chris, I was just trying to get a gauge of what Peter was looking at, since he didnt post any pictures. I love the variety of the gunto, it just amazes me. 

 

Matt

[Peter Bleed]

[Peter Bleed]

Sorry for being ham handed, but this is the image I have.    Fittings look goof but the wrap is clearly compromised. And do I see a number on the habaki.

Peter

[Shamsy]

The bohi suggests something interesting. Lovely looking sword, but the ito and menuki don't look right. Have they been shifted?

[vajo]

Nice silver plated fittings. And with that red saya it looks very good. The binding is different from a kai gunto and not correct. The same dont look original and the menukis are not in the right place. I think a correct restaurated tsuka would increase that sword very much.

 

Good sword Peter.

[Peter Bleed]

Thank you, Steve. Indeed, I can't agree with you about the hi. It seems weak to me, but interesting. .  .    .

Peter

[Peter Bleed]

Thank you all. The NMB is working. We are all looking at the same sword. , but I may be a bit too suspicious. The whole rig looks a little fresh and maybe tarted up.

Peter

[Stephen]

China knock off

[vajo]

Maybe Stephen. I cant see to less to judge. Why that chinese should silver plating the fittings and make such a worse binding with that pieces of same. Makes no sense? But who knows.

[Jon MB]

My guess would be an overcleaned, incorrectly restored piece.

[Bruce Pennington]

wow Peter, that handle looks bad! I might lean towards Stephen's view on this one! The saya looks mostly good, weak detail on the ashi, but the look is right. That tsuka though - sheeeesh! Menugi in wrong place, some sort of plastic wrap over a clearly fake same'. Bad ito wrapping job. At best, if the blade and tsuba are legit, someone has done a ametuer job rebuilding the tsuka.

[Stephen]

What sliver plate?

[Shamsy]

On my little screen it all looks rather nice, bar the ito. If I was looking at the fitting quality I'd want better resolution. Everything is badly blured on even a slight zoom. Could just be the phone doing that...

 

A few more pictures would be nice before everyone starts to scream the usual “fake”.

 

Here's a Chinese copy for comparison:

https://m.ebay.com/itm/clay-tempened-Japanese-KAI-GUNTO-OFFICER-SWORD-WWII-katana-sword/112358345709?hash=item1a29144bed:g:VzIAAOSwSX9XA-fx

[Stephen]

Lol

[PNSSHOGUN]

I believe this one is a fake.

[Windy]

My knowledge is extremely limited, so what’s my 2p worth?

 

However, I have a design degree, so I like to think I have an eye for detail.....

 

To me, the floral work around the fuchi is off centre, looks wrong. Is this something a Japanese craftsman would have produced?

Tsuka is shocking, but could just be a very bad stab at a restoration?

[Grey Doffin]

I think fake and if there is a number on the habaki definite fake.

Grey

[Baka Gaijin]

I  wonder if it is signed

 

中华人民共和国

 

?

[Kai-Gunto]

It is a fake made in China.

[vajo]

Only Peter know the source of the sword and maybe better pictures. The fittings on this picture look much more better then some Vets swords i saw here over the time.

Only my two cents.

[Dave R]

 I think it's a "bitser" or shot gun job. Vice marks on the habaki, army menuki, a badly done wrap, but for the most part original WW2 parts but from different swords

.

[Kai-Gunto]

The Bohi and the blade looks soo fake!

The seppa is so poor done.

Rayskin looks to newish.

[Peter Bleed]

I went to look at the swords and...

The koshirae are certainly original WWII era IJN fittings, but the blade is certainly Chinese "damascus". It was an easy assessment and certainly not collectible. This sword was a lot better than most of the Chinese fakes I have seen suggesting that they are getting better.  The take away lesson is that we have to be careful out there!

I thank you all.

Peter

[vajo]

Peter are the fittings silver plated? They looks so on the pictures. If yes they are very collectable.

 

[Stephen]

Chris....have another toke!!!

Lol

[Shamsy]

I went to look at the swords and...

The koshirae are certainly original WWII era IJN fittings, but the blade is certainly Chinese "damascus". It was an easy assessment and certainly not collectible. This sword was a lot better than most of the Chinese fakes I have seen suggesting that they are getting better.  The take away lesson is that we have to be careful out there!

I thank you all.

Peter

And there you go, original fittings as half of us thought. No surprise there. I'm glad you got a look Peter.