Late War Sword

[Tommac]

Hi again

Got this this weekend dont know what to think cant get handle off for pick but maybe you guys can tell me what you think many thanks tom

 

 

[Mister Gunto]

Looks good! It's in typical Type 98 Shin-Gunto mounts, and early to mid war at that. Not the later type. 

 

From the photos, it appears to be a non-traditionally made blade, but better pics would help determine that. 

 

Once you remove the bamboo mekugi pin and can get the tuska (handle) off, chanes are there will be some writing engraved on the nakago (hilt). Possibly the smith's name and a date. Some good photos of that would be more helpful. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Tom,

An interesting piece. Could you give us some better pics of the circled areas I've posted? Your title calls it late-war, is that because of the quality of the metal fittings? Also, that same' looks like clear plastic? I've seen white plastic same' (I forgot the word they use for that), but not clear. That seems too modern for a WWII gunto.

 

Let's see what better pics will tell us. From your current pics, it almost looks like there is a copper cylinder through the mekugi peg hole.

 

It's too early to comment on the 2 or 3 options here, without more pics, though.

[vajo]

Looks like a overcleaned Showa-to. The boarseye Seppa is blank and the fittings looks like loosing patination. But maybe it is from the pictures. Hard to say.

[Tommac]

  On 10/28/2018 at 5:08 PM, Tommac said:

Hi again

Got this this weekend dont know what to think cant get handle off for pick but maybe you guys can tell me what you think many thanks tom

Thanks for replys sorry little slow 

Tom

[Tommac]

2 more 

[Shamsy]

Looks like snake skin or shark. The saya probably had a combat cover that prevented wear. Nice enough example.

[vajo]

Its real yes.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Tom.

 

Have you tried tapping the mekugi peg out? That’s what holds the tsuka on.

[Tommac]

Yes it was loose but handle didnt want to come off so I left it alone so it didnt brake something  .

Thanks tom

[TETSUGENDO]

If Genuine, the Tsuka covering appears to be the skin of the Pacific Spiny Dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) or a closely related kin.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

[Bruce Pennington]

Tom,

 

After seeing everything in better focus, I agree with Steve that this gunto probably had a full leather cover originally. I couldn't comprehend them missing ashi (suspension ring). They don't come off. But if this were covered in leather, the ashi for that style are different and probably did slip off once the leather cover went missing.

 

I wouldn't call this "late-war" at all. It could have been made at any point in the war. I don't know if I'm communicating clearly about the mekugi peg. It comes completely out of the handle. Sometimes they are fatter on one end (the end inside the handle) and must be pushed out that way. Sometimes, and yours seems to be one, the mekugi is short, and inserted at an angle. These can be fussy to get out, as you might have to poke a toothpic or something pointy in the open hole to guide the peg out as you push it from the other side. It's an important step to most of us collectors because the smith name, and sometimes a date, are stamped on the tang (nakago).

[vajo]

For myself i have the feeling that the fittings has a strange color. The painting is viewable everywhere. So it could painted later?

The same looks like sharkskin (Hook's).

[Tommac]

I had the little peg out of the handle just couldn't finish getting handle off I will try later today and post pic many thank for all the comments greatly appreciated  tom

[TETSUGENDO]

Yes Shark, The Atlantic Spiny Dogfish I noted is a common variety of small shark.  Also, I agree with the later painting as no effort was made to disguise the obviously distressed surface underneath...original leather missing.

 

-S-

[Tommac]

Handle off dont think it was ever off thanks tom

[Bruce Pennington]

And after all that, it's not signed! Well, standard Type 98 WWII gunto. The officer obviously paid for the sharkskin upgraded tsuka, but it's odd that the seppa are seemingly plain (though, someone, post-war, may have stripped them). Closeups of the blade and hamon (temper line) would confirm whether oil quenched showato, but it probably is. Decent pattern, though.

[Tommac]

Not the best pic .

I'm happy with it as i didnt pay much for it to me.

guy had couple other things flare gun and trainor bayonet that I didnt want as thought they were too high thanks guys for all the replys tom

[vajo]

Nice Showa-to all is fine with it. There is a stamp on the nakago. Could you see it?

[DavidF]

The lack of serial numbers seems odd.

[Tommac]

No didnt see any Mark on it but does look like something there as I put sword back together  many thanks again for information tom

[Dave R]

 A perfectly decent Shin Gunto. Factory made blade, no stamps or signature and so probably non traditional, most likely oil tempered tool steel. I would be perfectly happy with one like it, nothing to complain about there at all.

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 10/29/2018 at 6:27 PM, DavidF said:

The lack of serial numbers seems odd.

You might be referring to the painted on assembly numbers? Not uncommon. My theory is that contract swords bought directly from a sword shop wouldn’t have those numbers. The painted ones are likely from the Arsenal factories and larger companies that cranked out larger numbers at a time. Just speculation though.

[DRDave]

Tom,   There may not be any stamp, but they can be easy to miss.  Some are much smaller than others and the dies were susceptible wear/breakage, leaving only a partial impression; and sometimes they were lightly struck.  So you have to look carefully, including the nakago mune.  

[Dave R]

 Regarding the lack of stamps etc. Here's one I bought earlier, definitely a "factory" made blade in homogeneous steel. Some "factories" were more like a small workshop, like the Sheffield "little mesters" who made cutlery and surgical tools til recently.

[Tommac]

I will take handle back off and look harder for a mark thanks again for all the commits tom