Gunto market in 1948

[Peter Bleed]

Attached is a page of a 1948 Martin B. Retting catalog of Antique Arms. The operation was in West Hurley NY at that time but I think they are in Los Angeles these days. In 1948 nice gunto were worth 20 bucks,.

Peter

[Logan09]

I'm wondering if these were Type 95 hence the 26" average length

[Dave R]

 I always find it interesting when I see these vintage price sheets, even more interesting to run the figures for inflation since then. According to  http://www.in2013dollars.com/1948-dollars-in-2018?amount=20 inflation makes that $20 something like $208.39 in 2018. In other words, not quite the steal that it looks.

 

 I have done a similar calculations for the original official price of a Shin Gunto in 1938, and found that in current money they would have cost nearly $1000. I don't have an exact figure because the calculator I used only ran JPY = $ equivalences up to 2011. 

[16k]

Please someone gives me a time machine!

[Dave R]

 in 1948, your modern money would be no good, vintage money of the era fetches a fair bit in itself, and one mistake would put you in the hands of Area 51 interrogators.

[Stephen]

Any one remember Shotgun News rag?

Gunto and sometimes Buke blades Pennies on the pound or so the prices seemed.

[Dave R]

 My first Wakizashi cost me £4,10 shillings, the shilling symbol isn't even on the keyboard anymore it was so long ago... So what? That was then, this is now!

[dwmc]

I remember the 60's -70's shotgun news.What I recall most though is visiting pawn shops ( primarily looking at musical instruments) and seeing racks of 15 or 20 + Japanese swords for what I remember for $40 or $50 (negotiable USD). Hardly see a Japanese sword in a Pawn Shop these days.

 

As fun as these memories are, its worth as others have mentioned , $50  was as much as 10 to 15% of a fairly decent monthly wage back then.

 

I was once told interesting story by an acquaintance whom collected knives. He mentioned to me he knew an individual who's father had purchased every Japanese sword he came across through the late1940's, 50's and 60's. The story was, he had as many or more than 150 swords in his basement.(Was I interested, of course). The individual told me it was really many more than 150 swords, but without actually seeing them, the claim seemed to strain credulity.

 

Well, eventually I met the person in possession of the swords, he had at least 10 swords on display, several Shingunto and swords in Buke Zukuri mounts. When I casually mentioned, I had heard he had many others, he said yes , he had a few, but was unwilling to let anyone see them. I got the sense he was a bit suspicious peoples motives and intentions, including mine...

 

I attempted to convince him, as he suspected, many of them could be quite valuable both historically and financially. However, the swords require proper maintenance as well as being examined by a Japanese sword expert.

I  met with him a few times attempting to gain his trust as I was simply a sword enthusiast and even though far from a sword expert could at the very least point him in the direction of trustworthy people. The guy I could tell was not an Japanese sword enthusiast, his only interest appeared to be the potential value of the collection toward his retirement. (Which is fine)

 

Shortly after my last meeting with him, I moved from the area. However, I return occasionally and will re-contact the gentleman. Hopefully he may be ready to move forward with his collection and willing to accept advice on how to do so.

 

As I mentioned, I never saw the actual bulk of the supposed collection, but I did get the sense it was there. If it is, and the gentleman is ready, this could be very interesting indeed...

 

Dave M.

[Tom Darling]

W.H. Hawley in his 1966 edition Japanese swordsmiths mentions a polish cost from $1. to & $7.00 per inch. It cost me few thousand $ including shirasaya and habaki, plus Juyo papers and service charge, and NBTHK membership, I lost count. I think I'll go way back collecting bottle caps and buttons. Peace.

 

 

Tom D.

[Surfson]

And of course the wild card in all of this is that most assuredly 5-10% of those swords that cost 20 bucks were from Edo or earlier and true samurai swords.  Oh what I would give to search that barrel, even if not allowed to take off the handles....

[cisco-san]

here an nice article concerning sword prices from Markus

https://markussesko.com/2013/05/09/

 

and an article concerning Sword Prices, Origami and Samurai Income during Edo period

 

 

 

 

 

Sword Prices, Origami and Samurai Income.pdf

[PNSSHOGUN]

That would be a good Kantei exercise, looking at a whole barrel of Shin Gunto and picking the good ones. Mind you I am close to having a decent barrel, perhaps the military sword collectors can play a game with each other sometime!