Kai Gunto single hanger

[IJASWORDS]

I have seen a number of Kai Gunto, (in person and in photos ) with only one ashi, and no signs of any second hanger ever being present . 

Is this common ? Was it an option ? 

Photo of one I own , in all other respects original and high quality . 

[IJASWORDS]

Trawling the net, just found another single hanger Kai in a 2015 NMB post . 

[PNSSHOGUN]

There was one on ebay with a wakizashi mounted, looked late war made. If memory serves me right I recall reading that near the end of the war they stopped adding the second haikan. If it has obvious signs of later war make it wouldn't be a big leap to say it was an original single haikan example? Harder to say because the quality of Kai Gunto didn't drop off as radically as the Shin Gunto.

[Bruce Pennington]

Neil,

Richard Fuller found the same phenomena, and speculated that they were prefered by Naval land forces workng with the army. He has another variation where a navy gunto is mounted in leather combat cover, 1 haikan, and even has white same'.

 

[IJASWORDS]

Bruce , as always you can put your finger on the right information ! May explain why mine also has a push button release like the Army variety rather than a Navy lanyard to secure the blade. 

[Dave R]

Neil,

Richard Fuller found the same phenomena, and speculated that they were prefered by Naval land forces workng with the army. He has another variation where a navy gunto is mounted in leather combat cover, 1 haikan, and even has white same'.

 

IMG_2557.jpg

 

 I had similar thoughts myself, but without a reference was wary of posting. All to many variant swords get labelled as NLF, but in this case I think you are right on the button.

[drb 1643]

Hi All , I posted pictures of mine in the translation section on 6-8-18. If the moderators can move the pictures to this thread that would be great!

Tom

[IJASWORDS]

Hi Tom, went back about 19 pages and found it . I remember back then it was a "stunner "! It would be great to see it re-posted here . On a side issue , I compared your blade to my Kotani Yasunori, and very similar in construction . However the cutting of the mei , and the hand that did it look different . Especially comparing the cutting of the date . Just an observation , and only my amateurish attempt at comparison .  

[robinalexander]

Hi Neil,

 

It appears at least one large UK dealer shares the same general view as Fuller.

 

A current Kai-Gunto for sale advert states " You can tell this is a genuine WW2 Japanese Naval Landing Forces Officers Kai-Gunto because it only has a single ashi (suspension loop) plus has a leather combat cover."

 

Of course its unknown whether in this case, Fuller's view has simply been adopted or the dealers opinion is based on his own knowledge/experience.

 

FYI.

 

Rob McL

[Dave R]

Hi Neil,

 

It appears at least one large UK dealer shares the same general view as Fuller.

 

A current Kai-Gunto for sale advert states " You can tell this is a genuine WW2 Japanese Naval Landing Forces Officers Kai-Gunto because it only has a single ashi (suspension loop) plus has a leather combat cover."

 

Of course its unknown whether in this case, Fuller's view has simply been adopted or the dealers opinion is based on his own knowledge/experience.

 

FYI.

 

Rob McL

 

 For me the leather combat cover would be the clincher, a sure sign of a sword intended to be taken regularly into combat. Sometimes they seem to have taken whatever was to hand, and would do the job.

[PNSSHOGUN]

If it's one of the shrink fit leather covers it's original without question, same with two hanger Type 94's.