"Mint condition"

[PNSSHOGUN]

I have seen "mint" used alot in Gunto, often fairly questionably, however this is the most perfect condition high quality Type 94/98 I have ever seen listed or published. The description translation states it was owned by "Imperial army General Prince Asaka Yasuhiko possession".

 

See for yourself: https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/x639040421

 

[Ganko]

With gold foiled seppa also. Outstanding koshirae.

[vajo]

Looks really good.

[Stephen]

New old stock?

Mon looks added..something else looks off.

Not sure yet.

[PNSSHOGUN]

This one from Ohmura is the same pattern and nearly same condition: http://ohmura-study.net/906.html

[Stephen]

If he was such a uppty up why not order one of the extra fancy sarute?

[Brian]

Maybe it was a noise issue? Metal against metal wear?
Synthetic one makes sense

[Stephen]

could be but i dont know if he was in battle or a desk jockey

[Dave R]

  On 8/8/2019 at 6:02 PM, Stephen said:

could be but i dont know if he was in battle or a desk jockey

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Yasuhiko_Asaka

[Ontario_Archaeology]

The wiki seems confused, the introduction states this "He was a perpetrator of the Nanking massacre in 1937 but was never charged." but further down . .
 

"The order may have actually been issued, allegedly without the Prince's knowledge or assent, by Lieutenant Colonel Isamu Chō. He was a known radical ultra-nationalist staff member of the Central China Area Army who may have released the order under the sign manual of Asaka."

 

anyway, with anything in military collecting, buy the piece not the story.

[16k]

Pfff! The Chinese make better repros!

 

 

... joking, of course! That is beautiful!

[ChrisW]

Immaculate.

[Logan09]

Gold plated copper Tsuba?

[TETSUGENDO]

IF the Prince Asaka Yasuhiko piece was ever engaged in battle it's condition is miraculous.   The owner most likely saw the battle, he didn't participate. 

 

-S-

[Alex A]

  On 8/9/2019 at 2:40 AM, TETSUGENDO said:

IF the Prince Asaka Yasuhiko piece was ever engaged in battle it's condition is miraculous.   The owner most likely saw the battle, he didn't participate. 

 

-S-

 

Maybe it was carried around in a gun case.

 

Seriously,.dont know much about these fittings but this looks like it was put together and left in a box in the attic.

[Guest]

Given his status, it is likely that he would have more than one Gunto.

[PNSSHOGUN]

I wonder if this was ever even mounted with a sword.

[george trotter]

Just looking at the mon of Prince Asaka Yasuhiko and had a quick look on-line for mon under his name. Found this (1930s) on worthpoint. It is the same as the one on the sword. Interesting that his mon is 'hishi' (diamond) shape. I always thought these 'hishi' kiku-mon are the shape of 'non-royal' members/relatives of the Imperial family.

Here also is one on a sword of mine (wonder who he was and if it is true about the 'hishi' non-royal mon?). Time for Bruce to look into it I think!

Regards,

[Dave R]

  On 8/9/2019 at 4:53 AM, PNSSHOGUN said:

I wonder if this was ever even mounted with a sword.

 

 It will have been fitted to a blade, the question would be what kind of blade, new made for the occasion, or an old high status piece with a number of different mounts.

 

 You get Western swords made for high ranking and Royal status officers that are in even better condition, and older in date. It all depends on use, abuse, preservation and maintenance.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Well that's what I mean, it was fitted to a sword which was then put into shirasaya and not mounted at all.

[brannow]

Great mounts.  Better early mounts like this almost always have the cloth serute.  A few months ago I bought a Gassan Sadakazu in this grade of mounts even has the raised blossom flower button unfortunately they are not mint.

[tbonesullivan]

Oh wow. So that's what they are supposed to look like.  Having seen so many Type 98/94 swords out there, it's nice to see the epitome of that style koshirae.

[Ed]

Final selling price: 1,252,000円

 

That is $11,828.17 at todays conversion rate.  

[16k]

I’d like to be here to see the head of the guy when he opens the package and sees “made in China”! :rotfl

[IJASWORDS]

A pretty good Lt General sword. With provenance AND a Muromachi blade. 

[Dave R]

  On 8/15/2019 at 7:12 PM, 16k said:

I’d like to be here to see the head of the guy when he opens the package and sees “made in China”! :rotfl

 

 You do realise that some idiot will quote this as a reference!

[16k]

I’d be flattered!

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 8/9/2019 at 8:16 AM, george trotter said:

Just looking at the mon of Prince Asaka Yasuhiko and had a quick look on-line for mon under his name. Found this (1930s) on worthpoint. It is the same as the one on the sword. Interesting that his mon is 'hishi' (diamond) shape. I always thought these 'hishi' kiku-mon are the shape of 'non-royal' members/relatives of the Imperial family.

Here also is one on a sword of mine (wonder who he was and if it is true about the 'hishi' non-royal mon?). Time for Bruce to look into it I think!

Regards,

 

 

George, I'm going to kick this one back to you, my friend! You clearly know more about mon already than I will ever know! Ha! I've done some digging in the past, and it seems like a difficult area to study for a non-Japanese speaker. Not much English based data on them.

 

 

  On 8/16/2019 at 6:21 AM, IJASWORDS said:

A pretty good Lt General sword. With provenance AND a Muromachi blade.

 

Neil, very interesting kabutogane - with drilled out "loops" in the design!