Navy Rinji Model

[Kiipu]

Cross-Reference

With only one ashi (suspension ring), these naval kai-gunto are often associated with Naval Landing Force officers (marines).  The wooden saya may well have originally been plain with a black leather combat cover, but this one is painted black which may or may not be period.  The sword is late war because of the black pitch tsuka; earlier swords would have been rayskin.

WW2 Japanese 1937M Naval / Marine Officer's Kai-Gunto Katana, sold

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, good example Thomas!

[Kiipu]

Cross-Reference

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.  ...  This is a late war gunto as there is no same (ray skin) but rather a black pitch fabric tsuba base cover.

WW2 Japanese Naval Landing Forces Officers Kai-Gunto, Sold

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, looks like painted wood.  It also seems to have that one-piece fuchi/seppa seen on a few late-war kaigunto and on all the post-war souvenirs:

[Bruce Pennington]

We don't have a dedicated thread for Late War Kaigunto (one on Warrelics, though), so I'm posting this here.

 

A mumei, late war kaigunto in leather covered saya, with army kabutogane.  I've seen similar ones around.  Note the kabutogane doesn't have the sakura and leaves around the edges (not a good shot, but I think I'm right about that).  So the style we see on the souvenir is fashioned off this tone-down late war fashion, I think.  Found on this Warrelics Thread.

[Jcstroud]

On 5/2/2022 at 11:04 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

have that one-piece fuchi/seppa seen on a few late-war kaigunto and on all the post-war souvenirs:

I must say that there are a few that were identified as souvenirs that have normal naval fuchi with separate seppas for the record.

[Bruce Pennington]

46 minutes ago, Jcstroud said:

there are a few that were identified as souvenirs that have normal naval fuchi with separate seppas for the record

Which backs up our idea that the souvenir operation was, at least initially, using surplus parts.

[gun addict]

I posted this on the tassel thread, but this is a late war Gendai KaiGunto signed by Akikuni. Single haiken, and came with an Army tassel. It is sort of an amalgamation of early and late war features. Nice Samesaya, water quenched gendai, single haiken and no same on the grip.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's a late war kaigunto.  Note the fuchi that almost has a built-in seppa and has that, oh what to call it?, flimsy, bright, cheapily-made look to it, like the souvenir fuchi.  Also, dig that horrible dai-seppa!  Has a large-seki stamped Yoshitsugu blade in it.  I wish it had been dated.  I do have a single 1945 blade with the large seki stamp, so it's possible this was made that year.

 

[Jcstroud]

26 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Here's a late war kaigunto.  Note the fuchi that almost has a built-in seppa and has that, oh what to call it?, flimsy, bright, cheapily-made look to it, like the souvenir fuchi.  Also, dig that horrible dai-seppa!  Has a large-seki

Does appear to have been made in a hurry,never have seen an o-seppa with such irregular geometry,the nakago shape would make it dificult to get a good wedge fit for the tsuka as well.only an observation not a criticizm. With respect.

[Kiipu]

A late war Takayama sword found by Conway S.  Note the unusual menuki.

高山刀正廣謹作　Takayama-tō Masahiro kinsaku

TAKAYAMA MASHIRO SIGNED TAKAYAMA-TO SWORD

[Jcstroud]

A good example of a Naval Rinji Seishiki with 2 mekugi ana

[Conway S]

Only looking at the sword without consideration to the mounts, would the absence of togishi on the mei lend itself to being late war production knowing that Masahiro and Masanao Takayama-to usually have the polisher listed?

 

Conway

[Bruce Pennington]

Adding photos 

 

[Jcstroud]

From this photo using a width to length ratio the calculated nakago length  of 243 mm verifies this is a Takayama built rinji seishiki so they did exist! Cool. That is equal to 9.259 inches. Using the total blade length of34.75 inches-9.59 =25.16 inches or 2.1 shaku.+-

John S.

[Conway S]

@Bruce Pennington I didn't forget about your request for more photos of the Masayasu I posted in the General Nihonto thread. See below for an up close picture of the "delta punch" found on these swords. I tried to get a clear shot of the mune stamp, but the numbers are very small. 

 

Conway 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, Conway S said:

I tried to get a clear shot of the mune stamp, but the numbers are very small. 

Thanks Conway!  That's what God invented the ZOOM for! Ha!  Looks like "2    55" or it's a katakana "ク   55".  There's an extra horizontal line at the bottom of it, though, like a poorly struck "2", so unless someone thinks otherwise, I'm going with "2   55".

[Kiipu]

In the picture above, it is 2 with the 55 stamped upside down.  So maybe the 2 means something different compared to the 55?

[Bruce Pennington]

8 minutes ago, Kiipu said:

In the picture above, it is 2 with the 55 stamped upside down.  So maybe the 2 means something different compared to the 55?

That does remind me of the blades we see with a lone 1 or lone 2, like they are inspector stamps.  So, in this case, it could be Inspector 2, on a blade marked with "55".  Interesting.

[Conway S]

Here are a few pictures of the koshirae on the Masayasu. I think the kabutogane with no hole for the sarute is an interesting feature. 

 

Conway

 

 

 

 

[Conway S]

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, definitely late-war kaigunto.  Interesting, too, the blade was made with 2 ana, but one was filled before the mei was cut, and the mei was chiseled over the filler!

[Kiipu]

Quote

Late WW2 Japanese Officers Katana in its original leather bound field scabbard.  Has iron mounts and a mint condition polished blade.  There are issue stamp and also armours writing on tang.  Generally in good condition for age.  Approximately 97cm overall and blade 66cm.

Late WW2 Japanese Officers Katana

[Bruce Pennington]

Posting photos.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's a real rough, last stage navy rinji.  For sale HERE.

 

One of the Inaba blades

[Kiipu]

That is one of the sword patterns that can be seen in the surrender pile at Sword Capture Pile - Japan 1945.

@Jareth

[Bruce Pennington]

3 hours ago, Kiipu said:

That is one of the sword patterns that can be seen in the surrender pile at Sword Capture Pile - Japan 1945.

@Jareth

Wow, Thomas!  What a memory/attention to detail!!!

[Jareth]

Finally we see an actual example from that photo! Thanks! Asking price is crazy in my opinion 

[PNSSHOGUN]

It may even be the same sword.

[Bruce Pennington]

A late-war kaigunto, Hidemitsu blade.  Note the tsuka, fuchi and koiguchi were made for a chuso, but tsuba/seppa and saya were not.  I've seen a few of these with mixed fittings and am starting think they were assembled this way, using available parts.  Another common theme is the icky colored ito.  Same ito used by Tenzoshan with the souvenirs.

 

 

At auction HERE