My Christmas Present finally Came In!

[Bruce Pennington]

Wifey decided to get me a real Christmas present this year - a really nice Type 8/19 with a Naohiro combat blade! It's the one John showed us on another thread, but don't worry, I didn't pay that price! Just a normal market price. I love the finely done double bohi. The blade is immaculate, and I like the double ashi.

 

Enjoy:

[Bruce Pennington]

It's my first Kyu (probably my only). I love the work that went into the little details. (of course this is true for all Japanese metal-work)...

[ChrisW]

Those are the exact reasons why I LOVE Kyu-gunto. I now own three (two wakizashi/traditionally made blades and one-machined katana). Plus, they just feel good in the hand.

[Greg F]

Congratulations Bruce. Im not into military swords but thats a very cool present. Nice bohi.

 

Greg

[reeder]

Congrats that the PO didn’t run it over with a truck and destroy it like my Yoshimune. ????

[PNSSHOGUN]

Very good choice Bruce, if you were to have just one Kyu Gunto that's a really clean example.

[Michaelr]

Nice one Bruce. Thank you for sharing 

        MikeR

[Leen]

Very nice blade Bruce, congrats.

[Kiipu]

One down, one more to go!  Do I detect a master plan at work here?  Let me guess, a stamped Masayuki?

 

Apart from this Naohiro, the WWII tosho Iijima Masayuki of Yamanashi and Tokyo is the only other smith that I know of who used a stamp for his mei.

[Austus]

Congrats, Bruce!  I looked at that sword many times and was very tempted.  Looks like a great specimen.

[zook]

Very nice ... cool wife!  congrats on a great sword!   ....  

[16k]

Very nice! I like that it has a traditional blade in it. Most of those I see for sale have machine made blades. This one shines... on every level!

[EdWolf]

Nice present!

[Ooitame]

Nice!

[Stephen]

Very nice Bruce, fine example of kyu gunto.

[Bruce Pennington]

Very nice! I like that it has a traditional blade in it. Most of those I see for sale have machine made blades. This one shines... on every level!

I don't think it's traditional.  Ohmura calls them Zohei-to, which it think literally means "factory sword."  But at the time, late 1800's to early 1900's, they were state of the art, and hardened edge.

[Dean1981]

Beautiful piece Bruce

 

Congratulations Sir

[PNSSHOGUN]

Very nice! I like that it has a traditional blade in it. Most of those I see for sale have machine made blades. This one shines... on every level!

Not traditional but of a superior grade of machine made, the overall finish and Horimono are good enough to be on a traditional blade but that was simply the standard of the day. I'm not sure when "Zohei-To" production ended for officer blades but all I have seen were either in Kyu Gunto, higher quality Type 94 or early Type 98 koshirae.

[Smee78]

Nice addition Bruce, looks like a neat addition.

[Ed]

Very nice indeed.  Just FYI the "double bo-hi", is called bo-hi, so-hi.  So-hi being the smaller groove.

[Bruce Pennington]

Very nice indeed.  Just FYI the "double bo-hi", is called bo-hi, so-hi.  So-hi being the smaller groove.

Thanks Ed, I hadn't heard that before.

[brannow]

Very nice Bruce!

[vajo]

Congrats Bruce. Nice sword. 

[Death-Ace]

Very, very nice piece Bruce! For a machine made, that blade looks well crafted!

[Bruce Pennington]

Very, very nice piece Bruce! For a machine made, that blade looks well crafted!

Yes, the smith obviously put some time and effort into it. I'm just really happy it was available right when I was looking for one!

 

BTW - the seller was Sohei Swords. Anyone know who he is? Is he an NMB member?

[Bruce Pennington]

Oh how I live thee, let me count the ways ...