Admiral Togo's Soshu Masamune

[PNSSHOGUN]

An incredible sword, alot to take in (and verify.....). https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/o373898190

 

[ChrisW]

That's one hell of a kyu-gunto.

[Rivkin]

I would be more than a little suspicious here.

a. Compton's collection is very highly regarded in Japan and there are lots of fake Compton's sayagaki or Compton's record sheets floating around. Overall, there is certain nefarious mystery that surrounds international collections and auctions in the eyes of people there, so a provenance to something like this is well regarded.

However, if the sword of this caliber somehow never made to any of Compton's publications, it probably was never in it.

b. Looks shinto. Hamon is active only in the uppermost area, featureless hada.

c. No papers.

 

Kirill R.

[Gakusee]

Does not look like Masamune. 

[Stephen]

Heck of a tweak job on the nakago.

[Death-Ace]

While it is a nice looking sword, I thibk Masamune is a stretch. It may be koto, but I agree with Kirill that the features of the blade give it a Shinto appearance. Still nice though!

 

I'm not sure how many swords Adm. Togo owned, with one being an Ichimonji Yoshifusa. However, judging from the koshirae, probably wasn't his anyways as this is an Army Kyu-Gunto!

[Ian B3HR2UH]

The Japanese website military swords of Japan has an article on Admiral Togo's sword which was a blade by Yoshifusa in naval Kyu gunto mounts . What he would be doing with a army officers Kyu gunto mystifies me . It was no doubt put together at some time with the intention of deceiving someone .

Ian Brooks

[Brian]

Heck of a tweak job on the nakago.

Yeah..see what you mean

[16k]

That nakago was bent, right? It looks so unnatural!

[Stephen]

Tweak to fit the kyu mounts.

[16k]

Got it! I thought it was to make it look like a Kamakura sori!

[Ian B3HR2UH]

This sword seems to have sold for 1 111 000 yen and there were 437 bids so someone must have thought that it was OK .I guess that if anyone seriously thought it was Togo's it would have sold for ten times this amount

Ian Brooks

[lonely panet]

Admiral togo, not General

[PNSSHOGUN]

I'm sure we will be seeing this sword doing the rounds for years to come.

[Kai-Gunto]

Thats an Army Kyu-gunto , so It cant be Togo’s sword.

By the way ,I got Togo’ sword

[lonely panet]

Admiral togo, not General

Thats an Army Kyu-gunto , so It cant be Togo’s sword.

By the way ,I got Togo’ sword

 

I tried to point this out but no one noticed

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Hamish , you are the only one who mentioned General Togo (  I assume you mean General Tojo ) .  Everyone else in the discussion seemed to understand that it purported to be Admiral Togo's sword .

Please tell us more about your sword Thomas

Ian Brooks

[lonely panet]

You have the wrong end of Togos stick.

 

I was hinting at Togo being a naval officer but simply point out that is is a army kyu, not naval. And that it's neither generals grade.

 

A sort of oxymoronic post. But may Be it was just moronic as it's missed lead the post

[Kai-Gunto]

Hamish , you are the only one who mentioned General Togo ( I assume you mean General Tojo ) . Everyone else in the discussion seemed to understand that it purported to be Admiral Togo's sword .

Please tell us more about your sword Thomas

Ian Brooks

As the thread head line said it was Togo’s sword and it was for sale. Funny.

I dont have Togo’s sword ,it was just a joke. As the head line.

The naval version that Togo would have used ,would look something like this: