Kyu Corner

Bruce Pennington · February 16, 2020

As a newbie to the Kyu, I thought it would be nice to have a thread where Kyu collectors could compare notes, ask questions, and show their stuff.

I got one at auction, that I intend to sell, but I was surprised at it's size. My first one is single-handed, but still a D-ring. This second one is a beast! Double-handed in the tsuka and the blade is twice the width of my first one!

I didn't realize there was such variation in sizes.

PNSSHOGUN · February 16, 2020

Yes, the actual combat ones can be really huge. Does yours have a old blade?

Geraint · February 16, 2020

Dear Bruce.

One more for the list,29.5" blade but single handed.

All the best.

PNSSHOGUN · February 16, 2020

My Field Grade Kyu Gunto

Stephen · February 16, 2020

Really top of my want list. Bigin the better with old blade.

Keep em coming guys!

ChrisW · February 16, 2020

My kind of thread! I'll have to share pictures of mine when I can get a chance to get some decent photos.

Bruce Pennington · February 16, 2020

Yes, the actual combat ones can be really huge. Does yours have a old blade?

John,

I don't think it is. There is orange active rust, but doesn't seem to have any of the dark old stuff, so likely in that 40 yr window when they were making these.

ChrisW · March 5, 2020

When I get a chance, I'll post my family kyu and machine kyu.

Kai-Gunto · March 5, 2020

My 2 navy D-guards with old blades mounted and some parade ones

Bruce Pennington · March 29, 2020

I never noticed the length variations in these until now (I can see them in Thomas' navy collection above now that I'm noticing!) and quality variations in the handle-work.

Just got a Type 8 and a 19 in that batch of 4 gunto. The 19 is longer by almost 2 inches

Type 8 full length - 35 1/2

Type 19 " " - 37 1/4

The acid-etched hamons vary quite a bit too. The one on the 19 actully attempted to have some art in it. The shop that made the 19 put more work into all the artwork on the handle. Comparisons below.

I'll post these for sale soon. I'd love to keep one, but since i took that hit on the fake 98, I can't afford to keep them.

lonely panet · March 29, 2020

If your looking at different lengths in dress swords look here

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13294-type-19-kyu-gunto-dress-swords-i-love-them/

Bruce Pennington · March 29, 2020

Wow Hamish! Dawson said there was a great amount of variation in these. Clearly he wasn’t kidding!

Brian, would it be difficult to merge my posts into his thread? It’s much more significant than this one.

PacificRim · April 4, 2020

Just purchased this type 19 with surrender tag on it. Can’t believe it is still in mint condition after 90+ years.

Bruce Pennington · April 4, 2020

That’s a very nice piece Alex, congrats. It amazes me too when I see immaculate gunto. There is a chance this was an early 19, as they produced some with the double Ashi, before they went to single ashi, but odds are in favor that this was a Type 8. All of them had the double, and that would make it even older!

lonely panet · April 5, 2020

No link to the type 8 Bruce.

Also it's the other way around in regards to 2nd ashi. The majority were made with them, and not having a 2nd ashi was the exception to the normal. If they had not been lost prior to that.

The exceptions probably been for the early swords with heavy German influences tunic strap and or when the weather covers were put on.

Bruce Pennington · April 5, 2020

No link to the type 8 Bruce.

Also it's the other way around in regards to 2nd ashi. The majority were made with them, and not having a 2nd ashi was the exception to the normal. If they had not been lost prior to that.

The exceptions probably been for the early swords with heavy German influences tunic strap and or when the weather covers were put on.

Well shoot. I've told a couple of guys, now, the wrong poop on that! I re-read that section from Dawson, and see that he says that Type 8 lower ashi were not removable, while Type 19 lowere ashi were removable (though "some" weren't removable), and some later 19s (1930s) came with onely 1 ashi. He also stated the main difference in 8s and 19s were in material specs, but didn't say what that means.

How do you distinguish, then, between an 8 and 19?

lonely panet · April 5, 2020

The single most defining features of type 8s are the backstrap decoration, no sukura blossum on the end of the tsuka,

And with the few iv owned the guards wernt decorated.

The comment about removable ashi was for type 19s, sorry i didnt make that clearer.

Bruce Pennington · April 5, 2020

Wow, so looks like all 3 on this thread so far are 19s then. Thanks for the tips!

lonely panet · April 6, 2020

The type 8s are a bit like the type 25s are to the type 32s.

In that there like a practice go before the settled on something they liked.

That's why both exist in low numbers.

If you find one keep it.

drb 1643 · April 6, 2020

Here’s one with the mon integral with the backstrap.

Tom

Bruce Pennington · December 23, 2020

Just came across this Kyu with a Naohiro blade in it. Fittings are a tad prettier than mine, but my blade is nicer. Price is unbelievable for a murata-to by Naohiro. Glad I got mine elsewhere!

For sale HERE

Pictures of mine are on My Christmas Present finally came in.

PNSSHOGUN · December 23, 2020

Certainly a very high price, however those style of Navy Kyu Gunto are rare in such condition, no matter the blade.

Bruce Pennington · December 23, 2020

Ah, yes, I forgot about that. I don't follow these, so unfamiliar with going rates. Mine is army, so it would have been cheaper, though.

IJASWORDS · February 8, 2021

Bruce Pennington · February 8, 2021

Quite a beauty Neil! And you never cease to come up with unique things, like that crest. The emblem isn’t unique, but the surrounding embroidery is.

lonely panet · February 9, 2021

so to completely up stage Neil in a form of frindly rivalry here is one. all numbers matched, the habaki, the blade, the tsuka, saya and evan the shakudo foiled seppa. the blade mumei but looks simular to neils yoshichika.

Bruce Pennington · February 9, 2021

13 hours ago, Hamish said:

all numbers matched,

This is only the second Yamamoto Gunto Shop stamp I have and the first one is on a Type98 tsuba. I don't recall who posted this, but you can see they had the scratched kanji translated. Yours had the scratched kanji, but they aren't the same name from what I can tell. Maybe it's the assembler?

Also, it does seem that the kyu gunto had more kamon than we see on 98s. Don't have tracking proof, just an impression.

Quite nice Kyu from both of you!

Bruce Pennington · February 9, 2021

I just noticed that beveled slot on one of your seppa. That's unique and shows extra work going into making it.

lonely panet · February 9, 2021

7 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

This is only the second Yamamoto Gunto Shop stamp I have and the first one is on a Type98 tsuba. I don't recall who posted this, but you can see they had the scratched kanji translated. Yours had the scratched kanji, but they aren't the same name from what I can tell. Maybe it's the assembler?

Also, it does seem that the kyu gunto had more kamon than we see on 98s. Don't have tracking proof, just an impression.

Quite nice Kyu from both of you!

i post that, i found it for sale on Fleabay