Bruce Pennington Posted February 16, 2020 Report Posted 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. 5 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted February 16, 2020 Report Posted February 16, 2020 Yes, the actual combat ones can be really huge. Does yours have a old blade? 1 Quote
Geraint Posted February 16, 2020 Report Posted February 16, 2020 Dear Bruce. One more for the list,29.5" blade but single handed. All the best. 4 Quote
Stephen Posted February 16, 2020 Report Posted February 16, 2020 Really top of my want list. Bigin the better with old blade. Keep em coming guys! Quote
ChrisW Posted February 16, 2020 Report Posted 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. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 16, 2020 Author Report Posted 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. 1 Quote
ChrisW Posted March 5, 2020 Report Posted March 5, 2020 When I get a chance, I'll post my family kyu and machine kyu. 1 Quote
Kai-Gunto Posted March 5, 2020 Report Posted March 5, 2020 My 2 navy D-guards with old blades mounted and some parade ones 12 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 29, 2020 Author Report Posted 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. 4 Quote
lonely panet Posted March 29, 2020 Report Posted 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/ Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 29, 2020 Author Report Posted 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. 1 Quote
PacificRim Posted April 4, 2020 Report Posted 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. 3 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted April 4, 2020 Author Report Posted 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! 1 Quote
lonely panet Posted April 5, 2020 Report Posted 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. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted April 5, 2020 Author Report Posted 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? Quote
lonely panet Posted April 5, 2020 Report Posted 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. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted April 5, 2020 Author Report Posted April 5, 2020 Wow, so looks like all 3 on this thread so far are 19s then. Thanks for the tips! Quote
lonely panet Posted April 6, 2020 Report Posted 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. 1 Quote
drb 1643 Posted April 6, 2020 Report Posted April 6, 2020 Here’s one with the mon integral with the backstrap. Tom 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted December 23, 2020 Author Report Posted 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. 1 Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted December 23, 2020 Report Posted December 23, 2020 Certainly a very high price, however those style of Navy Kyu Gunto are rare in such condition, no matter the blade. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted December 23, 2020 Author Report Posted 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. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 8, 2021 Author Report Posted 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. Quote
lonely panet Posted February 9, 2021 Report Posted 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. 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 9, 2021 Author Report Posted 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! Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 9, 2021 Author Report Posted 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. Quote
lonely panet Posted February 9, 2021 Report Posted 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 Quote
lonely panet Posted February 9, 2021 Report Posted February 9, 2021 heres another rare kyu in its original leather bag, complete with orginal 2nd ashi too. the Mon is alomost gone but it looks like Imperial 4 1 Quote
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