"Must Have" Showa Swords

IJASWORDS · February 25, 2020

This maybe a bit like asking what is your favourite colour. But very early on in my collection and study of shin-gunto, I made a list of what sword smiths I thought would be a good representative of the period, that were available, and wouldn't break the bank.

I used John Slough's book and other research material, and set my sights on 10 swords that make up a reasonable and affordable representative sample, one that most people would know, and be a good basis for future growth to maybe better traditionally made blades. So here goes......

1. Kanenori.

2. Teruhide.

3. Kanezane.

4. Emura.

5. Nagamitsu.

6. Masafusa (kobuse).

7. Kanemichi.

8. Koa Isshin Mantetsu.

9. Masayuki.

10. Masakiyo.

So ok, these were in retrospect maybe not the greatest choices, but they were relatively easy to find good examples, and were not overly expensive. This formed the basis of an ever expanding collection, and a lot was learned.

My question is, what do other collectors think of my choices, what would you add or subtract from the list (remembering affordability) for a beginner, and do others hunt down swords or pick up what comes along?

Leen · February 25, 2020

I don't know which ones to substract, but for me Mizuno Masanori and Torio Hiromasa would have place in the list.

Ooitame · February 25, 2020

Bias because I have a good one of his, Nagamitsu. Mantetsu blades have caught my eye a few times.

Shamsy · February 25, 2020

Add a Yasakuni shrine smith.

Mantetsu are a given, but the shrine for me is quintessential WW2 and beautiful swords to boot.

Ganko · February 25, 2020

Unfortunately, the Yasukuni blades are getting to the break the bank point.

Leen · February 25, 2020

Indeed, and the whole point is...which are “must haves” that do not break the bank

Shamsy · February 25, 2020

You're not looking hard enough then, or perhaps you simply 'must' have a perfect polished example? If you're happy to take an imperfect Yasakuni in old polish from one of the lesser rated smiths, you'll hardly break the bank.

Ganko · February 25, 2020

I have seen a couple of very good swords by Kuriyama Kaneaki for reasonable prices in the past

IJASWORDS · February 25, 2020

Steve, a Yasukuni was certainly on my second tier list, but as a beginner, the examples I saw were out of my price range.

It is interesting to note that in collecting my first list, there a mix of koshirae.... 98's, Rinji, and Navy Kais. This led to a fascination with the various WW2 mounts.

Ray Singer · February 25, 2020

I like the list here.

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13791-ebay-shibata-ka/?hl=%2Bakimoto+%2Bakitomo&do=findComment&comment=145445

Especially these 10:

Tsukamoto Okimasa
Kotani Yasunori
Kajiyama Yasunori
Ota Chikahide
Gassan Sadakatsu
Kasama Shigetsugu
Takahashi Sadatsugu
Miyairi Akihira
Horii Toshihide
Takahashi Yoshimune

Ray Singer · February 26, 2020

In retrospect. I did not read the original ask carefully enough. So my reply above focused on those that I felt were the best smiths of the time period without considering the budget-conscious aspect.

PNSSHOGUN · February 26, 2020

I will put in Zohei-To or more commonly called "Murata-To" as you will find them in nice early Type 94 pattern mounts and they are inexpensive yet represent a very interesting and important part in Japanese military sword history.

Denis V · February 26, 2020

Looks perfect Neil. So glad you included Emura!

so interesting to see your list, because in my humble starter collection, half are mentioned. So you must be right on availability and price

Denis

BANGBANGSAN · February 27, 2020

I will put in Zohei-To or more commonly called "Murata-To" as you will find them in nice early Type 94 pattern mounts and they are inexpensive yet represent a very interesting and important part in Japanese military sword history.

Most of 造兵刀 are in Type 98 fitting though. like those 造兵刀 and have few in my collection.

PNSSHOGUN · February 27, 2020

Most of 造兵刀 are in Type 98 fitting though. like those 造兵刀 and have few in my collection.

All I have seen listed are in early style mounts with pierced Tsuba, gloss Saya, curved Tsuka and generally high quality fittings consistent with Type 94/early Type 98 mounts. They may be missing the 2nd hanger but the other characteristics are more telling.

celt72 · February 27, 2020

I would definetly add Nakata Kanehide to the list. I've always felt he was underrated. I have a very nice example of his in original polish that actually has utsuri.

BANGBANGSAN · February 27, 2020

All I have seen listed are in early style mounts with pierced Tsuba, gloss Saya, curved Tsuka and generally high quality fittings consistent with Type 94/early Type 98 mounts. They may be missing the 2nd hanger but the other characteristics are more telling.

John

All my 造兵刀(one is Type 94) has pierced Tsuba, gloss Saya(two colors),middle position hole for lock, maybe Type 94/early Type 98 mounts is standard fitting for Zohei to? They still making 造兵刀 in 1945，and lot more than 95.

16k · February 27, 2020

Wow, great collection Trystan, and in awesome condition too!

PNSSHOGUN · February 27, 2020

Great collection Trystan, and yes that is my theory. Every one of these Zohei-To has been in the mount you have. It puzzles me they were being made in 1945 using these high quality mounts, I had assumed they were mostly made during the 30's.

Denis V · February 28, 2020

Great looking collection Trystan.

just a general question to you guys; do you always buy your swords with tassel, or do you add it later on?

I see a lot of swords with tassels on the board, but personally , I only have one in my collection which I bought with the swords...

otherwise, lots of tassel-less swords out there. Well, at least in Belgium anyway...

Denis

Bruce Pennington · February 28, 2020

I like it when they are already with the sword, but I’m mostly looking for the sword and it’s condition. I have gone out and bought tassels for each of my swords, if they didn’t have one already.

BANGBANGSAN · February 28, 2020

Denis

Same as Bruce, I like the sword with tassel, I'll buy the tassel if it has not come with one already. There are a lot of tassels for Type 98 for sale, the hard part is if you have many NCO swords and want all of them to have the leather tassel on.

Great looking collection Trystan.

just a general question to you guys; do you always buy your swords with tassel, or do you add it later on?

I see a lot of swords with tassels on the board, but personally , I only have one in my collection which I bought with the swords...

otherwise, lots of tassel-less swords out there. Well, at least in Belgium anyway...

Denis

PNSSHOGUN · February 29, 2020

A good question about tassels, for a start it's hard to tell if the tassel is original to the sword as we all like to add them. I have a few with original tassels, the easiest ones to verify are ones on cord Sarute. Anyway, I am very OCD and absolutely must have a tassel on every sword.

BANGBANGSAN · February 29, 2020

John

You had many colonel's tassels, and general 's tassel, it's more expensive than a lot Gunto!

A good question about tassels, for a start it's hard to tell if the tassel is original to the sword as we all like to add them. I have a few with original tassels, the easiest ones to verify are ones on cord Sarute. Anyway, I am very OCD and absolutely must have a tassel on every sword.

Denis V · March 1, 2020

Trystan, I totaly agree. A good sword always looks better with a tassel.

Unfortunately, tassels are so expensive. Also, fake swords are not always easy to spot, but a tassel is even harder.
is there a way to distinguish a real from a fake one? Or does it just comes down to trusting your dealer?

Denis

Bruce Pennington · March 1, 2020

In the case of tassels, ironically, I've found fleabay to be honest. For some reason, the sellers of reproduction tassels on fleaby normally post them as reproductions, and you will almost always see that they are shipping from China. The place I tend to see weird tassels is when they come on the swords, themselves. The G.I.s seemed to have often put cords of any style and condition on their souvenirs. Of course some of that was done post-war by Bubba's too. But, the end of the long story is that I haven't seen much intentional deceipt among tassel sellers.

The key, like spotting fake swords, is to study the real ones, like on Ohmura's site or in books, or in hand, to know the fake when you spot it.

PNSSHOGUN · March 1, 2020

I am working on a document that will help people identify tassels more readily. Sometimes it is very difficult to tell the originals from the high quality fakes.

Denis V · March 2, 2020

Nice. Looking forward to that, John.

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