Large, 2-Handed Kyu, Cheap, Seen Better Days

[Bruce Pennington]

I have a 2-handed, D-guard, Kyu for sale. In good condition, these go for $1,200-1,400 USD. This one is missing the handle wire-wrap and seppa. Someone has made a copper spacer next to the habaki to tighten the handle, which works, but it's too wide to allow the blade to fully seat into the saya. Chuso, not depicted, but has the locking tip broken off. Mekugi also not depicted, but present.

Nakago has active rust, so don't know if it's signed. Hamon appears to be artificially applied. Blade has some dark stains and kissaki is deeply pitted.

Pictured next to my singly-handled kyu to show size (my kyu not for sale!)

SOLD

[ChrisW]

I do love Kyu-gunto, but I am trying to stick to traditional blades on them now!

 

This is a great deal for someone new to Kyu-gunto!

[lonely panet]

Bruce,

 

This isnt missing seppa, but is missing the scabbard dust seal. Which are rather uncommon on type 19 kyu gunto.

 

Being labeled the nmb guru on Ijm swords, how did you miss that cool feature

[Bruce Pennington]

Bruce,

This isnt missing seppa, but is missing the scabbard dust seal. Which are rather uncommon on type 19 kyu gunto.

Being labeled the nmb guru on Ijm swords, how did you miss that cool feature

Oh NO! I've been found out! I'm really a Chinese fake! Ha! Here's another theory: "Tell a lie a 1,000 times and soon everyone believes it."!

 

To be more precise, My interest lies in WWII gunto. Therefore, the kyu has never been a gunto of study to me. My Christmas kyu and this 2-handed kyu are the only 2 kyus I've ever held in hand up to now. I've been searching a bit for the dust seal seppa you mentioned but don't see an example. What I did uncover, though, is these normally came with a leather seppa in front of the handguard. That would help explain the over 1/4" spacing that would have to be filled to tighten this up without the post-war spacer.

 

Do you have a picture of the dust seal example?

 

I did see a couple of examples of the leather seppa. And in interesting rather fat seppa, that looks original.

[lonely panet]

Im sure Dawsons will have it

[Bruce Pennington]

Im sure Dawsons will have it

Now I’m think you’re messin’ with me Hamish! I admit I have bad search skills , but I’ve been through Dawson 2 times and only see normal metal and leather seppa on his kyu examples.

[lonely panet]

Pages 65 to 70 off the top of my head

[16k]

Page 69, Bruce, and looks like you need a dust seppa too!

[Bruce Pennington]

You guys are the Zen Masters of finding stuff (Hamish - what a memory!!!)

 

That is quite an interesting piece. He said is was a custom order. I love the barrel screw! Wish I had one for this kyu. Dawson's didn't have a habaki, which mine does, and I'm skeptical that the dust seppa alone would fill the over 1/4" space between the face of the guard and the back of the habaki. My first thought was that the habaki was a replacement and too short, but it does fit perfectly into the saya. So, I'm wondering if maybe this rig had both a thick leather seppa and metal seppa.

[kissakai]

Do you sizes or an image of the barrel screw?

[Bruce Pennington]

Do you sizes or an image of the barrel screw?

Grev,

14.2mm from outer edge of tsuka to outer edge

.5mm diameter of nakago ana

 

Picture from Dawson's book:

[Bruce Pennington]

Page 69, Bruce, and looks like you need a dust seppa too!

JP, looks like a useful picture for your future efforts too!

[16k]

Indeed! Thanks!

[Bruce Pennington]

Sold. Thanks for the interest!