WW2 Gunto Samegawa skin

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

Hello, my brother whom lives on the east coast recently came across a WW2 gunto that appeared to be a period appropriate WW2 gunto but one thing didn’t make sense. The Samegawa appeared to be synthetic upon closer inspection. The wrapping overtop appeared correct as well. I don’t know if somebody went to extreme lengths to fake this or not. Sting ray skin is not terribly expensive. Was there ever synthetic skin at that period of time ever used during the war effort?

IJASWORDS · March 5, 2020

Yes, celluloid that usually yellows a bit over time.

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

Yes it actually did have an yellowing or aged appearance and looking with the magnifying glass in the tiny crevasses at the edges of the skin between the fittings had the same aged consistency with tiny grains of dirt, wear and deposits which appeared original in relation to the rest of the fittings. Thank you Neil for educating me to that fact

PNSSHOGUN · March 5, 2020

George there was a discussion about this last year but I can't remember the thread it was in, had some good info. Anyway if it looked like this than it was original.

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

John, Here are some pics I saved of it. I know you know quite a bit about Gunto. Thank you

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

They all had #1 matching seppa with markings on Tsuba

16k · March 5, 2020

They often used celluloid towards the end of the war, so not surprising at all.

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

Thank you Jean-Pierre

16k · March 5, 2020

There was a shortage of raw material, including samegawa. The Thread John speaks about explained it. I think someone also theorized it might have been a choice made because celluloid resisted better to humidity in the wet and hot jungles. Could have been a reason too though I think shortage is really the main one.

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

I did a search before I asked this question but initially couldn’t find anything. I figured somebody prob discussed this at some point on the board. Thanks again for more info Jean-Pierre

Bazza · March 5, 2020

I believe the thread in everybody's mind is this one:

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/8627-celluloid-same-of-wwiiand-type-3-mon/

George, if you've never used the Search function on the Board the time is now. Top rh corner. Firstly click View New Content, then enter celluloid in the search window, then click the magnifying glass. There are quite some number of threads with celluloid mentioned. Bon appetit...

BaZZa.

16k · March 5, 2020

Yep, that’s the one! Couldn’t find it either. And stupid as I am, I used same/plastic/artificial as search words. Never even thought about using celluloid!

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

Yes, Thank you, I read the old thread. I saw that it was made of a composite of another type of material probably similar to celluloid. I would think pure celluloid would be highly flammable. Very interesting stuff

Bruce Pennington · March 5, 2020

I have seen some pretty high-quality gunto with celluloid, so I don't think they were predominantly late-war. George, is your blade dated?

Utopianarian · March 5, 2020

Date I think Showa 16th year, 10th month = October 1941.

Bruce Pennington · March 5, 2020

Yes, so not late-war. I don't know the year they started using this stuff, but like JP stated, there were likely a number of different reasons for using it.

16k · March 5, 2020

I didn’t know they started using it that soon, so surely, that would be another interest subject to delve into...

Thomas? You there my friend?

Bruce Pennington · March 5, 2020

I didn’t know they started using it that soon, so surely, that would be another interest subject to delve into...

Thomas? You there my friend?

My Dad's Mantetsu is 1941 and has the celuloid.

16k · March 5, 2020

My 43 Mantetsu is too but I always assumed it was because it was late in the war. say, Bruce, do you have pics of your Dad’s Mantetsu? I know it was polished so it must be a feast for the eyes!