Kai gunto katana sword for review

[Jason_D]

Hello everyone , this is my second post , i would like some help evaluating the authenticity of this kai gunto katana blade.What do the Japanese writings mean on it?

It has an anchor symbol near the Japanese letters (does it mean something?).

I had noticed that the place where other swords have the rayskin (dont know its name , excuse me) , this sword has a black rough material.What could that be?

If its authentic what could be a value estimate?

Finally i am sorry for the bad quality of the pictures , they are old and i cant obtain new ones.

 

Hope you like it

 

 

 

Thank you!

[Bruce Pennington]

Jaspar - do us all a favor and go to your settings and put a name (like "BruceP" only with your name), so we have a name to talk to (website rules BTW), thanks!

 

Looks interesting! We could REALLY use some better pictures, though! Clear close-ups of the stamp at the top of the nakago (tang); better lit closeup of the tsuka (handle) to see the material under the wrap. Would like a well-lit closeup of the saya (scabbard) to see the material/finish. And finally, a well-lit closeup of the metal fittings around the handguard.

 

There were late-war kaigunto with black canvas under the wrap instead of the rayskin. I'm thinking that's what is there, but the pictures are too blurry and dark.

[BANGBANGSAN]

Showa smith 伊奈波 兼吉Inaba Kaneyoshi ，Stainless steel blade.

[Bruce Pennington]

Showa smith 伊奈波 兼吉Inaba Kaneyoshi ，Stainless steel blade.

Bingo Trystan! I knew I'd seen that stamp before! It's the "伊" of Inaba. This is the second one of his I've seen lately. The previous one had a Toyokawa Navy Arsenal stamp above it, as this one appears to have as well (need better pics!).

[Jason_D]

Showa smith 伊奈波 兼吉Inaba Kaneyoshi ，Stainless steel blade.

Thank you very much , much apreciated!

[vajo]

Jason that "anti" rust steel of your Kai Gunto is very good. Nice sword.

[Jason_D]

Jason that "anti" rust steel of your Kai Gunto is very good. Nice sword.

:D

[16k]

I was wondering, since I’ve never seen one of these blades in hand: do these have a real Hamon or an etched one?

[vajo]

Real Hamon JP

[Jason_D]

Just learned what hamon is because of the above comments ... also saw that there are fake hamon.

[Jason_D]

Jaspar - do us all a favor and go to your settings and put a name (like "BruceP" only with your name), so we have a name to talk to (website rules BTW), thanks!

 

Looks interesting! We could REALLY use some better pictures, though! Clear close-ups of the stamp at the top of the nakago (tang); better lit closeup of the tsuka (handle) to see the material under the wrap. Would like a well-lit closeup of the saya (scabbard) to see the material/finish. And finally, a well-lit closeup of the metal fittings around the handguard.

 

There were late-war kaigunto with black canvas under the wrap instead of the rayskin. I'm thinking that's what is there, but the pictures are too blurry and dark.

 

Here they are

 

[Jason_D]

Jason that "anti" rust steel of your Kai Gunto is very good. Nice sword.

 

Hello vajo , how much do you think this sword costs? (an estimate)

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the better pics Jason! I wish I had kept a picture of the serial number on the previous Inaba Kaneyoshi. This seems to be his way of marking his blades.

I see the saya is black after all. The first pics gave it a brown look.

 

The material under the wrap seems to be a textured lacquer. Haven't seen that before!

 

Type 97 Kaigunto tend to run more than army Type 98s as they are no as plentiful. There is one posted on fleabay now for $2,700, and a couple of aucitons starting at $900 (they won't end that low). I'd say $1,800-2,400 depending upon condition and smith.

[Jason_D]

Thanks for the better pics Jason! I wish I had kept a picture of the serial number on the previous Inaba Kaneyoshi. This seems to be his way of marking his blades.

I see the saya is black after all. The first pics gave it a brown look.

 

The material under the wrap seems to be a textured lacquer. Haven't seen that before!

 

Type 97 Kaigunto tend to run more than army Type 98s as they are no as plentiful. There is one posted on fleabay now for $2,700, and a couple of aucitons starting at $900 (they won't end that low). I'd say $1,800-2,400 depending upon condition and smith.

 

Thank you Bruce! I hope you liked the better pictures.

[Jason_D]

Thanks for the better pics Jason! I wish I had kept a picture of the serial number on the previous Inaba Kaneyoshi. This seems to be his way of marking his blades.

I see the saya is black after all. The first pics gave it a brown look.

 

The material under the wrap seems to be a textured lacquer. Haven't seen that before!

 

Type 97 Kaigunto tend to run more than army Type 98s as they are no as plentiful. There is one posted on fleabay now for $2,700, and a couple of aucitons starting at $900 (they won't end that low). I'd say $1,800-2,400 depending upon condition and smith.

 

Hello Bruce , i would like to ask you what type is my kai gunto?

Type 97 or type 98?

Also do you know of a good website i can learn more about the different type of gunto swords?

 

Thank you!

[EdWolf]

Hi Jason,

 

You can find more information here:

 

http://ohmura-study.net/945.html

[Jason_D]

Hi Jason,

 

You can find more information here:

 

http://ohmura-study.net/945.html

Thank you Ed

[BANGBANGSAN]

Kai Gunto is 97,Army Gunto is 94 or 98.

 

Hello Bruce , i would like to ask you what type is my kai gunto?

Type 97 or type 98?

Also do you know of a good website i can learn more about the different type of gunto swords?

 

Thank you!

[Jason_D]

Kai Gunto is 97,Army Gunto is 94 or 98.

Thank you BANGBANGSAN!

[Bruno]

Real Hamon JP

 

Hi Chris,

 

Are you confident that (some of) these anti-rust swords do have real (oil quenched) hamon? I am trying to find out if yes or no.

 

As far as I remember, on Ohmura's page it is said that only Fujiwara Kanenaga was able to produce a real hamon on these blades. Chris Bowen, wrote all the ones he saw had apparently etched/stoned on hamon.

 

I am quite interested in learning more about that particular point. 

 

I am thinking maybe someday buying a nice exemplary but only if it has a real hamon.

 

Thanks

[tbonesullivan]

On 3/10/2020 at 1:24 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks for the better pics Jason! I wish I had kept a picture of the serial number on the previous Inaba Kaneyoshi. This seems to be his way of marking his blades.

I see the saya is black after all. The first pics gave it a brown look.

 

The material under the wrap seems to be a textured lacquer. Haven't seen that before!

 

Type 97 Kaigunto tend to run more than army Type 98s as they are no as plentiful. There is one posted on fleabay now for $2,700, and a couple of aucitons starting at $900 (they won't end that low). I'd say $1,800-2,400 depending upon condition and smith.

 

Just got in a Kai-gunto by Inaba. Didn't recognize it right away because the signature is really kinda messy compared to the last one we had, posted here: 

 

This one has the 伊 stamp under the anchor. I do not see any serial number on the blade. It's painted with 1 2 0 7, which matches all the fittings.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks!  This confirms the kanji/symbol is tied to Inaba Kaneyoshi.

 

Now I will have to go back and look at the other ones I have to see who the Smith was that they came from!

[tbonesullivan]

10 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks!  This confirms the kanji/symbol is tied to Inaba Kaneyoshi.

 

Now I will have to go back and look at the other ones I have to see who the Smith was that they came from!

 

The previous one we had just had the "Anchor" without the other marking, which looks like a "grass writing" 伊. I don't think that had a serial number either.

[Bruce Pennington]

Sure, but I have the marking under the anchor from another sword from the same smith on file.