Generals Tassels

[Volker62]

Dear Gents

 

This Tassel was bought together with the corresponding sword by Yasutoku Kajiyama with a rare '94 pattern Koshirae

 in 1967 in Japan from the General's widow from the former Boss of German Bayer Leverkusen.

 

Please enjoy this rare complete historical piece!

[Kolekt-To]

Would an IJN admiral have the standard dark brown navy tassel on their Type 97? 

[Ontario_Archaeology]

1 hour ago, Kolekt-To said:

Would an IJN admiral have the standard dark brown navy tassel on their Type 97? 

Yes, as far as we all know all Navy ranks would have the standard dark brown navy tassel. John did post a brown tassel with white criss-crosses done in the general pattern that may have been for admirals, but they seem super uncommon. Maybe @PNSSHOGUNcan let you know more, as far as I know he is the tassel king. 

[Bruce Pennington]

5 hours ago, Volker62 said:

rare complete historical piece!

Volker, great gunto!  Is that a mon on the fuchi?

 

Also, this one has the kabutogane we've discussed with the holes (missing pins?).  You can see something in one of the holes, which makes me wonder if the head is broken off.  Discussed on this thread: Pinned Kabutogane on Type 94

[Volker62]

Good Morning Bruce

 

Yes its on the Kabutogane, very nice Tsuta Mon

[Volker62]

sorry its on the Fuchi

 

its still early in the morning

 

sorry!

[Volker62]

 

 

my longtime collecting companion, who promised me this swordat our first meeting in 1990

[PNSSHOGUN]

12 hours ago, Ontario_Archaeology said:

Yes, as far as we all know all Navy ranks would have the standard dark brown navy tassel. John did post a brown tassel with white criss-crosses done in the general pattern that may have been for admirals, but they seem super uncommon. Maybe @PNSSHOGUNcan let you know more, as far as I know he is the tassel king. 

My theory is these navy zig zag stitch tassels were for high ranking officers very early in the Kai Gunto production, or a special order of some kind. However just a theory, these tassels are quite rare (possibly overlooked if faded) so it has hard to draw any real conclusions without historical documents or photos of an Admiral holding a Kai Gunto with one on it.

[Volker62]

Dr. Jung  was really an old shool gentleman, I'm glad to have met him!!!!

[paul griff]

Hello Volker,

                      Very nice  acquisition.....well done and thank you for sharing..

Regards,

              Paul..

[Volker62]

with pleasure Paul,

 

thank you!

 

 

Unfortunately these  collecting friends are becoming rarer here in Germany!!!!

[Volker62]

self- appointed "experts" with dealer potential are increasing

 

rapidly!!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Emphatically do not consider myself an expert on anything!

[Volker62]

I agree them 100 percent for myself!!!

 

you never stop learning with Japanese swords!!!!!!!!!

 

Live time adventure!

[Kiipu]

A 1918 illustration of the general officers sword knot can be seen on the right.  The characters in the illustration are reading from right to left.

刀緒 = tōcho = a sword-knot; sabre-knot.

將官同相當官 = Shōkan dō sōtō-kan = General officers and equivalent ranks (medical, etc.).

[PNSSHOGUN]

It is interesting that only the General knot was changed/simplified from the wire cord to fabric straps. The only other tassel to have these fabric straps was the black field knot for all ranks. The other rank tassels for Kyu Gunto retained the wire cord.

[PNSSHOGUN]

A worn General tassel, the areas missing on the crowns is where the tassel rubbed against the Tsuba.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Early and regular style General tassels:

[Bruce Pennington]

John, forgive me if you've already discussed this, but what distinguishes and early style from the late?

[John C]

50 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

John, forgive me if you've already discussed this, but what distinguishes and early style from the late?

John: And on a related question, are the different colors of the tassels meaningful or is that from age?

(Sorry for jumping in, Bruce. Still trying to learn all of this stuff).

John C.

[Volker62]

amazing pieces John, congrats!

[PNSSHOGUN]

The early style are significantly longer with thinner straps. The tassels can be found with two main colours, a lighter yellow and darker yellow.

 

 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Nice example:

 

 

 

[lonely panet]

On 12/16/2022 at 5:14 PM, PNSSHOGUN said:

Early and regular style General tassels:

Im a little bit sexually aroused 

[Kiipu]

On 9/27/2020 at 1:07 AM, PNSSHOGUN said:

Just the one Kyu Gunto so for now it rests on a Type 94 to replicate this photo:

 

Found you another picture to look at, second down from the top.  Note the type of tassel used.

WW2 Japanese Army training yearbook

[PNSSHOGUN]

Boxed General tassel.

[Michaelr]

WOW WOW 😮. Dosent get any better than that John. Thank you so much for sharing. Have to go back and wipe the drule off my computer screen.  MikeR