New Guy -- Any advice on this Shin Gunto

[BrentMc]

I am being offering this for around $600.  

 

I have been looking for a WWII officer's sword and know this one has scabbard issues.

 

Can anyone tell me anything about it?  

 

Thank you for your patience with a new collector!

 

Brent

 

 

[Surfson]

Name looks like Yoshichika, and date is Showa 18, which I think is 1943.  Looks like a genuine Japanese military sword, and the price seems ok to me.  

[ChrisW]

Looks fine and the price sounds good to me too!

[Ken-Hawaii]

Welcome to NMB, Brent. I suggest you offer $500, & spend the other hundred on some reference books.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Brent,

You have to decide how much the broken handle wrap and distressed scabbard will bug you.  If you can live with them then no problem; if you'll always wish they were better then save a few more bucks and buy better.

Grey

[Dave R]

 The scabbard looks like it is one of the aluminium alloy ones, which are original, not common, but do often have issues.

 Are there any signs of a  "Seki" or "Sho" stamp on the tang?

[16k]

I think the price is right. Do you see any stamp on the tang? Also, any shots of the temper line? 

[vajo]

Puhh, price is ok. But that sword isn't eyecandy. It would not be a pleasure for me to have it. Maybe some militaria collector would find it interesting in that condition.

[Surfson]

It's a perfectly good starter sword and if you do buy some books, as Ken rightly suggests, when the time comes to sell it, you will get your money out of it and then some.  

[BrentMc]

Thanks you gentlemen.

 

Can I re-wrap the handle or is it too hard?

[BrentMc]

  On 3/29/2020 at 9:35 AM, 16k said:

I think the price is right. Do you see any stamp on the tang? Also, any shots of the temper line?

I will see it today--it is two hours from me so I will either need to buy it then or pass.

 

I do not have any more pics at all for this...

[BrentMc]

  On 3/29/2020 at 9:35 AM, 16k said:

I think the price is right. Do you see any stamp on the tang? Also, any shots of the temper line? 

 

Those are the only pics he provided to me..

[BrentMc]

  On 3/29/2020 at 3:34 AM, Grey Doffin said:

Hi Brent,

You have to decide how much the broken handle wrap and distressed scabbard will bug you.  If you can live with them then no problem; if you'll always wish they were better then save a few more bucks and buy better.

Grey

 

Grey--thank you.  Could I rewrap that part of the handle wrap?  to at least make it look okay for display?

[BrentMc]

  On 3/29/2020 at 1:38 AM, Ken-Hawaii said:

Welcome to NMB, Brent. I suggest you offer $500, & spend the other hundred on some reference books.

 

Thank you Ken.  I have always wanted a WWII Shin Gunto but they always seem a bit out of reach for my budget.  He seems firm on price but I will find out in a couple of hours when I see it in person

[Surfson]

Good luck Brent.  I hope you get it and follow Ken's advice.  If you wave $500 cash in his face, it's hard to imagine he will turn it down.  You can come back and ask us about books, though since you are interested in military swords, I would start with Fuller and Gregory.

 

Have a look at the serial numbers on the handle parts (tsuba and seppa).  If they all have the same number, that is a big plus.

 

Look to see if the blade has been sanded or buffed to have that shine.  If it has, that is a big minus.

 

If you buy it, I recommend that you not fuss with the handle.  You can display it proudly as is.

 

Check to see if the locking mechanism works properly.  I it does, that is a plus.

 

Check to see that when it is fully assembled that it is held together firmly with a mekugi in it (wooden pin - bring a pair of cheap chopsticks from a Chinese restaurant in case you have to make a temporary one).  If so, that is a plus.

 

Enjoy getting your first sword!

Cheers, Bob

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Brent,

With a bit of careful (and minimal) tucking and trimming you can probably make the wrap look better than it does now but it won't be ideal.  You could have the handle rewrapped for a couple hundred $ but then it is not original.  As I said earlier, you decide if the wrap will bug you.

And if you want a book on Japanese military swords. I would recommend Dawson's Cyclopedia Edition:

https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b510-swords-imperial-Japan-1868-%E2%80%93-1945-cyclopedia-edition

rather than Fuller & Gregory:

https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b259-Japanese-military-and-civil-swords-and-dirks

Dawson is more comprehensive and less expensive, thus the better 1st choice; although Fuller & Gregory is great to have also.

Grey

[BrentMc]

Gents:  as an update.  I did not buy the sword and am still on the hunt for a display ready Shin Gunto.
 
The blade was not shown well in the pics; upon inspection it had obviously been rusty at one time and sanded down.  i asked the man what he knew about the sword and he only knew that his son had bought it on Ebay.  

 

The pics made the handle look better than it was;; it is really rough. The sword was really tight in the saya...I had to almost force it in.
 
I have another lead and will pursue the books you have recommended. 

[Peter Bleed]

Brent,

I think you made the rigth decision - and that you are well started. Recently at the Atlanta Show I saw a number of swords nicer than this change hands at this level AND move up in you direction. I bet you can find some interesting things. Good luck

Peter

[16k]

Brent,

 

i don’t what your budget is but there often are some very good deals in the sale section. Keep an eye open. I’m sure that you may find a much better sword here in the $700-900 range. And you’ll be sure you get the genuine article.