Grandpa's WWII cache

[mtexter]

Interesting Bruce, I might just have to look around and see if I can't find some original parts to make it whole again.  Thanks for lending your knowledge!

[Bruce Pennington]

It might take a while, but that can be part of the fun of the hobby.  It took me 2 years to find all the parts that were missing on my dad's Mantetsu.  But it's worth the time and effort.  In the end, you wind up with a really good looking gunto and the pleasure of making it all happen.

[Smee78]

Those are some interesting looking blades, I hope you continue to take care of them. They were likely covered in cosmoline and that's why they were so protected all these years.

[Dave R]

On 9/3/2020 at 1:27 PM, mtexter said:

Interesting Bruce, I might just have to look around and see if I can't find some original parts to make it whole again.  Thanks for lending your knowledge!

 

 Ebay is your friend for that job, but I suggest buying from Japanese vendors and US only. 

[mtexter]

On 9/5/2020 at 3:28 PM, Smee78 said:

They were likely covered in cosmoline and that's why they were so protected all these years.

This is exactly right!  We didn't know the name of the substance, but this has to have been it.  I've removed it all now, but that's an important thing to know about the history of these.  Thank you!

[Bruce Pennington]

13 hours ago, mtexter said:

the history of these.

Mike,

Just noticed the worn foil label on the saya.  I have never seen one that was readable, but it is said they are of the Seki Cutlery Co. which made fittings as well as Type 95 NCO gunto. [Edited: both pictures are from the same thread and gunto]

 

[Bruce Pennington]

edited out.  pics are from same gunto

 

[Dave R]

"The red string of fate"??

[mtexter]

The Seki Cutlery Company?  Cutlery indeed.  Thanks again for the knowledge Bruce!

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, Dave R said:

"The red string of fate"??

Dave,

 

At first I thought you said that in jest, but the more I think about it after reading the legend and it’s meaning the more I wonder if the soldier actually was given that string by his loved one before leaving for the war, and he tied it around his saya!

 

Makes for a nice story though doesn’t it?

[IJASWORDS]

Here is its brother. Bruce, you have already got a photo of this in your stamp document.  

[Bruce Pennington]

10 hours ago, IJASWORDS said:

already got a photo of this in your stamp document. 

Oooo ... but now I have a much better one!  Thanks Neil!

 

My other pictures of this made the label look like it had 5 points, whereas the silver label had 3 with rounded "cheeks."  But now I can see they are the same.  Why some are gold and others are silver ... ?  The silver one's I've seen are so worn and unreadable, maybe the "gold" is simply worn off.

 

I've swapped the photos in the Stamps doc, thanks!   Getting little odds and ends like this for 7.3, but not enough to warrant a re-publish.

[Mark C]

Hi All,

 

Here is a picture of my label/sticker if of any use.

 

Obviously wooden saya leather covered

 

All the best

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

On 12/22/2020 at 11:20 AM, Mark C said:

Hi All,

 

Here is a picture of my label/sticker if of any use.

 

Obviously wooden saya leather covered

 

All the best

 

 

 

 

Mark,

I don't see any mention of a date on your blade, is there one on the other side? 

[Mark C]

Hi Bruce,

 

I didn't mention a blade just the saya. 

[Kaigunto230]

@mtexter I wanted to follow up on this thread. Did you ever get any photos of the actual blades or learn anything further rom these? Thanks!

[mtexter]

I did!  Quite a lot actually, if you go to my post history you should be able to find the individual threads I put together for each piece, along with imgur albums.  I'll try to put them all here if I remember later

[mtexter]

On 7/9/2021 at 1:07 AM, MichaelSeeley said:

@mtexter I wanted to follow up on this thread. Did you ever get any photos of the actual blades or learn anything further rom these? Thanks!

So here are some links to other threads I started on the complete blades that Grandpa brought back:

Type 98 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33084-type-98-my-cousins/?tab=comments#comment-342680

Type 97 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33233-type-97/?tab=comments#comment-344312
Kuniyuki Wakizashi - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33129-kuniyuki-wakizashi/?tab=comments#comment-343294

Mumei Tanto - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33165-mumei-tanto/?tab=comments#comment-343700

There are imgur links for all but the type 98 which belongs to my cousin, so I got what I could from that.  May pay him a visit if people are interested to see more on that one.  

Cheers everyone,

 

[Kaigunto230]

4 minutes ago, mtexter said:

So here are some links to other threads I started on the complete blades that Grandpa brought back:

Type 98 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33084-type-98-my-cousins/?tab=comments#comment-342680

Type 97 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33233-type-97/?tab=comments#comment-344312
Kuniyuki Wakizashi - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33129-kuniyuki-wakizashi/?tab=comments#comment-343294

Mumei Tanto - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33165-mumei-tanto/?tab=comments#comment-343700

There are imgur links for all but the type 98 which belongs to my cousin, so I got what I could from that.  May pay him a visit if people are interested to see more on that one.  

Cheers everyone,

 

Thank you so much, Mike! Looking forward to perusing these