98 Gunto - Your thoughts and opinions

[Sodeska]

I recently acquired this type 98 Gunto. It's flawed and damaged I know but I do like it. 

What do you folks think? Not signed on the tang and what may be battle damage along 

with blade flaws. 

Thanks. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Yes that is a Kirikomi near the kissaki, from Samurai days rather than WWII.

[Bruce Pennington]

Well, as the saying goes, "It has a face only a mother could love!" Ha!  Glad you enjoy your gunto.  Is it your first?  At first glance, it appears to be an old work-horse of a blade, re-fitted for a Gunzuko officer.  If all original from the war, the guy must have used a lower-end shop for the re-fit, as the habaki doesn't fit the blade.  Unusual.  Someone, post-war likely, has "polished" the tsuba and menuki too much and removed the original coloring.

 

It is possible the blade was re-fitted by a dealer, post-war.  From the pictures (which may not be fair), the handle wrap looks unused - no hand-oils or wear on the back edge.  And the rayskin looks new.  Again, that may the lighting.

 

When you get a chance, take one of the thick black seppa from the back and move to the front so there is an even number of matching seppa on each side.

 

I apologize for sounding a bit negative.  I believe it all to be legit WWII stuff.  Whether it's been re-built post-war sort of doesn't really matter as blades were re-fitted many times in their lifetime.  And in reality, I could be wrong about the post-war theory. 

 

Welcome to the World of WWII Gunto!

[PNSSHOGUN]

I don't see anything suspicious about the mounts, they are simply in very good condition with most of the gilt remaining. 

[Dave R]

 I noticed the habaki as well, so I am inclined to think it's a bit of a mix and match to a greater or lesser extent, the which is not at all uncommon! I rather like it as well, and would be very happy to have it in my collection.

 

 As for wear, if it was a gunzoku sword, chances are it spent more time in a sword rack than hung on a belt.

[Sodeska]

Thanks for the information folks. Yes, this is my first Japanese sword. I will move the black seppa, I wasn't

sure if that was OK or not. I have tried to take some better photos of it but taking the blade is really hard with

the reflections. You can see better  the hit to the spine and also looks like the blade edge was hit near the hilt.

Is there an estimate  to the age or era of the blade? When I purchased it I was hoping it was authentic.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Best place for era guesses is the Nihonto forum.  Take pics of the bare blade, full length.  A measurement of the cutting length from the back notch to the blade tip.  And the nakago shots too.