Need help with identifying this sword

[John Barry]

Good day gents. Once again, I find myself in need of your assistance in identifying this sword I purchased recently. I know well enough that this is a kai gunto. But as to who made it. I haven’t any clue. Unfortunately there is rust on some of the blade and some damage to the saya. But despite it’s imperfections, this sword is far superior over that shin gunto I posted here before. To me the blade looks like it was forged traditionally but I am not sure. The mei seems to be on the other side and I don’t see any arsenal stamps anywhere. I will try to take more pictures as soon as I get home from work. Anyway, thank you in advance for the much assistance.

 

Barry

[uwe]

It reads: “宮口國護作之” (Miyaguchi Kunimori Kore wo Tsukuru)

[Geraint]

Dear Barry.

 

Nice kaigunto.  Photographs of the entire nakago, both sides would help.

 

All the best.

[lonely panet]

if shoshin, a great find. straight to the togi.

 

iv havnt seen his work prior to the nihonto taren kai, so this should be interesting

[John Barry]

Thank you all for the response. I will send more photos of the blade and Nakago this afternoon.

[Bruce Pennington]

Absolutely gorgeous fittings Barry!

[John Barry]

Sir Geraint,

I do not have the proper camera at the moment. I hope this phone camera picture would suffice. Unfortunately the habaki is on there really tight i know it will come lose soon. Im just too afraid to hammer or try to take it apart.

[John Barry]

The omote side

[John Barry]

3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Absolutely gorgeous fittings Barry!

Thanks Bruce! The blade has some rusts on it but the fittings are  nice. Except for this minor damage on the saya. 

[John Barry]

This is the blade shape by the way. It has some rust but the hamon can be seen. Especially on the omote side. On the other side is a different story. The hamon is still visible when there is good light. When I got this, it had some rusting going on. So I applied oil on it in an attempt to save it from further rusting. I'm sure a qualified polisher can restore it back to glory.

[John Barry]

And here’s a close up look at the tsuka, tsuba and spacers. I noticed that there Is a number 4 stamped on each one. Including the fuchi.

[Bruce Pennington]

The numbers are believed to be put there by the shop that did the fittings.  Since each piece is custom fit to each blade, they mark them all to keep them together during the process.  By having all your pieces with the same number, it's nice to know they are all original parts and haven't been switched around by previous owners.

 

Don't know if you are into restoration, but if so, the tassel would have gone on a metal or cloth "loop" on the end of the handle (tsuka).  Yours has gone missing, and someone put the tassel on the belt hanger loop (haikan).  I'm attaching some pics of various styles.

[John Barry]

23 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

The numbers are believed to be put there by the shop that did the fittings.  Since each piece is custom fit to each blade, they mark them all to keep them together during the process.  By having all your pieces with the same number, it's nice to know they are all original parts and haven't been switched around by previous owners.

 

Don't know if you are into restoration, but if so, the tassel would have gone on a metal or cloth "loop" on the end of the handle (tsuka).  Yours has gone missing, and someone put the tassel on the belt hanger loop (haikan).  I'm attaching some pics of various styles.

Thanks Bruce. I think i will try finding cloth loop for the Tassel. My only problem here is that the available material are synthetic. I also don’t want to try copper wire although there are lots of that here.

[Bruce Pennington]

5 hours ago, John Barry said:

My only problem here is that the available material are synthetic.

There is a thread here at NMB where a guy found a supply and was hoping to get other guys to chip in to buy a roll.  Might be able to search the site and find it.