Gunto Tsuba

[hobnails]

Hi guys just doing some research on a gunto that a mate picked up recently, it has an old blade and

is in pretty in rough condition all round.

I was looking at the tsuba and noticed that it has four stamps on it, i was wondering if anyone could

tell me the meaning of them.

many thanks

Chris H

[IJASWORDS]

No idea, but I like it! 

[lonely panet]

Its a early tsuba, the quality of the earlier ones is always a good sign

[Bruce Pennington]

Chris,

I have seen that once before.  I've searched my files, thought I had saved it, but can't find it now.  I also THINK it was presented to Nick Komiya at Warrelics and no one knew what it was.  But I've been chasing so many rabbits lately my memory is doing somersaults and other tricks.  I would recommend posting it on the Warrelics Japanese Militaria forum.  I can do it if you like, and update when I get some word.  Let me know.

[hobnails]

Hi Bruce if you could post it on Warrelics that would be great.

 

ChrisH

[PNSSHOGUN]

Have seen a few of these, assumed it was just a makers mark.

[vajo]

I would say too these are manufactures hanko  kointai seals.

[lonely panet]

　④ The archaic script stamp of the "Tōkyō Wakase".

 

[Gilles]

The tsuba is referenced in the excellent book of Richard FULLER, "Japanese military and civil swords & dirks", page 61, plate 77. The tensho script stamps (seal form) read vertically from right to left, TO KYO / WAKA RAI. Richard Fuller stated that it could be a nationalistic phrase, WAKA RAI meaning "young torrent"......

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the reference Gilles!  I've forgotten more than I remember these days!  Maybe that's where I had seen it before.  Richard's errata sheet for this book corrected the reading to what Hamish posted above - "Wakasei of Tokyo which is the name of the manufacturing company."

[BANGBANGSAN]

東京 若瀨

3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Thanks for the reference Gilles!  I've forgotten more than I remember these days!  Maybe that's where I had seen it before.  Richard's errata sheet for this book corrected the reading to what Hamish posted above - "Wakasei of Tokyo which is the name of the manufacturing company."

Bruce

You saw the unique 若瀨 scabbard drag before.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

That's an excellent photo Trystan.  And thanks for reminding me - these are both made by the same company!

[Kiipu]

Another one of the better known sword shops.  During the war years, the shop went by the name of 若瀬軍刀製作所 [Wakase Guntō Seisaku-jo].  For your information, the picture is upside down.

若瀬 = Wakase.

東京 = Tōkyō.

 

See this post by "k morita" for another example.

Gunto -Tsuba, Post #5

[Bruce Pennington]

Dang, these are high quality craftsmanship.

[hobnails]

Hi guys thank you for the information

cheers

Chris H

[Dave R]

Every so often I see dubious Gunto tsuba, and the quality , especially of the nanako is always the give away.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

They are good castings, they weren't carved by hand!

[Itomagoi]

Hello, I did not want to create a new topic. Therefore, I post the found tsuba here.

My question is if any of you have seen such a version of WWII Tsuba before or has anyone filed the boar eyes themselves!?

[Bruce Pennington]

I don’t know what the heck that is.  Doesn’t look legit to me.

[Brian]

Looks like a very rough casting that has not had any further work done on it.

[Itomagoi]

To me, the tsuba looks legit. I think someone drilled through the sakura flowers and then filed them. For whatever reason.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Not sure about that one but never say never with Gunto fittings.

[Itomagoi]

yes, there is always something new. :-)

[Itomagoi]

let's take this tsuba. fake or original?

[Bruce Pennington]

2 hours ago, Itomagoi said:

fake or original?

Peter, there is a thread somewhere talking specifically about this kind. General consensus is that they were made in Manchuria possibly for collaboration forces.  
 

Maybe someone can provide a link, I can’t find it.

[lonely panet]

Faker then breast implants 

[PNSSHOGUN]

This is based on a real type of custom Type 94 tsuba, however this is a crude copy. 

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

This is based on a real type of custom Type 94 tsuba, however this is a crude copy. 

John, do you remember the thread we talked about these?  I found some photos I kept, but I didn't save a reference.  I know there were 2 or 3 examples of this on it.

[Itomagoi]

Thank you, Bruce. 

[vajo]

Peter, Tsuka & Seppa are Rinji Seishiki from a low grade sword. The tsuba didn't fit and is something else.