Gunto Sword Translation

[waljamada]

I've been having a large gunto itch....

 

Guys, I'm scared to admit this but I'm really tempted by this sword.  It's a Samurai Monkey sword but it 27 1/2 nagasa, signed, heavy scabbard, looks traditionally made and looks to have some higher end fittings if they are original.  Looks to be a large and meaty gunto in decent polish with some flaws...but the offered price is right...

 

I don't believe this tassel belongs on the sword but I've read conflicting things on brown tassels.  The two sides are a brown tassels equal Navy essentially (but there's a darker and lighter brown variation) and the other side is light brown was started to be used semi late war by the army as a way to disguise rank from enemy soldiers.  I tend to sit on the brown equals Navy to be safe but have a toe on the otherside but waiting for more data.

 

The broken ito looks an annoying problem and I'd shed a tear ever having to remove the original with hand/use stains.  I'd probably leave it as is and he says it still holds as it is now.  Can't see the lock button which I am curious about (lock mechanism works well) but the kuchi-gane and parts of the saya looks to have some of the red/brown color to it rather than standard brown.

 

So I'm tempted....but I also would like to request some translation help for the mei.  The small "yama" kanji is interesting....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[uwe]

The smith seems to be “村山兼俊” (Murayama Kanetoshi)....

[waljamada]

3 hours ago, uwe said:

The smith seems to be “村山兼俊” (Murayama Kanetoshi)....

The Kane and Toshi seem to match decently...as does the yasurimei.  The signature is on the opposite side of the tang on this sword though.  It's on the date side of the book's blade.

[Brian]

It has a horrible acid polish, is not handmade, and I can guarantee you has been messed with in ways that aren't apparent yet...but likely will be eventually.
I would rather drink my own bathwater than buy anything from that criminal. And if he offers something at even a vaguely "good price" you KNOW there is something very wrong with it.
Skip it. Don't support crooks.

[ChrisW]

Stay far far away from that charlatan. Anything he touches is ruined.

[waljamada]

Uwe, thanks for the translation help.  I greatly appreciate it.

 

Bruce and Chris,

 

I appreciate the warnings.  I knew his name is synonymous to dubious.

 

Someone since my post purchased it so I'm sure he sent the offer to many people and it did make it tempting.  So off it goes.  I know his reputation hence my skepticism on every piece of it. 

 

I don't see acid polish but my eye is not too attuned to that other than it creating an either slight or dramatic Damascus appearance.  I do see hada, evidence of folding etc...and a bunch of his blades seem just left as-is.  So it gave hints of a genuine traditionally forged blade.  Hamon looked water quenched to me and there are still age appropriate stains/scratches on the blade and all components.

 

I only surface level know his reputation as making frankenblades, (using mismatched pieces to make a "set") but didn't know he went as far as acid polishes etc...and I don't know what other terrible techniques are out there that he might use.

 

To my eye this one seemed just honest enough to tempt me.  I love those old heavy type 98 koshiraes too.

[Brian]

I would bet it is not hand forged. That's just a Showato. You dodged a bullet.

[ChrisW]

Not only does he do Frankenblades, but he does acid washing and dremel-cut horimono.

[Bruce Pennington]

Adam,

On the brown tassel - Nick Komiya is adamant that they were created for the lance corporal and NCO equivalents of the Gunzuko (civilian arm of the army).  Here's his discussion of it, which includes the uniform regulation citing the all-brown tassel being assigned to them: Nick's Article

This is referring to the lighter shade, army brown, not the darker navy tassel.

[waljamada]

Bruce, thank you for that link.  I just read through that whole discussion and felt like I was on the side lines of an intense tassel discussion.  The evidence of the actual military documents makes it seem quite clear cut the purpose and Gunzoku connection of the light brown tassels.