your opinion about the sword please

[Weidas]

Hello everyone,

i obtained this sword recently, mostly because its late war shin-gunto. i was on trip and couldn't compare it with J.Dowson's book and other resources and now, after closer examination of pictures, i have feeling that something is not good with tsuka - looks like tsuka-ito was re-wrapped. I'd appreciate your opinion about that.

 

however, the biggest concern is blade. I think the best i can expect its machine made under supervision of the smith. Seller described it tang signed as Yoshitsugu Seki 10 /1944. but i have some doubts - Showa mark looks strange. I checked in geocities and found 3 Yoshitsugu names, but neither's signature looks similar to mine...

 

I'm really inexperienced in Japanese traditionally made swords and signatures and maybe my doubts appeared only due to that. In that case i'd be very happy to admit my mistake(i'd only gain from that ) E-bay seller also looks impressive and solid.

 

anyway i would be grateful to receive your opinion about this sword - be it good or bad, including that i should check more closely before buying

 

i'm sorry for quality of pictures - those i got from seller and e-bay. i'm still waiting for a sword to wrrive.

 

thank you very much in advance,

best regards,

Vaidas

[mdiddy]

I think your assessment about the tsuka-ito re-wrap is correct. More important though, from what I see of the blade it looks like the tip was broke off and reground at some point. I suspect Chinese copiers would not go to that degree to copy a blade. It's hard to completely see all of the hamon, but it looks thick and etched. Given its a late war blade (date) and if it has that type of hamon (thick suguha, no nioi guchi, clearly etched) then it would most likely be machine made. I have handled many of these late war blades with a clearly etched hamon that were also signed with two characters that looked quickly chiseled. My point is that signature is never a guarantee (neither is hamon when determining tamahagane vs. mill steel). Analyze the hamon closely when the blade gets in for more clues. Regardless, the reground tip is no good but if you got this for a good price (~$300?) then I wouldn't feel too bad about it.

[Weidas]

Hello Matt, thank you for your post. i should get the sword within 7-10 days, then i'll be able to make better pics. So far it seems that i was when decided to buy it as overall it will cost me over $900...

[Brian]

I think this is genuine, and an arsenal blade with oil quenched hamon. But the blade has been buffed to a mirror shine.

The mounts indicate that it is in 1944 pattern mounts, complete with the bottom mekugi ana. This means it was rewrapped incorrectly. Look up that pattern sword and you will see the unusual way these are wrapped.

So probably a machine/smith-made (not hand forged) arsenal blade that has been buffed and the mounts worked on.

 

Brian

[Hermes]

So far it seems that i was when decided to buy it as overall it will cost me over $900...

Don't feel alone Vaidas, some of us here made our mistakes, i for one am here to help avoid them, but sometimes i still make mistakes that cost me i'm sorry to say, haste makes waste, but i'm learning with the help of this forum.

 

Any chance to you get a refund?

[Weidas]

thank you all for your help.

James - your phrase is worth kg of gold - i'll put in on my desktop i don't think there is chance of refund as description is very very small. Well... we got saying that dumb is beaten even in church... I'll consider this as expensive lesson and try not to do anything stupid in future...

[Brian]

Vaidas,

Don't shoot yourself over this :lol:

From what I can see, you have a 1944 pattern Shin Gunto that needs the tsuka rewrapped.

That should still have some value to a militaria collector, probably over $600 upwards judging from others that sell.

It's not worthless. Find someone to rewrap in the 1944 style and sell it.

I see no major flaws.

 

Brian

[Weidas]

thank you, Brian. I definitely won't hang myself because of this. Ce la vi - got good lesson. Plus, its not i Chinese junk

i'm a bit concerned to find right person to re-wrap tsuka. There aren't any in my region - at least i don't know...

[Stephen]

http://www.montanairon.com/tsukamaki.html#cost

 

I use this fellow, more out there, check around.

[Weidas]

thank you very much, Stephen!