Gold Painted Gunto

[Ian B3HR2UH]

This piece looks anything but original and should be given no credence .

Ian Brooks

[PNSSHOGUN]

Agree with Ian, anyone with a bag of mixed fittings and gold spray paint could produce a stinker like that. 

[waljamada]

Bruce,

 

I think it was a lacquered saya but I don't remember the details.  It was on eBay years ago for 2k and no one bid on it.   Haven't seen it since.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Adam.

 

John and Ian - I partially agree.  It's the kabutogane and tsuba that look original with old paint and appropriate wear.  The rest does look new, and pieced together.

[Bruce Pennington]

Posted by @sechan HERE.  A showa-stamped blade by Kanewaka, with 2 ana, so likely remounted

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's a unique one - gold painted leather saya cover!  Wear and tear looks quite old, like WWII era old.  Also unique is that the gunto comes with the all-brown tassel.  Posted by @waljamada HERE.

 

The blade is a 1942 Masayuki

[John C]

The tassel does not seem to have the same wear and tear as the rest of the fittings. Seems rather clean and un-frayed. Is the fuchi late-war or gunzoku?

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

It is a common design on civil swords that have been refitted for the war. Very common.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's just a gold painted saya, from a Copper Type 95 #3062.  An ebay sale HERE.

[John C]

@Bruce Pennington

Another one on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176005826671?hash=item28fac3c86f:g:RkEAAOSw2GBlQ~rF&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MZuxwxCesLme2ct6UAbqULT8KCs0%2F6C%2BdhbUSe%2FvzZ7JKU7PnMsSlr9gBjydUqF%2BBiFoX%2Fy4ReYUXzOJJDqJsnEiGeTjdRGJJ9wuS9xxb8LNFlE8v9xelYysqeNMUjGkkZ3SnpZxJgnMuctlFVYDUbDpoMN09UBQsE%2ByA0brgDtIvl2bt9FGxt%2BGz%2B6wnd9aZviNYnpIRNy5pwsfsrDqY3%2FFppC%2Fl7Uztg3Sr%2B%2FJm4%2FJNz69EB0NbYiIcx3IUEGsq6XemdsFVMd35BTWFhg0ARHiyzvZyE5OnpSg%2BDlzFfm|tkp%3ABk9SR_bg8pr4Yg

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

17 minutes ago, John C said:

Another one on ebay.

Wow, John!!! I was literally clicking over to this thread to post the same 95!  How cool is that!!!

A couple more photos to show the corrosion.  The one I had was too perfectly painted, no corrosion.  So I think mine was post-war, whereas this one shows signs it may have been done during the war.

 

[John C]

Great minds!

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

As the saying goes!  No brag, just fact! Ha!

[John C]

@Bruce Pennington

Bruce:

Here is a sword with both tsuka and saya painted gold. The gold on the tsuka looks original to me (under the ito wrap).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167957209725?

 

John C.

p.s. same sword posted in translation section.

[Bruce Pennington]

6 hours ago, John C said:

(under the ito wrap)

Dang, John, that's pretty conclusive!  Thanks for posting this.

 

 

When I went to file this, I found that I had another one, similar paint job, with a Hidetoshi blade in it.  Oddly, it's a different mei.

Here's the other one:

 

[secretstamos]

The gold paint looks quite amazing! It's definitely what I'd do to mine if I was back during that time 

[Scogg]

4 hours ago, secretstamos said:

back during that time 

You are not alone! I have reason to suspect that gold was "trendy" after the war.

My grandfather applied gold spray-paint to the saya of my Edo period katana in the late 1950s or early 60s. He had acquired the sword from a World War Two veteran who had taken it home after the war. 

I cannot say if gold paint is wartime or not, some examples above seem more period than others... I can say that my own katana received its gold paint after the war, because my grandfather told me he painted it.

Thank goodness the paint did not stick to the lacquer very well; and has since (mostly) flaked away.
I'll see if I can get a photo of the paint remnants when I get home from work today.
-Sam

 

Edit: adding photos. I know it’s not a gunto, but I felt it’s relevant considering it’s a bring back and was painted shortly thereafter