Star stamped Ww2 traditionally forged

[Pippo]

New purchase has semi star stamp to tang, traditionally forged? 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Star stamp is a certain indicator of Gendaito.

[Brian]

Indeed. It's always a good sign.

[BANGBANGSAN]

Yamagami Munetoshi 山上宗利. He was a Rikugun Jumei Tosho from Niigata and the brother of Yamagami Akihisa 山上昭久, who was a student of Kurihara Akihide. He also spent time at the Nihon-to Gakuin training along with his brother. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Pippo,

Great gunto!  Munetoshi was one of the primo sword makers in the RJT program (correct me if I'm exagerating @george trotter).  Your fittings are unique with the black painted saya (scabbard).

 

Star-stamped blades often have double latch release buttons, one on the fuchi (handle collar) and one on the saya throat collar.  Does yours?

 

Also, many of his blades have stamped numbers on the end of the nakago (tang) or on the back edge of it.  Does yours?

 

Also, any date inscription on the other side?

 

Traditionally made blades tend to be more pricey on the market.  Normal officer gunto run around $1,400 USD whereas a nihonto or gendaito can go into the $2,400 range or higher.

[Pippo]

Yep serial # and dated

[Pippo]

And yes double lock but the catch of the press lock has snapped off

[Pippo]

Double lock visible in this shot plus damage to lock clasp plus handle missing menuki

[Bruce Pennington]

Ahhh SO!  You won this at the Lloyds aution!  Congrats!  I had pics from their sale page, but yours are better and they didn't show the double buttons.

 

And yes, it would be gendaito, or traditionally made. 

[Pippo]

Bloody awful auction house with their continual postponing and poor listings as they failed to point out that the blade wasnt " in good condition with slightly rounded point" as per description. Condition was actually full edge ground off/removed. Breaks your heart. Whoever they paid to to their final listing did a crap job.

[george trotter]

12 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Pippo,

Great gunto!  Munetoshi was one of the primo sword makers in the RJT program (correct me if I'm exagerating @george trotter).  

 

Hi Bruce, He and his brother Akihisa were important RJT smiths in Niigata, but I can't say if they were "super special" as all RJT had the same resources and presumably, the same output?

 

Phil said the tip had been ground off, so maybe not a primo price here?

Regards,

[Pippo]

George, it wasnt just the tip..full edge gone, youd be weeping if you saw it, thought it would be worth a stab a the price it went for but he omitted to add this major defect. Ive seen a few of these aussie souvenired blades where they return home and grind the edge down so little johny does fillet his sister. 

 If your in the area pop in as picked up a dozen Japanese and australian swords out of boulder that habent seen the light of day in 40years, still covered in grease and dust as havent had the chance to clean yet (still no scabbard yet though)

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, Pippo said:

dozen Japanese and australian swords out of boulder that habent seen the light of day in 40years

Ok, that's just not nice!  Now we're all going to have to wait to see what you've got!

[Pippo]

Thats like saying christmas presents arent nice! Anticipations half the fun of it! Promise to post some pics be they good or bad 😉

[george trotter]

Hi Phil,

Yes I spoke to Jamie at the fair last week and he said you guys had picked up some goodies and I should drop in and have a look.... I'll pop in after the Easter rush has died down a bit...maybe mid-week or later.

See you then (not sure I can bear to look at a "ground down" RJT sword...).

Geo.

[Pippo]

Howd you think i felt when i unwrapped it!🤬😭☹️

[Pippo]

On 4/17/2022 at 12:59 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Ok, that's just not nice!  Now we're all going to have to wait to see what you've got!

Heres a easter egg taster of the swords out of the 40 year old box.

1 more week looking after kids for holiday break and ill start pulling out and sorting.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Bottom two look very promising!