Type 98 Green Gunto Saya ??

[dwmc]

Ohmura's "Military Swords of Imperial Japan" has an example of a Bluish Green type 98 Gunto saya among several of the more common colors.

 

My questions is, out of all the years I've followed the NMB, I can't recall seeing even one of the Green Saya's.

 

Was this color saya more of an anomaly, or was it simply a color rarely chosen ???

 

Does anyone have one of these green colored saya's? I would think that if anyone had an example, it would be Neil (IJASWORDS) from Australia.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Dave M.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Dave do you have a photo of this colour?

[dwmc]

21 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Hi Dave do you have a photo of this colour?

Hi John,

 

This is the color I'm referring to.

 

Dave M.        .

[PNSSHOGUN]

In the photo it almost looks like polished & lacquered sharkskin, but difficult to tell with the resolution (common with the images on Ohmura).

[dwmc]

24 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

In the photo it almost looks like polished & lacquered sharkskin, but difficult to tell with the resolution (common with the images on Ohmura).

On high resolution, I see what your saying, it does appear possibly a shark skin.

 

Do you ever recall a Type 98 gunto showing up on the board with this variation of saya ? I think this may be a rare Saya indeed !

 

Dave

[PNSSHOGUN]

Sharkskin saya have definitely come up, but not in that colour.

[dwmc]

Hopefully, someone will own and provide a photo of Type 98 with the green color variation saya, and additonal information as to it's construction material.

6 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Sharkskin saya have definitely come up, but not in that colour.

 

Yes, have seen many Sharkskin saya's, but agree, green would be an odd color.

 

Thanks again,

 

Dave M.

[dwmc]

 

Further research indicates green lacquer or paint over metal.

 

 

Dave M.

 

!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Those are often found on Type 94 and early Type 98, I think they are different from the other Saya you posted as they are a classic green without any blue tinge.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here’s one with a Mantetsu in it:

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Here's a classic gloss green Saya: http://www.guntoartswords.com/010776.html

 

 

 

[dwmc]

9 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Here’s one with a Mantetsu in it:

 

 

Thanks Bruce, This is exactly the Saya color variation I was thinking of, perfect example !  The look of wwll era, age appropriate, excellent...

You've established there are a least a few out there.

Thanks again,

Dave

[Itomagoi]

Hey Dave,

sry, I'm late, but this is my or better it was my Emura-to with green Saya as an example :-)

 

[Butch]

Here is my Mantetsu sword in its green sayer 

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, Butch said:

my Mantetsu

Do we have that one on file Gareth?

[Butch]

Yes Bruce all on file …

[dwmc]

10 hours ago, Itomagoi said:

Hey Dave,

sry, I'm late, but this is my or better it was my Emura-to with green Saya as an example :-)

 

 

No problem Peter, all input appreciated, it's becoming apparent to me there are even a few slight variations in what could be considered traditional  "Gunto green" as John and Gareth have shown.

 

After looking closer at Victor's Mantetsu saya, which Bruce shared, it appears to be a greenish paint possibly applied post war.

 

Again, all input is greatly appreciated, however, yours appears to be the closest to the "Bluish Green" saya color variation displayed in Ohmura's Gunto Site, however, I'm not sure we've quite got a match yet.

 

I'm beginning to suspect that very specific Bluish Green saya color variation is extemely rare, if not produced in any number at all, an anomaly indeed.

 

Perhaps one will eventually show up!

 

Thank you all for the effort,

 

Dave M.

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's one on a Masayuki, October 1941 Showa-stamped blade, posted by @NickC

[Nicholas]

Is there any reason for the green saya? Or was it just an optional color. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Most of the colours vaguely fit within the colour pallete of fatigues. Beyond that it likely would simply be the officers taste.

[dwmc]

On 7/11/2022 at 8:54 PM, dwmc said:

 

Further research indicates green lacquer or paint over metal.

 

 

Dave M.

 

!

 

Very rare green saya color variation. Appears WWll era. Close to the color shown on Ohmura's Gunto site. Sword is for sale on Ebay presently.

 

Dave M.

 

[dwmc]

Another excellent WWll Shingunto with rare green saya. Oki Kunisumi Okimitsu sword smith 1945. For sale presently on Jauce site.

[dwmc]

Additional photo. This green color saya was apparently not that popular during the WWll years due to the rarity they show up. Even (Neil) from Australia doesn't own one to my knowledge. 

[dwmc]

[EdWolf]

I have one with a green saya. 

 

[dwmc]

4 hours ago, EdWolf said:

I have one with a green saya. 

 

Excellent Ed...very rare indeed! You don't often see your green saya variation in collections. However, one does show up occasionally!

 

Thanks for reply!

 

Best regards,

 

Dave