Question on a WWII Japanese sword

[Sparky]

My name is Rob and I'm new to this board, so hello one and all :D .

I'm going to post this here, if it is in the wrong place please feel free to move it.

 

I recently acquired a sword and I'm trying to determine what it is that I have. I have been told that a father of a friend brought this sword home from the Japanese theater at the end of WWII. My friend does not know anything else about it. So that is my starting point in my quest to discover who this blade is.

 

I have gone to a web site http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm and determined it looks closest to a Army Kyu-gunto, but there are small differences. I'll post the pictures I have taken and if anyone can help me I'd appreciate it. Also I have not been able to get the Habaki off and did not want to force it. I also have looked the handle and blade over and could not find any numbers stamped into it that would show it was a production blade.

 

Thanks,

Rob E.

 

[YukouYukimura]

I'd have to say this is an older blade in newer mounts just based on the number of holes in the tang ,how far the "blood groove" extends down into the tang and the mei (if there ever was one) has been lost due to shortening of this sword(which leads me to believe "MACHI-OKURI"). How long is the ha?(sharp edge)

[Sparky]

The Ha is 25-1/4 inch measured from the Habaki to the Kissaki with a yard stick.

 

It was my thought that this blade may have been cut down as well.

[YukouYukimura]

So you have a Katana in Army Kyu-Gunto mounts. Unfortunately that's all the information I can give you. I am sure others can tell you more about it. It looks very interesting.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Rob,

Definitely an older blade, shortened more than once, and mounted for WWII. No one will be able to tell you much from the pix; it needs to be seen by someone who knows Nihonto.

In the mean time, make sure you're up on sword care and etiquette (look to links above) so it doesn't suffer damage.

Grey

[YukouYukimura]

I thought that might be the case. If you could get some better close up clear pictures of the blade and kissaki someone here might be able to give you some more information as to what the blade is, but no promises!

[Brian]

Try and wipe it down with light machine oil, and don't use anything abrasive on it at all.

Yes, an earlier blade taken to war. Can't see condition from the pics, but hopefully the hamon is complete and there are no cracks or chips.

Must say, I am rather partial to blades with well cut grooves running through the tang

 

Brian

[SwordGuyJoe]

This is very interesting. It is not very often that this style of Kyu Gunto actually has a handmade blade. Usually, machine made. Nice piece!

[stekemest]

Very likely a koto blade (before 1600). Nice.

[Sparky]

Try as I might i can't get a good close up of the blade. But I'll show what I do have.

 

Thanks all...

 

[drbvac]

This is likely an 1875-1866 pattern Kyu-Gunto with an older blade as stated before. Do you have any pics of the backstrap? (The metal on the top of the handle) as any decoration here may indicate whether it was an officers sword. The scabbard isnt correct, unless there is metal under the brown and the wrap as they were usually metal and either chrome polished or covered with leather.

 

These were used by the Japanese in the war against the Russians in 1904-05 and then in WW2 as many officers preferred the shape to the 1934 pattern. This may have been one of those but the blade is definitely older than that.

[Stephen]

Looks like it was just a added damaged shirasaya to hold the blade

[Mark Green]

Great looking old sword. I had one in these same mounts, that turned out to be one of the best looking swords I have ever had.

I still have the metal saya that went with it, if someday you want to have a full koshirae to set with it. I don't need it for anything. Likely may not fit, but you never know.

I would say a very old sword though. Looks good.

Mark G

[Weidas]

just to add to Mr. Barret's description: this is type19 company grade officer's sword. Pity that original scabbard is missing, otherwise beautiful sword:)

[Sparky]

This is likely an 1875-1866 pattern Kyu-Gunto with an older blade as stated before. Do you have any pics of the backstrap? (The metal on the top of the handle) as any decoration here may indicate whether it was an officers sword. The scabbard isnt correct, unless there is metal under the brown and the wrap as they were usually metal and either chrome polished or covered with leather.

 

These were used by the Japanese in the war against the Russians in 1904-05 and then in WW2 as many officers preferred the shape to the 1934 pattern. This may have been one of those but the blade is definitely older than that.

 

Sorry it took so long, work got busy :D

Thanks

Rob E.

[Sparky]

Great looking old sword. I had one in these same mounts, that turned out to be one of the best looking swords I have ever had.

I still have the metal saya that went with it, if someday you want to have a full koshirae to set with it. I don't need it for anything. Likely may not fit, but you never know.

I would say a very old sword though. Looks good.

Mark G

 

Mark,

I'm new at this and I'm not sure what a koshirae is :?

I am definatelly enthralled with this sword. Just thinking about its history blows my mind!

[SwordGuyJoe]

Koshirae is the mountings - (saya - scabbard and tsuka - handle)

[kusunokimasahige]

Very nice sword indeed, could also have been used during the Meiji transition, worth a polish, and very interesting for shinsa i think

 

KM