Red Lacquer - Urushi - on Gunto

[Bruce Pennington]

Urushi is found swords, yari, and other edge weapons of centuries past, and the topic is discussed on several NMB threads.  I'd like to link them together for future searches and discuss the practice of whether WWII soldiers (or shops) adorned gunto with it.  Until recently, not knowing much about the practice of old, when I saw it on gunto my first reaction was "Bubba job!".  But after getting the privilege of seeing a Type 95, in hand, with a full urushi treatment, I'm convinced that this one, at least, and possibly others we've seen are wartime done.

 

Here are the older ones I've found in my search:

Posted by Adam, @waljamada HERE.

 

 

Posted by Kirill, @Rivkin, HERE.

 

 

(reference link needed) IBB.Co

 

 

 

By @Jock HERE.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's a tanto posted by @Dana1 HERE.

 

A yari by @Lindus (linked needed)

 

By @SAS (link needed)

 

 

By Carl Giuseppe (link and avatar name needed)

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Now for the gunto.  The primo example that got me going is this one:

 

 

I have more photos, but this gunto deserves a thread of it's own, so I'll set that up later.

 

Posted by @lambo35 HERE.

 

 

Posted by @ribendao HERE.

 

Posted by Erich Jr (link  and avatar name needed)

 

I know the instant replies will be "Obvious Bubba jobs!!!".  One thing that stands out to me, though, is that they all have the common theme of red & black.  So, how is it that multiple Bubbas all over the country (world maybe?) coordinated their paint jobs?  I don't buy it.  After seeing the first Type 95 in hand, taking it apart, and examining it.  I feel very strongly it was wartime paint.

 

If anyone has links to the missing ones above, I'd appreciate updates on them.  More examples are welcome!

 

[Baba Yaga]

Never underestimate the skill, or resourcefulness of the Bubba and the Babba Yaga LOL.

Gimei goes back 100's of years and all over the land too.   

[mdiddy]

I think there is merit that some of the extra paint jobs were done by the Japanese during wartime. The Type 95 you cite makes a compelling case.

 

The trick, or complication, will be to define what rules separate the post-war Western treatment (aka Bubba job) from the war-era Japanese treatment. I would recommend not limiting your analysis to red urushi either. There are many other colors to consider - e.g. black painted Type 95's, bronzed Type 95's, etc. I've handled very many with different paint schemes. One of them was a Shodai Hisamichi katana in Type 98 mounts w/ family mon. The blade had been dipped in red paint(?) and was coated at the kissaki and monouchi, mimicking usage. Pretty sure that was not war-era Japanese treatment, even if it had a healthy dose of red.

 

Here's another I handled earlier this year. The orange was actually pretty well done. Bubba job? 

 

[Baba Yaga]

During military war time many resources were scarce, so certain color paint could be what they used. Maybe as simples as that.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Originally some Type 94/Type 98 had lacquer covering the Tsuba:

 

 

[Dave R]

I have posted this before, a nicely gilded Gunto tsuba with black lacquer, bought in from Japan and so pretty well Bubba proof.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Adam was discussing his blade, at the top, and got me re-reading this thread.  Giving it a bump in case someone new has examples to post.

[Bruce Pennington]

A yari-tanto conversion posted by @tbonesullivan HERE

 

[vajo]

Darcy pointed out that could be a Yamato Senj'uin or Uda blade from the Kamakura era.

 

 

You see if the paint is made by a professional craftsman or DIY. The paint should be in straight strokes not daubed. The edges of the paint must be sharp without fringe or waves.

 

Its like that Royal Enfield tank painting.

 

[waljamada]

Remembered coming across a type 98 with lacquered bohi blade on eBay maaaany moons ago.  Dug through my "sword" screenshots and actually found the pics! 

[Nicholas]

My contribution to the thread. A Shinto tanto with I believe a suken carved with what’s left of the red lacquer.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

A naganita turned into a waki with military tsuka.  Posted by @chgruener here:

[Stephen]

Sincerely doubt it was anything done with  WW2 , gunto tsuka added for a handel   is all.

[Scogg]

I'd like to see the saya on that Naginata "gunto"...

I am inclined to agree with Stephen.

Cool piece nonetheless!

Cheers,
-Sam

Edit: I see now in the original post, that it came with NO saya. Strengthening Stephens theory, IMO. 

Edited January 18, 2024 by GeorgeLuucas
edit:

[Scogg]

On 8/23/2022 at 7:43 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very cool.

Now all of the sudden, I want a type95 with red lacquer 

Cheers,
-Sam

[Bruce Pennington]

Not a gunto, but served in the war - really worn red urushi on this old blade:

 

found at this Carl Watson's Orange Coast Auction