Bruce Pennington Posted August 23, 2022 Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 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) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 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! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Yaga Posted August 23, 2022 Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdiddy Posted August 23, 2022 Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 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? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Yaga Posted August 23, 2022 Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 During military war time many resources were scarce, so certain color paint could be what they used. Maybe as simples as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNSSHOGUN Posted August 24, 2022 Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 Originally some Type 94/Type 98 had lacquer covering the Tsuba: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave R Posted August 24, 2022 Report Share Posted August 24, 2022 I have posted this before, a nicely gilded Gunto tsuba with black lacquer, bought in from Japan and so pretty well Bubba proof. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted July 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 A yari-tanto conversion posted by @tbonesullivan HERE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vajo Posted July 19, 2023 Report Share Posted July 19, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waljamada Posted July 20, 2023 Report Share Posted July 20, 2023 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! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas Posted July 22, 2023 Report Share Posted July 22, 2023 My contribution to the thread. A Shinto tanto with I believe a suken carved with what’s left of the red lacquer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted January 18 Author Report Share Posted January 18 A naganita turned into a waki with military tsuka. Posted by @chgruener here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 Sincerely doubt it was anything done with WW2 , gunto tsuka added for a handel is all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeLuucas Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 (edited) 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 by GeorgeLuucas edit: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeLuucas Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 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 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted May 16 Author Report Share Posted May 16 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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