Help please with Kai gunto

[drb 1643]

Hi All, I’m hoping for some guidance and information about this sword. I believe it’s a showato oil quenched but would love to know the smith and an approximate value. There is some damage to the tsuka wrapping but overall it’s in very nice condition and all the seppa numbers match.

Any input and opinions are very much appreciated.

Thank you very much,

Tom

[BANGBANGSAN]

西田兼守作
KANEMORI (兼守), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanemori” (兼守), real name Nishida Rin ́ya (西田林弥), born March 14th 1883, he worked as a guntō smith died September 19th 1944。

[drb 1643]

Two more pictures.

Thank you,

Tom

[drb 1643]

Thank you very much Trystan. That was fast!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Oil quenched, the dark spots in the peaks of the Hamon are textbook. The mounts are very nice, bit of a shame about the Tsuka-ito.

[drb 1643]

Could either of you gentlemen offer an opinion as to a fair value?

Tom

[PNSSHOGUN]

Somewhere in the 1500-2000usd range.

[drb 1643]

Thanks John 

[Bruce Pennington]

Really nice eel skin saya, Tom!  To me, that would put the market price toward the higher end.

 

Large Seki stamp puts your blade in the 1940-45 range with the most likely date of 1942.

[drb 1643]

Thanks Bruce, I always appreciate your input!

Tom

[ROKUJURO]

Bruce,

did you ever hold or see an eel from close? They have no scales! This SAYA finish appears to be SAME in my opinion.

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 2/9/2023 at 2:04 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Bruce,

did you ever hold or see an eel from close? They have no scales! This SAYA finish appears to be SAME in my opinion.

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Oops!  I mean rayskin!