Two Gunto swords W/ Hangers/ Tassel’s

[Utopianarian]

Won these two Gunto swords with hangers and tassels in recent Rock Island Auction. Don’t know much about Gunto fittings but they look ok to me. The description didn’t give much info besides the sword with a thicker blade with deeper curve (bottom blade in pic) was signed with two characters on the right side of blade and 5 characters on the left. It’s a gamble but possibly older blade signed ura side with smith two character signature and date on left or omote. Just a guess and blade with only fittings on without pics of nakago or any other pics. Worst case scenario two ww2 Gunto with hangers and tassel would still be worth the auction price paid. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

George, you can request detailed photos from RIA, they will take a heap if you are clear. This has proven very valuable in the past and stopped me bidding on swords that looked great from the two photos they normally provide.

[Utopianarian]

Thank you John, will do so with future listings. I figured for $2250 plus fees and buyers premium, taxes etc.. still not bad for 2 Gunto with hangers/ tassels. Even if mass produced ww2 blades. Next time I will definitely take your advice. Thank you

[Guest Simon R]

Hi George,

 

Just a friendly word of warning; I live in Japan and I've started to see Chinese made chain hangers enter the auction market over here in the last year or two.

I would say those two hangers shown are both modern replicas for three reasons: they are obviously virtually identical (not impossible but highly unlikely from the same seller), they have a leather(?) fitting and tapered top clip I have never seen on originals and, finally, WWII vintage, Japanese chain hangers - originally popular with cavalry officers - invariably terminate in a 'snail clip', not the European types shown.

 

(Please see link below for a genuine example.)

http://www.guntoartswords.com/010289.html

[PNSSHOGUN]

Good spot, Simon. They may also be US made examples, as the Japanese copied the Sam Browne belt design. It is always safer to purchase the specific Japanese versions just to be safe.

 

A few different types can be found here:

 

 

[Utopianarian]

Good point Simon and John, I did notice that fact and what are the odds that both swords would have hangers intact and be very similar. There are slight differences between the two hangers but I don’t know that much about the hangers or types. The hangers weren’t necessary a deal breaker but they did seem odd being almost identical in type and being present on both swords. The tassels probably are repros too I would suspect. Dressing them up from a sellers prospective makes them more desirable I would assume for Ww2 buffs as well as nihonto enthusiasts. The blades I am interested in especially the bottom blade. It still would have been nice to have original accessories with the blades. Thank you both for assisting me to refine my ability to know what to look out for. I took a gamble on these.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi George, tassels look good. The bottom blade may be a Koa Isshin Mantetsu or, if you're unlucky, a more mundane Showato.