Type 98 Evaluation

[Jcremer24]

Hi all,

 

any thoughts on the below gunto sword? It seems to come from a questionable seller- some have reported good deals from this seller on ebay and others have reported bad deals. 

 

my initial thoughts- blade is in poor polish- some surface rust throughout. There also looks to be corrosion on the fittings? 

[Beater]

Looks to be the work of Noshu Nagamura Kiyonobu, a Seki smith. Longer signature than other examples I’ve seen by him and the absence of a “Seki” stamp, so possibly a traditionally forged? 

I’m sure others with more interest of gunto will fill in the gaps but looks authentic to me.

Regards,

Kevin.

 

 

[Beater]

Here’s another by him I found on line…shorter mei and uncommon stamp. Also used name Osamura Kiyonobu and made gendaito which have papered.

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/gendai.htm

[John C]

3 hours ago, Jcremer24 said:

any thoughts

Jason:

In terms of it being a type 98, I have some reservations with the fittings. The fuchi and the kabutogane do not have the standard sakura flowers and leaves design; the ito wrap looks a bit new to me; the mekugi do not seem to have the detail I would expect; and the sarute seems a bit long, as some reproductions I have seen. Now, this could be some other form of furniture I am not familiar with so I will let others discuss.

Here is a link to what a typical type 94 or 98 would look like for reference.

http://ohmura-study.net/905.html

 

John C.

[mecox]

Jason and Kevin, your blade is "Noshu Osugi Ju Nagamura Kiyonobu Saku".   The example shown by Kevin looks to be same sword as Slough page 85 with Tan stamp.  His name was Nagamura Matsuichi and he was born Meiji 34 (1901) April 10.  Registered as a Seki smith Showa 16 (19410 April 30 (just turned 40) and was living in Kamo-gun, Tahara-mura, Osugi.   he became a Rikugun Jumei Tosho. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

The fittings are the lower quality type made during the end of the war period.

[mecox]

John, I have always considered these type of "nanako" punched design kodogu with the leather covered wood saya and leather strap, were budget koshirae made over a longer period, but particularly earlier in war.  Largely based on the blades in them.  Thoughts?

[John C]

Mal:

Just to add to the mix, isn't the tsuba a mid-war design?

John C.

[mecox]

I would have thought same period as tsuka items, which to me are earlier. But just my thoughts, maybe early-mid war?

[Bruce Pennington]

I agree with Mal.  The punched, or stippling, styled fuchi and fittings are often seen on gunto with the 'combat saya', or leather covered wood.  The lower quality kabutogane could either be late-war or simply a cheaper quality shop, with possibly less skill.  We know there were sword makers and shops during the war that lost contracts with the military due to poor workmanship.  So the primo quality fittings that we are so used to seeing weren't always the case.

[PNSSHOGUN]

The reason I say late war is the vast majority seem to have showato blades. The poor quality samegawa (or substitutes) and wrap along with the simplified fittings align with cost and time saving measures implemented in the last years of the war. 

[mecox]

OK but "Showato" blades were produced from at least 1939.   My observations are that many of the Showato (blades) in these koshirae are better made ones (such as Jason's above), as opposed to late war quickies.  Plus there is much evidence on the large numbers of sword stores and suppliers of gunto to officers, with a very wide selection of koshirae type, extras and blades....and this ranged from basic "budget" models to high end very expensive. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Apologies, stamped Showato would be more accurate. Naturally good swords are found in all sorts of Gunto Koshirae. After awhile many collectors will see a pattern form where these poorer quality Koshirae have a higher chance of holding pretty average Showato. The other thing to take into consideration is this seller, and others dealing in bulk lower end swords from Japan, are notorious for putting together non-original mounts for any sword that happens to fit the parts they have.

 

Naturally this is only from my observations and admittedly, my attention is more on the pre 1938 mounted swords than any others.