Kyu Gunto with horn grip, Tassel & Mon.... opinions please

[Johnbull]

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi John, nice example of a company grade parade sabre, not much else to say really. These usually go for a couple hundred dollars USD.

[Bruce Pennington]

Seems much longer than normal.

 

A dress sword, not a fighting blade.

[Johnbull]

Hi Bruce, it has a 29" blade.  I was curious about the horn grip others I have seen are not, also the Mon but have since found the names associated with it.

[Bruce Pennington]

John,

Ok, might just be a visual created by the photo.  Dawson's example is 27 1/2", so same ball-park length.  Dawson states the regulation requirement for the grip is "black buffalo horn," and that is all I've ever seen in Type 8/19 dress swords.  There were custom jobs with other material, but mostly they are black horn.  Are you thinking of the kyu-gunto with D-guard and fighting blade?  They usually had white rayskin.

[Jcstroud]

The longer blades were used in the cavalry a ceremonial blade very cool.

[uwe]

The mon is called “丸に剣花菱” (Maru ni ken hanabishi) and related to some more families than recorded above….