Japanese Sword Information

[marinus]

This Japanese sword  was given to me bij acquaintances of my wife one year ago. The father of te male  acquaintance served as a soldier in Indonesia. ( Just like my own father was sent to Indonesia)  Received it Together with the kris and  old rifle.

They moved from a big house to a small apartment and they had no space for it anymore.

It was in their shed for more than 20 years .  

Original from Indonesia, that is for sure. Maybe you can give me a reply and information about it. (thanks a lot)

 

( see pictures) 

Marinus 

( 25 kilometers below Rotterdam)

the Netherlands

Edited July 26, 2023 by marinus
private

[Jcstroud]

Looks to be a really nice looking Naval Kai gunto do you have any more pictures perhaps of the nakago? It will help us identify the swordsmith possibly......

[marinus]

9 minutes ago, Jcstroud said:

Looks to be a really nice looking Naval Kai gunto do you have any more pictures perhaps of the nakago? It will help us identify the swordsmith possibly......

i dont know how to remove /replace it and i am scared to destroy things.

Maybe i search for somebody who knows how to do it.

[Jcstroud]

If you wish you can remove the screw carefully as not to damage the Ito wrapping it should come right off. The screw is not likely original.normally would have a bamboo mekugi or peg.this shows it was likely used in combat and the peg got lost.just a guess on my part.

[marinus]

thanks for information.( that from the bamboo mekug or peg. )never heard of it before . And I dont know anything about the terms but i am going to find out.

i will find someone who will help me the coming days /weeks. 

i  even do not know if it is a factory sword or handmade. Maybe somebody can see it by the blade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jcstroud]

1 hour ago, marinus said:

thanks for information.( that from the bamboo mekug or peg. )never heard of it before . And I dont know anything about the terms but i am going to find out.

i will find someone who will help me the coming days /weeks. 

i  even do not know if it is a factory sword or handmade. Maybe somebody can see it by the blade.                                                

Likely to be showato aka machine made would need better photos of the blade under better lighting in  order to make any judgements. P.S. a mekugi is a bamboo taper pin that wedges in to hole to hold it together. The nakago is the sword tang the handle attaches to. Also a wedge type fit. Hope that helps......

 

 

John

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[robinalexander]

Hi Marinus,

 

Welcome to NMB.

 

As John said, that is a nice Kai Gunto (Imperial Japanese Navy).

 

A couple of observations and comments .......

 

• Looks like an early (late 1930's) Kai that has the heavier superior fittings in brass and the nice polished dai- seppa rising sun. 
• The sarute may have been removed/replaced at some stage as it should rest on the blade side of the Kabutogane.
• Its fitted with a Chuso (locking) pin which is not rare but, there are certainly not as many around as the more common Kai Gunto's which 'lock' only by the pressure fit between habaki and saya throat (no locking pin or button).  Be careful of that as they can snap if treated roughly.
• It has a polished black shark skin saya cover (samagawa)
• My guess is that the gold chain is not original and a latter non-functional addition.
• To get more info you really need to remove the tsuka buy unscrewing the brass screw (use correct screw driver size to avoid burring) and then easy the tsuka off the nakago.  there are instructions/guidance somewhere and if someone doesn't chime in on that, I will try and find something for you later tonight.  But go gently, if not confident or difficult to remove seek further advice.  If there are any details of the swordsmith/date etc they will be on the nakago.

 

For a bit of Japanese Sword terminology, go to Home page on this site.....Nihonto Info ....(then) Glossary.  The are many others available on the net.

 

A link in regard to sword handling and care (courtesy NMB member Grey Doffin) https://nbthk-ab2.or...ord-characteristics/

 

Finally, although the blade looks to have a fair bit of oxidization, I really like the entire package. 

 

Congratulations and take care of it 

Rob

[robinalexander]

Marinus ... in regard to removing the tsuka have a look at the YouTube clip attached.  It is exactly what I and many other do however I am a little more gentle and use a much smaller (tack) hammer.  But its a good clip.

 

Others may disagree or have something better but the principle is the same.

 

As yours has a brass screw, you just need to remove that and follow the tips in the clip if you are confident.  Again, be careful of the chuso clip.

 

Rob

 

 

[vajo]

Welcome Marinus

this is a very nice Kai Gunto koshirae.

 

could you show us a better and sharp picture of the tip of the blade?

[Ray Singer]

Marinus, if you are able to remove the handle and show us the tang (nakago) please be sure not to clean the tang or remove any rust that you find there. The condition as it should be preserved.

 

Best regards, 

Ray 

 

 

[Stephen]

My favorite type of Kai Gunto.

Is that a brass strip on both sides of saya?

 

That much care to top fitting leads me think it's possible traditionally made katana.

 

Chris is correct in wanting to see better tip photos. 

The angle of the shot makes it look like it's been reworked, hoping not.

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Almost all Naval swords that I have seen have the blackened tsuba and plated mounts or at least show vestiges of these . Does anyone else think that this one may have been heavily "cleaned" and "improved" by the addition of the brass strip 

Ian Brooks

[mecox]

Looks to me like all the soft metal parts have been removed and buffed.  As noted by Rob sarute put back wrong side.  Not sure of saya brass strips, there were custom jobs during the war.

[marinus]

Thanks for all the response.  I will show pictures of the handle. No signature on it.  I don't think it was made by a famous swordsmith  and  no prove that it was in the hands of general Hasimoto or admiral Yamashita . (names fictional).

greeting from Marinus from the Netherlands.

Still not bad receiving it as a present.