Any feedback would be helpful ?

[Mick B]

Hi Everyone

 

Hoping might some get feedback on Gunto I just bought from small local auction house. 

Have a collection of military rifles, but this is my first sword. ( starting to think it maybe a 50/50 chance of being a fake ) after reading some of these posts. 

Still waiting on shipping so will get some better photos when I can and update,

 

Seller had said it was his late father's bought back to Australia in 1970's from Papua New Guina, they had said it was an infantry sword with NCO rank punched into Tsuba.

 

Regardless, I still like the look of this sword, for collection,  just hoping someone could help me any with extra information.

 

Thanks again

Mick

[Ron M]

Not much to tell yet. Please use patience with the stickers on the handle, they are definitely a bad placement. From what is shown, it does not appear to be fake (although the blade may be) but you will have to disassemble it and show the tang of the blade to get more answers.

 The guard “tsuba” is an unusual piece and very large. More pics of that too for more opinions.

you have come to the right place as more people will comment with better knowledge 

[Bruce Pennington]

It's a civilian sword that looks like it would have had a leather cover over the scabbard (saya).  Those often go lost, or fell off due to exposure to tropical ellements during the war.  

 

Nut much else we can say without seeing the tang (nakago).  Sometimes there are smith names and even dates to be found there.  Simply tap out the small bamboo peg in the base of the handle, and the handle, handguard, and spacers will slide off.  If the sword has corrosion from the tropics, you migh need a rubber mallet to tap it all loose from the rust/grime.  But, it may come off easily.

[Mick B]

Thanks Ron, appreciate your comments,   I will get some better photos and upload when I can. 

  

[Mick B]

Hi Bruce ,  I will follow your instructions and remove handle and see what is beneath.   When you say it is a civilian sword .. do you mean it probably wasn't a WW2 NCO blade ?    Thanks Mick

[Bruce Pennington]

7 minutes ago, Mick B said:

When you say it is a civilian sword .. do you mean it probably wasn't a WW2 NCO blade ?

It wasn't originally made to be an NCO sword.  Those are a very specific kind of sword, which you can see here: Non-commissioned officers Gunto 1935 (Type 95 Guntō)/title> (ohmura-study.net)

 

But NCOs were known to carry civil swords at times.  We know they did it in the 1930s during eary China excursions, and they were officially authorized to carry them in a regulation change in 1945.

[Mick B]

Thanks again Bruce,  for clarification... seems like I have opened a can of worms for myself regarding this sword origins.  Will get some better reference photos.  Mick     

[Brian]

Definitely an older sword mounted for the war. Could easily (and probably) be an antique.
Remember that during the war, the authorities purchased thousands of old mediocre blades to be remounted for the war effort. Also dealers would take orders using old blades and mounting them in Shin Gunto fittings, or even partial civilian fitting which this one has. Double habaki leads to an old sword most likely. It's a mixture of parts, mostly civilian, so likely an old sword taken to war, or even just an antique civilian sword taken during the war. Once you remove the handle and we can see the tsuba and nakago, we can tell more.

[Mick B]

Thanks Brian. 

 

Really appreciate your comments, I am excited to check out markings.  Will post once I have these.  

 

Thanks

Mick

[Mick B]

Hi All

 

Sorry for delay, I have finally had a chance to remove handle to inspect the nakago as instructed. 

Was very solidly stuck in handle , but finally got free.

 

The nakago was heavily rusted, which I have wiped back as best as possible.  Please see photos attached, not sure if should keep going to try to make more legible? 

Hoping something obvious might stand out to maybe indicated origins of the blade.   

 

Have also attached some pictures of the tsuba with imprinted characters.  

 

Hope someone can shed some light on this.  

 

Thanks Mick

[Mick B]

[Mick B]

[Mick B]

[Mick B]

[Mick B]

[Mick B]