NCO gunto question?

[tomekatana]

this NCO gunto appeared to be in my hands. i never had seen real one. how you gentlemen think?

neet and even stamp numbers on nagasa, saya match and ishizuki. on blade and fuchi no inspection stamp.

Neet and distinct detailes on tsuka cast, seppa and tsuba. but no paint, somebody brush paint off.

saya metal, wood inside. tsuka stoper works ok

shape ishizuki points at Tokyo Arsenal same as stamp on fuchi but numbers on blade are reverse as in Nagoya and place of head screw on saya is like in Nagoya Arsenal.

please help is this original or fake NCO gunto? what is it's value? what you gentlemen think?

this is link with pics.http://s405.photobucket.com/albums/pp131/tomekatana/nco%20gunto/

thank you in advance

tomek

[moss]

Tomekatana,

Looks to me like the serial numbers are rotary engraved rather than stamped.

Also the numbers on my NCO's and others I have held are not as even and from memory there is no number on the drag on NCO only on Type 32.

There should be another stamp on blade after the serial number.

To me and I am NO expert I would run from this as it is about as Japanese as ..Chicken Chow Mein

This is only my opinion but fake for sure not worth the postage.

 

Cheers Moss

[SwordGuyJoe]

I agree with Moss. This is a fake. The numbers are a dead give away. Also, the arsenal stamps aren't right (sloppy for lack of a better term) and the bohi (or boshi? - either way - the groove) is terribly sloppy. Japanese NCO's, while not Nihonto, are still created with some amount of attention to detail. The only exception that I have found is some of the late war variant as well as NCO created in occupied territories. Sorry, but I hope this wasn't too expensive of a lesson.

[tomekatana]

thank you gentelmen!

my next question : how is tsuka in real NOC build?

is this solid cast or it have wooden insert or something else ? were i can find pics of tsuka how it was made inside?

thank you for your help.

from sales info: "[...] a private collection in Europe for over 60 years, purchased as part of a larger lot of swords." i paid for this gunto 275$.

tomek

[Mark]

i sold a handle for an NCO sword a few weeks ago. It was hollow with wood inside, so i guess the wood was carved to match the tang then the metal handle was slid on and secured with the screw

[tomekatana]

Mark thank you very much. Could you tell me this wooden insert was one part or two separate. If two did it have carved tang shape on each half ?

Thank you in advance.

tomek

[Mark]

it was inside the handle and i did nor remove it, but i think it was in 2 parts, no idea about fitting to the tang

[moss]

Tomek,

I may be able to help with pictures of a NCO Tsuka.

I can't promise I can find them but I will have a look over the weekend.

Its a sad day that you paid $275 for the Chinese NCO, that is what I paid for the last genuine one I bought (Unmatched No.s admittedly)

Anyway better luck on others and spend a little on some books on the subject.

 

Cheers Moss

[Joe Choi]

Here's some pics from Copper NCO. ( well.. since it's the only one that comes apart)

As you can see the inner tsuka is in bad shape, had to hold it with tapes since some parts are missing. Notice the slot carved on top to allow the catch? mechanism.

[Stephen]

( well.. since it's the only one that comes apart)

 

Thanks for the time Joe, they can be a real bear to take apart and put back to gether.

[tomekatana]

Joe !!!

Thank you very much. I hope that you can take parts together without any problems!!! Thank you for your sacrifice and for pic.

Moss thank you i'm convinced that my NCO is fake. Please don't take your tsuka apart.

Gentlemen

Thank you all for helping me. I find this forum is great place to learn because people like you-ready to share knowledge and experience !

Peace and Love to all us!

tomek