Shingunto with Koto uchigatana blade

[Beater]

I recently acquired this sword which has a number of features I found interesting.

I was first drawn to it by the lightweight, lacquered wooden saya, which I understand to be a custom order feature. That and the silver mon caught my eye.
The blade was also unusual.  Deep sori, slender and graceful with odd length bo-hi which were longer than typical koshi-hi but not full length. I hadn’t owned one like that before. The nakago is short and the lower mekugi-ana seemed to be in an odd position - unless the tang had been shortened? The absence of a mei strengthened that belief although the nakago jiri was nicely shaped and not simply cut off square, as often seen. I suspect this was originally a longer sword, shortened to be an uchigatana in the late Koto period, when such swords became popular as single-handed slashers to accompany the longer tachi. Still a bit of a mystery which was now, I had decided, coming home with me.

 

My next discovery was that the mon, which contained three kanji, not immediately recognised by me, were in fact a name. Not only that but the full name, presumably of the Japanese officer who owned it “HAYASHI MASATOMI”. Then on closer examination I saw that close to the habaki, on the mune, there was what was clearly a kiri-komi. Nice, a sword with history.

 

Pure speculation but the early-war fittings, to be in such good condition with hardly a chip in the saya lacquer, hinted to me that this belonged to maybe a (senior?) officer away from the rain and mud of frontline campaign conditions? Who knows. Also a short (24”), lighter, slender blade wouldn’t be the obvious choice for someone who knew they may have to wield the sword in battle. 
 

Someone more knowledgeable than me (that’s pretty much everyone) suggested a possible Yamato influence but happy for anyone with ideas to chip in.

 

Regards,

Kevin. 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Nice looking piece, @SteveM could there be a different reading of the Kanji in silver?

 

Looks like : 林政臣?

[Bruce Pennington]

Great looking sword, Kevin!  I love the unusual bohi.  Your investigations/analysis are always a pleasure to read as well.

[SteveM]

林政臣  Hayashi Masatomi would be my first choice at a reading. Masaomi is also possible. 

[Conway S]

Kevin, 

 

Are the fittings on the saya copper or painted?

[Beater]

9 hours ago, Conway S said:

Kevin, 

 

Are the fittings on the saya copper or painted?

They aren’t painted.

k

[Bruce Pennington]

If you mean this one, looks like paint to me:

 

But you probably mean the other ones.

[Beater]

52 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

If you mean this one, looks like paint to me:

 

But you probably mean the other ones.

Oh, ok. Do you think that’s a bit of post-war tarting-up Bruce? I certainly haven’t painted anything.

[Conway S]

Kevin, 

 

That gold accenting is common. Looks original to me. I was wondering if your fittings were brass and painted brown or made from copper like the one posted below. It looks like the sakura on your kabutogane are copper accented. The lacquered saya is very good condition. 
 

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/48660-what-about-this-94-sword-set？/

[Beater]

Hi Conway,

Thanks for clarification. I don’t think mine are brass, the base metal certainly does appear more like copper.

K.