Sarute Airforce / Paratroopers!?

[Itomagoi]

I would like to hear your opinion. Do you think this is an original sature from the "paratroopers?

[Itomagoi]

Infos from books...

[Brian]

Seems like a good find to me!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Compare to examples below:

 

[Bruce Pennington]

These were discussed at length here:

While there are fakers out there making these, I have seen plenty, like this one, with lots of wear and tear.  No one knows their true origin or use, so Richard Fuller's opinion is as authoritative as we can get.

 

I have seen some that look quite worn on tsuka that look pristine, so my assumption is that some of them are added post-war, even if the sarute itself is wartime legit.

[Tensho]

  On 7/15/2024 at 4:01 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

These were discussed at length here:

 

 

I have seen some that look quite worn on tsuka that look pristine, so my assumption is that some of them are added post-war, even if the sarute itself is wartime legit.

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Makes you wonder. One would have to carry a sword for YEARS with constant "rubbing" to wear these down so bad. I personally haven't seen any "standard" sarute close to this amount of wear. 

[paul griff]

Hello Peter,

                  Even though it is worn ( possibly by the tassel ? )the casting detail is very good as is the colour and patina taken on by a sarute so I would say it’s a good one….Most recent copies have a different bronze or brass alloy that just doesn’t take on the same patina plus another giveaway is he rough finish to the locating ears and inside of the sarute..

Regards,

             Paul..

[Itomagoi]

Thank you all for your comments. 

[Jareth]

In my opinion just a golden kite as a symbol and likely nothing to do with army paratrooper 

[IJASWORDS]

Hey Jareth, here is one. quite rare. If anyone wants to buy it send me a PM. 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 7/16/2024 at 5:54 PM, Jareth said:

In my opinion just a golden kite as a symbol and likely nothing to do with army paratrooper 

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That was Nick Komiya's opinion as well.

[Kai-Gunto]

Added postwar, since kabuto-gane has no wear. The saurte is a replica, cast from one with wear. Some was for sale years ago

[Bruce Pennington]

An interesting aspect of these is that none of them match the coloration of the kabutogane.  They are all a more 'yellow' color and not patinated like the rest of the fittings.  So, IF they are wartime legit, they must have been a seperate purchase by the officer and added to the sword later.