Authentic Kai Gunto?

[William Jennings]

Hello experts! I am definately not an expert on these Kai gunto, having never owned one. I know they were made with stainless steel to avoid rust and I know they are commonly faked. Does this one look authentic? Thanks in advance for your help! 

[Polaria]

The fittings are made shin gunto -style. Kai gunto saya has different hanger. Also the kashira doesn’t look right. There should be a metal loop (in shin gunto) or a metal studded hole (in kai gunto) for tassel. The seppa looks clearly out of place, but might be just a replacement part as the locking mechanism of the saya is missing anyway.

[PNSSHOGUN]

This appears to be one of the immediate post war souvenir swords assembled from real parts.

[paul griff]

Hello William.

                      Agree with John….They forgot to put a hole in the tsuka ( hilt ) for the sarute and used a Ishizuke ( chape) as the kabuto-gane ( hilt pommel )..But after all that it is a genuine sword with a mint arsenal made blade…It is a piece of history in my eyes and at the right price a nice display sword..

Regards,

               Paul

[RobCarter3]

William, 

 

Here’s a link to @Bruce Pennington’s article about the souvenir swords if you want to learn more. 
 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, it's definitely one of the 8,700 souvenirs they made after the war.

 

Dave, is there a photo of the other side of the nakago?  Most of these have a painted number that I track.

[Jcstroud]

First one I have seen that is missing the hole for the tassle hanger

[Polaria]

Everything else looks like standard shin-gunto parts except for three things:

1) Stamp on the blade looks like anchor of kai gunto blade

2) There is no hole or holder for tassel which is very strange

3) Numbered seppa? Someone else might know if they are okay.

[Bruce Pennington]

3 hours ago, Jcstroud said:

First one I have seen that is missing the hole for the tassel hanger

Wow, didn't see that, John!  Doesn't even have the metal part that goes across the center.

 

2 minutes ago, Polaria said:

Everything else looks like standard shin-gunto parts except for three things:

Rob,

Take a couple minutes to read the article I wrote, that Rob posted a link to.  It explains all your questions.

The black color, and gold gilding, along with the blade are Navy.  The metal fittings are Army style fittings.  This is what puzzled collectors for decades.  I believe it was intentional by the Tenshozan forge in making a sword that could not be called a war trophy, as it wasn't anything close to a regulation navy or regulation army gunto.

 

The missing hole is seen on a few late-war swords, but this is the first one I've seen on a souvenir

 

The stamped numbers on the fittings are quite normal for military and souvenir swords.

[Jcstroud]

Would be interesting to see if there are any katakana o go- juon symbols on the tsuka end to decipher

[John C]

18 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Wow, didn't see that

Tang doesn't have the second mekugiana either. Note that it isn't crudely cut like most. Could that be the reason for the lack of sarute hole and barrel? Seems as if it were intentional, for some reason.

John C.

[Jcstroud]

I wonder how long is the nakago as this may explain much.most souvenir swords not all mind you were suriage or hot cut at 9 inches +/- .my suspicion is they were originally Takayama 2nd design originally before being cut to fit standard length koshirai. Imo.