Brought an Type 3 Saya for my Gunto on Ebay

[Roger Wildcat]

The saya that I won on auction from Ebay came in yesterday. It a bit rusty and will be restored and my gunto fits into the saya perfectly.

 

The only concern that I have is the slight curvature difference in the blade and saya. If Fred Lohman is to have the new wood liner made for the saya, does the curve of the saya and blade have to be exact or just as long as the blade slides in the saya and lock in?

 

The tip seems to point toward the back of the saya. Is that going to cause problem when making a new wood liner for the saya?

[Ted Tenold]

Roger, forgive my bluntness here but, given the state of polish, type of sword, and the expense involved, why even bother? Getting these things restored will quickly put you waaaayyyy upside down in them even if you got it for free. Even if the blade is worth polishing, it should go into a fresh shirasaya, not a re-lined gunto saya.

 

Just my thoughts on a matter of trying to save you some money.

[blades87]

Hi, Roger.

 

First, replacing the saya core will be a bit expensive.

 

Second, does the saya have a core in it? If so, you can pull the core out and check the fit of the existing core to the nagasa. Given that the Gunto you have is probably machine stamped, the likelihood of the nagasa curvature deviating too much from the Type 3 saya seems a bit unlikely. I just looked at my 1945 sword made by Kanetsugu, which appears to be a Showata finished sword that is machined made, and the curvature is very similar to yours with respect to the kissaki closer to the top of the saya.

 

Cheers,

 

Toby

[Roger Wildcat]

It is a sword that I received though inheritance from my Grandfather on Christmas last year. He passed away about two years ago and it took two years for me to get the Gunto. It was messy. I will be keeping it to pass on to my boy.

 

Anyway, I mailed the sword and saya off to Fred yesterday for restoration work. The curvature is close enough. The liner needs to be replaced since the blade is getting polished.

[blades87]

Hi, Roger.

 

I recently purchased a late period Gunto (1945) that was in pretty bad shape. I ,too, am restoring it for a family keepsake. If you have any pictures of the tang (the part of the blade located under the handle [tsuka]), please post them. We can translate the inscription (mei) on the tang to provide you with a bit more information on the sword.

 

Cheers,

 

Toby

[Roger Wildcat]

The picture of the tang is in this thread below;

 

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6543

 

The mei is Kanemune, Showa ni ju nen ichi gatsu. 1945 january. I'll look for your post in your profile about your Gunto.

[drbvac]

This topic if nothing else has helped remind me that we all look at and try to keep these swords for many reasons and in cases like this its not the cost - its the provenance and the history.

 

I sold all my collected world bayonets EXCEPT the Japanese Arisaka that my father brought home from the Philippines and the WW1 French bayonet my uncle took home from Belgium. Both far from the most expensive or valuable in my collection at the time - still not for sale!

[Bruno]

I agree with you Brian, money, market value are something but not everything.

 

It will be nice to see Roger's showato entirely restorated by Fred LOHMAN. Don't forget to post the pics for us Roger!