Shin Gunto type 98 sword with family mon and numbered scabbard - need help

[PeterCollector]

Hello dear friends,

 

few months ago I bought quite nice officer sword in full mint condition. Sword has very nice details and finish to all fittings. There is also silver family mon on pommmel. Tsuba is pierced and blade is also very nice with silver foiled habaki. I am sorry, but I can not remove the handle and I don´t want to damage the sword. What made me very curious on this sword is its markings on scabbard loop - it is different from others scabbard loops which I have and also there is serial number? on it and also other markings. Please can anybody help me identifiing them ?

 

I hope you like the sword. 

 

Thank you in advance for all your help.

 

Kind regards

 

Peter

[Polaria]

The hanger looks like a variation of this type. I have seen a couple of these before, though never with the markings.

[Gilles]

Very nice shin-gunto, all complete with a family mon. I have never seen such markings on this kind of hanger. But, when you collect Japanese militaria and samurai swords you are always surprised. it is original for sure.

[PNSSHOGUN]

These are made by the Yamamoto shop, one of better Koshirae makers . It is worth taking the handle off, as they often have Kanji on the fittings.

 

 

 

 

 

[KungFooey]

You're very curious about the unusual hanger loop but not who made the blade? 🤔 Takes all sorts, I guess.

[Bruce Pennington]

Peter,

Nice Type 98, maybe 94? John would know.  

 

If you already have removed the bamboo peg, mekugi, and still cannot move the tsuka (handle), it is just being held on by age, grime, rust, or a tight fit.  I get mine off, when like that, by wrapping a work cloth tightly around the blade, so I can grip it, and tap the tsuba (handguard) lightly on alternating sides with a rubber mallet.  Some use a wooden block.  You won't damage anything.  It's always nice to see who made the blade.  It adds a lot to your appreciation of the sword, and sometimes, you may get a surprise by finding out it is something special.

 

Give it a try, you won't hurt anything.

[Polaria]

The traditional method of loosening a stuck grip is to lay the blade down on pillow so both the blade and handle are off the ground. Then tap the tsuba like Bruce told above. Use a little piece of wood and put it as close to habaki as possible, that way you spare the inside of the tsuba from jamming to the steel of nakago.

When blade is not held by anything its inertia will still eventually loosen the fit. It is slower, but on the up side when the sword can move you cannot accidentally bend anything and make it stuck worse even if you used a bit too much power.

[PeterCollector]

Hello, thank you for all your comments and help with that markings on scabard hangers. 
 

I dont have skilled hands and l am really afraid of damaging the sword. I rather left it as is. What l know from the seller, blade tang is unsigned and have two mounting holes and was cut fown to fit into gunto fittings. Maybe l ask for a picture of tang if he have it in his archive. But blade is quite slim and light, if l compare it to other swords.

 

Kind regards

 

Peter

[Polaria]

If the seller got the tang free of the handle I am sure you can do it too. It's not that hard, just get a hammer with wooden, rubber or plastic head and a little piece of wood to work with and take your time. These things were made as weapons, survive the rigors of battle and still be able to cut so it isn't that easy to break them as longs as you don't do silly things like stick it into a vice-grip or use pliers.

[Kiipu]

On 12/1/2024 at 3:05 AM, PeterCollector said:

What made me very curious on this sword is its markings on scabbard loop - it is different from others scabbard loops which I have and also there is serial number? on it and also other markings.

 

It is not a serial number but a utility model registration number.  Looks like the 用 was stamped upside down?

實用新案 = jitsuyō shin'an = utility models.

[Kiipu]

On 12/1/2024 at 4:23 AM, PNSSHOGUN said:

These are made by the Yamamoto shop,  ....

 

John, you never cease to amaze me.

九八式軍刀拵　山本軍刀店製作

[Bruce Pennington]

The number appears to the the same, so probably a patent number: