A VERY LONG SHOWATO...

[Bazza]

Dear Brethren,

 

I almost hesitate to put this up, but it may be of general interest. I've just seen perhaps the longest shingunto in my experience and when I looked at the blade and signature I thought "Chinese repro". Then I looked over the koshirae and, yep, it's genuine shingunto. What made me think it might be Chinese was one of the most dreadfully cut mei I've ever seen. The owner thinks it is a Shinshinto blade, but I think it is a Showato. Perhaps the owner thinks it is Shinshinto because of the three mekugiana. I can't find any reference to the smith anywhere bar a single mention on this Board. I think the tachi mei reads SEKI JU KANEMATSU KAZUNORI SAKU, and if a Showato would be perhaps the longest I've personally seen. The blade is not dated.

 

The blade is 74.5 cm long and the tang 26.2 cm. The other surprise was how straight the blade is. I would appreciate hearing if anyone can confirm my Showato guess and the reading, and if such a jumbled mei has been seen by anyone else. I've attached some pics.

 

Best regards,

BaZZa.

[george trotter]

Bazza dono,

I see this name in Jinsoo Kim's Seki Tosho list.

Kazunori...real name Kanematsu Kazuichi. Started at Seki Sho14/10/26. As for the length, it is not unheard of in WWII. I have seen pics (forget where now...Ohmura's site?) of two officers leaning against a brick wall in China, one is holding a shingunto that must be at Least the length you have given here. Must be considered freakishly long IMHO, who could carry and use?

Regards,

George.

[cabowen]

I have a Yasukuni blade made by Yasunori 靖徳　that is in original gunto koshirae, with general's tassle, that is 82 centimeters long. There are two layers of leather over the saya with the top layer worn through at the kojiri.....

 

The blade is illustrated in the book on Yasukuni-to by Kishida san....