Newly purchased original Kai-Gunto- Expert advice needed

[Teamski]

Hello all,

 

I am not usually in the field of military swords, being mostly into the WWII medals/patches/uniforms sort of thing. I did, however, get in tough with a WWII vet who wanted to find a home for a Type 99 rifle and a Japanese sword. I purchased both from him and was really excited about it....

 

 

He was a member of the 81st Infantry Division and picked up the surrendered weapons at a warehouse on Honshu. He had them in his basement ever since.

 

I recalled that I had a book on Japanese swords and pulled it out of a mountain of others. It turned out to be invaluable.

 

The Kai-Gunto (ish) sword features an army scabbard in black lacquer

 

 

This is where I get confused. Now the book (I lent it out, so I forgot who wrote it) stated that some army officers who had past service or association with the navy had variations of the Kai-Gunto. I believe mine is one of these. The hilt is of a black fabric with no beading, something that you would think would be from a Kai-Gunto. However, the Menuki is army. The hilt does not have a hole for a sarute.

 

 

The blade is a Navy manufactured blade without signature, assuming that the black ink symbols are not the signature. The parts are all stamped with the same symbols, as you can see.

 

 

 

Anyways, if any of you have any ideas or knowledge of why this sword is configured as such, I'm all ears. I know it must be missing a couple sepas, and the vet might of lost these through the years. What is the fair market value for this sword? Thanks for your help!!

 

-Eric

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi Eric,

 

The anchor stamp and unrusted nakago means that it is a machine-made, stainless steel blade from a naval arsenal.

 

The combination of army and navy fittings usually indicates use by an officer in the Japanese naval landing forces and the lack of holes for a sarute suggests a late war manufacture (as does the black material under the wrap rather than same (ray skin).

 

I don't know the going price for these swords but I hope this helps.

 

Regards,

Simon

[Stephen]

is its lat war Navy, it does not have the extra hanger, don't know if it was lost or came that way. Dr Rich Stein might shed some light on this when he sees the post. I have seen these sell for around 6 to 800 on Ebay, with the late Tsuba and missing seppa it may be less.

I may have a buyer for the rifle if you care to PM me.

[Teamski]

Thanks for the information guys. Highly appreciated! I wondered why it didn't have the same texturing on the hilt. So, late war Navy could have an army furnished scabbard? Interesting.

 

-Eric

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi Eric,

 

By the end of the war, gunto manufacturers were cobbling together all sorts of mismatched oddities as materials ran out.

 

However, as I said before, your example seems like a typical example of a Naval Landing Officer's sword. Because these guys were like the marines, they were affiliated with both the army and navy and so their swords were often an amalgamation of the two types.

 

All the best,

Simon

[Teamski]

I'm happy that the sword is "correct". Your reasoning answers why the scabbard's hardware is army while it has the navy black lacquer finish. What are "7 0" stampings on the prieces mean? Any idea.

 

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It helps us newbies out a lot!!

 

-Eric

[Guest Simon Rowson]

No problem Eric, happy to help.

 

Every gunto should have the same 1,2 or 3 digit serial number on all of it's fittings (fuchi, seppa tsuba, koiguchi etc).

 

Originally, this was to help the Japanese factory or shop assembler but now it also helps us to determine that a blade hasn't been tampered with by having the fittings switched.

 

Is the saya black laquered metal or wood? If it's metal you should be able to remove the koiguchi by unscrewing it's 2 tiny screws and then you can very carefully remove the wooden liner. Sometimes, these also have assemblers kanji on them or, rarely, even patriotic slogans or poems.

 

All the best,

Simon

[Teamski]

The saya is black lacquered wood.

 

I found this site that backs your facts, well done .... The sword is identical except for the hole in the hilt.

 

http://therionarms.com/sold/com161.html

 

-Eric

[Mark C]

Hi Eric,

 

just for interest.

here's a pic of a spare saya liner that I pulled out of a knackered gunto saya.

I have no idea what it says.

 

regards

 

Mark

[Teamski]

How it held in?

 

-Eric

[Mark C]

Hi Eric,

 

This was removed from a metal gunto saya. It is just showing what Simon meant by inscriptions on saya liners.

 

to remove it from a metal saya you should be able to remove the koiguchi by unscrewing it's 2 tiny screws and then you can very carefully remove the wooden liner"

 

Many thanks

 

Mark

[Teamski]

I Gotcha. If I'm correct, I can't remove the koiguchi on this type of saya.

 

-Eric

[Brian]

Here's one of the same pattern.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Naval-Swor ... dZViewItem

So this muct be a recognised variation. I have always heard they are the marine landing forces too...wish there was confirmation somewhere.

Anyone able to ask Ohmura san?

 

Brian