Unknown symbol on kabutogane

[patrick7813]

All

 

I have a shin gunto that’s mounted with an older arsenal made blade from what I believe was a kyu-gunto and the officer chose to have it remounted when the new type 94/98 patterns were approved. The tsuka is reminiscent of an older tachi style due to its curvature and it also has the older style pierced tsuba. The person from whom I acquired it indicated that David McDonald replaced the Ito and repaired the rayskin on the Tsuka. The saya is the smooth lacquer version and has battle damage. Its leather combat cover has matching damage in the same location. Apparently the blade was not housed in the saya when the damage occurred because it does not have any corresponding damage.

 

Here’s my issue. It has, on the kabuto-gane in a location that would normally hold a kamon, another type of symbol (see pictures). I’m uncertain what it represents and am looking for opinions.

 

Cheers,

[mizuta]

Looks like a Family crest .

Regards

Bernard

[patrick7813]

Thanks. If it is a family crest, I'm trying to determine which family. I haven't been able to locate any symbol or crest remotely similar.

 

Regards,

[Toryu2020]

Look for Kamon that feature fans (sensu)...

-t

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Patrick

 

I think the Kamon is made up of two elements, the lower circular part is called Mitsu Jigami and the chevron upper is called Yamagata

 

"Jigami" - the paper blanks for fans.

 

See Mitsu Jigami:

 

http://www.tozandoshop.com/v/vspfiles/kamon/tool4.html

 

Check out Yamagata for the chevron element:

 

http://www.tozandoshop.com/v/vspfiles/k ... ture2.html

 

On the same page you'll see a combination (Watanabe Hoshini Yamagata)

 

Here's a few books that contain a fair selection of Kamon:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Japanese-Design ... 0486228746

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Japanese-Animal ... pd_sim_b_1

 

 

And here's a screwball theory for a Sunday:

 

Were the Kamon of two families ever merged, much in the same way English Silver sometimes has two armorials usually described as a "Marriage piece" ?

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[patrick7813]

Malcolm

 

Thanks for the very thorough and detailed research. Not knowing much about Japanese feudal society marriage customs and family traditions, I could imagine that an arranged marriage could result in a combined kamon of those 2 families. That’s a plausible explanation. I’ve located the 2 books you cited on Amazon US as well as a few others there that I’ve now ordered. Thanks too for that tip. This is turning into a very interesting little research project.

 

Thanks to everyone else that also pointed me in the research direction. I learn more each day.

 

Cheers,