Hoping to get some insight on this weapon

[Kvernon]

Hello all,

New to this forum, just recently purchased this kyu gunto from an individual and am hoping you can help me with it, from what I have read it appears to be an officers grade? I dont want to add any more to that becuase my knowledge is limited to this weekend! I am curious about the engraved circle where the nickel family crest is usually at?? The blade is fully intact but the surface has been abused, it looks fairly cosmetic and not deep, would love to have it professionaly finished if it made sense, I belive it to be an unmarked blade but have not thoroughly checked..

I am including a link to my photo bucket page for access, I appreciate your forum and the knowledge represented here, thank you.

 

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v134/WildBillGT/

[mdiddy]

Hello,

 

Thanks for sharing. You are correct it is a Kyu Gunto and an officers grade. Based on the full decoration of the backstrap, it was likely a Field Officer/Colonels. Sometimes there is a silver family mon in the center of the backstrap, but not always. For this sword, the design at the bottom of the back-strap is more interesting. There is a family mon of that design, however that location on the backstrap is sometimes where other symbols were put indicating different branches of service (i.e. Civil Police).

 

For the blade - what is the length? From the last picture it looks to be a wakizashi so likely Shinto ca. 1600-1700. Would you be willing to remove the handle so we can see the tang? That would help a lot in understanding the blade. As far as the condition, it is impossible to tell from a few pictures, but the wear does look cosmetic. Do you see any blisters or opening in the steel?

 

Finally, I've re-posted one of your pictures. If you care about maintaining the condition of the blade, it is highly advisable that you not hold it with your bare hand or fingers. The oil from your fingers will cause additional rust. See here for proper handling/care techniques: http://www.jssus.org/articles/7.html. Also, you do not want to cut your hand right? :D

 

Hope that helps and look forward to more pictures of the tang.

 

Matt

[Kvernon]

Thanks for your reply, the blade has no blistering that I can see and only a couple of microscopic dings in an otherwaise fairly sharp blade, it just has a real bad need of polishing in my opinion, when I first aqcuired it this weekend I was at a local gun shop, the gentleman there was knowledgable in dismantling the grip (had fits trying to get it back together with the scabbard locking mechanism, the tang appeared to be unmarked tho I did not get a chance to really look at it myself, it had the hole for the bamboo dowel and one directly in from of it towards the Tsuba, from the Tsuba to the kissaki is 21-1/2 inches. I will take it down again and get some good pictures, may be a couple of days.

 

An I give you my word, my hands will never again touch the blade.

 

Appreciate your help sir.

[Kvernon]

Hello Matt, I have posted some pictures of the tang, of note is a hole behind the mekugi hole, possibly from a previous fit that was plugged with what appears to be brass and redrilled for the kyu hilt?

Thanks for your time.

 

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v134/WildBillGT/

[Kvernon]

Everyone else please feel free to chime in!

[Geraint]

Hi Kelly.

 

Given the length of the blade it is a wakizashi a suggested. Three holes in the tang usually indicates at least three mounts in it's life so implies some age. It is possible that the sword was originally quite a bit longer and has been shortened. It has a niju habaki, two pieces, which is interesting. If it were mine I would certainly speak to some knowledgeable collectors who could advise on the condition of the blade but it looks to be worth a polish. This MUST be something you approach carefully and be prepared to spend some money on it. Cheap polishes ruin good blades.

 

Its a nice thing.

 

Cheers

[Kvernon]

Thank you sir, this was a completely unexpected aquisition but it has done something to me, the potential monetary value of this piece is insignificant in my mind when I think of the history of the blade and its owners, I wish I could walk back in time and see what they have seen, I will do everything I can to respect this blade and find a place in my home that can be honored by it's being there, when funds allow I will make sure that it is treated with the same respect when it gets it's polish.. someone trained in the art of restoring this Japanese blade. I am really hoping to find out what the symbol is at the bottom (different post) I had visions of finding the family and being able to return it but was reading last night that this is not nessicarily what the family's would want, rehashing the shame of the past? Maybe some insight on this...

I do believe I have contracted this forums bug though......

[Surfson]

Looks like a true samurai sword in better than average grade officer's mounts. My concern is that somebody has taken a buffing wheel or some other sort of abrasive to it, presumably to remove rust. This is not a problem as long as they didn't gouge the blade or grind down the cutting edge or the shinogi line. Where it becomes dicey is that sometimes this is done to remove tenacious rust. In that case, there may be some pitting remaining from the rust. If this sword has pits that are deep enough that they won't come out during a polish, it is definitely not worth a polish. Cheers, Bob

[Kvernon]

Luckily no pitting and very glossy when looking down the blade, but you are right, someone did take a buffing wheel and what looks to be some tool marks (right in front of the hibaki) from a runaway dremel or something nothing deep though, (people drive me nuts) I wiped down the blade with a cloth and it looks like the hamon follows the tip up and not through so possibly an actual wakisashi?

Also when I look down the blade I see no tool marks but what look like indents every half inch, very slight, possibly the hammer marks when it was forged? They are very consistant on both sides. Blade is smooth as silk with no felt imperfections from mechanical grinding or buffing, it is reall hard to get decent lighting with the cosmetic markins on the surface, makes a ton of contrast with the shot.

I was told to coat it with mineral oil, was going to get some tomorrow, sound correct?

Thanks again.