1st sword purchase possibility

[kolhoznik]

I am new to nihonto but I have been reading for a while and am thinking about making a first purchase at a local shop. I was curious to find out some information about the sword so far as is it real, time period, approximate worth, and anything else worth knowing. It looks like its tsuba, sheath and shirasaya? are WWII era. I took probably more pictures than I needed, but included are are signature and what looks like a stamp near the top of the tang. (An arsenal mark?) The flash washes the hamon out a little but it is there and the is a couple of small nics near the tip. Thank you for any help.

 

[mdiddy]

It's real, WWII-era Shin Gunto. Looks to have a saya with Type 3 and Type 98 fittings, so maybe it dates to 1943-1944. Here are two sites for your research: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/military.htm and http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_002.htm.

[cabowen]

Toshimasa, 1940. Seki. Non-traditional.

[kolhoznik]

Even though this sword is non-traditionally made is it still made by a smith or is it just stamped?

[bmoore1322]

Yes, very nice, i really like this sword a lot.

 

 

 

Thanks for showing it to us.

 

Brian

[cabowen]

Even though this sword is non-traditionally made is it still made by a smith or is it just stamped?

 

There is some handwork involved but it is probably made with western steel and oil quenched. If you want a real nihon-to, you may wish to save your money for something else.

[runagmc]

You would probably get more enjoyment out of a sword that's already in good polish...

[cisco-san]

kolhoznik, please sign your posts!!

 

You can find this smith in J. Slough Oshigata book as well.

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

Not a Nihontô (as we usually understand this word) just a militaria.

[bmoore1322]

I really love this sword, great buy on your part.

 

Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

 

Brian

[Brian]

There's nothing to love, and no indication if it is a great buy without a price :?

It's a nice-ish WW2 mass produced sword..a nice item for militaria collectors, but at the bottom of the Nihonto tree.

I expect it to be worth around $700-800 or so...so a good deal if you paid a few hundred. Not so much if you paid more. Nothing to get too excited about or fall in love with.

 

Brian

[bmoore1322]

Nice sword.

 

 

Brian

[Brian]

 

(in answer to a now-deleted post above that took offence at any criticism of these Gunto.)

 

This forum is called THE NIHONTO MESSAGE BOARD.

These swords are not NIHONTO.

They are militaria by definition...nothing wrong with that. But you don't discuss Jeeps in a BMW forum. There is a Gunto section here...that is where I allow Showato discussion. It's my forum, don't tell me how and what to discuss. You are confusing advice you don't like, with rudeness. Seems you need to learn the difference.

 

Brian

[Jamie]

Brian,

 

This is out of line. When people ask for opinions they are given. You shouldn't become upset just because everyone doesn't agree that you've found a national treasure in your Showa to. They are trying to HELP you. In time you'll understand.

We've all made plenty of mistakes-be glad you didn't spend 10k on something not worth that because I know someone who did. These folks are trying to prevent that from happening to you.

[Ford Hallam]

What is really out of line is that Brian ( the loud, ill mannered one , not our gentle forum host ) isn't actually the person who was asking for input on the sword. And, the sword hasn't been purchased as I understand it, the OP was asking for info with a possible purchase in mind.

 

I think Brian ( our mild mannered and polite one ) was actually quite correct in his summation apart from the "bottom of the Nihonto tree" bit. This sort of sword isn't on THAT tree....it's a scraggly weed in the field next door.

 

There's nothing to love, and no indication if it is a great buy without a price

It's a nice-ish WW2 mass produced sword..a nice item for militaria collectors, but at the bottom of the Nihonto tree.

I expect it to be worth around $700-800 or so...so a good deal if you paid a few hundred. Not so much if you paid more. Nothing to get too excited about or fall in love with.

[Lindus]

Hi Ford

Think I remember I traded you a "Scraggy weed" of a sword which in turn you traded for a spectacular Naginata by a very good smith .

[Ford Hallam]

Hi Roy,

 

ha ha, that 'scraggy weed was an osuriage koto blade, possibly Kiyomitsu Ha. That one lives in Johannesburg now. The trade was a Showato in civillian mounts (I'd bought at auction for £350) for the naginata :D

[Lindus]

I knew that {Really did not $%@&?#}

 

Makes an interesting point though,when we were starting,had no knowledge apart from Yumoto's bible,little money but filled with the need to own one,your way fulfilled the need and began the slow but enjoyable route to better things.

 

Brian is right of course,read the rules and try to put your entry in the appropriate section,also perhaps limit your photographs to just one of each section and check out that something can be seen on the pic as posting blurred images are a total waste of time and space.

 

The NMB is so fortunate to have a circle of members with a depth of experience & study to be admired, they give there time and advice freely to all, below them are "US" a group with a broad band of experience in all field of Nihonto. If I find something annoying I just move on from it, to trounce a Newbe is counter productive to our Hobby as these guys will be at some point be the Chris Bowens or Ford Hallems of the future. {Not meant as a compliment }

 

PS

 

What happened to the Naginata Ford??.

[Ford Hallam]

these guys will be at some point be the Chris Bowens or Ford Hallems of the future.

 

Heaven help you all.....

 

Roy, the naginata is just outside London.

[Kai-Gunto]

Back to the showa-to......it looks to me like a postwar put together....with lots of issues.

Whats the price? To me cant cost more than 250-350 usd

[cabowen]

 

Heaven help you all.....

 

 

Indeed....

[Lindus]

Modesty becomes you both

[kolhoznik]

Thanks to all those who answered my post. The information was most helpful. I did not purchase the sword as I had a suspicion it was arsenal produced (now confirmed to be Seki). The store is asking $2600 so it will be a pass for me and I will keep looking and learning.