Gunto

[bobO]

O-kay guys,got a gunto from a friend to clean up.Is it common for them to be signed on both sides of the nakago?this one has mei on both sides and I think I se a little gold in there.I'll try to get pic's up tonite.It has that even hamon deal.it's in a metal saya(green)with a brown ito in battle wrap.http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks188.jpghttp://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks185.jpg

[bobO]

The other sidehttp://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks191.jpg

[goose710]

Bob-o
Cool sword !!!! can you give us a full picture of it?
as far as the mei, i've seen it on both sides before, but i'm afraid i can't help with the decoding, does the blade appear to be machine made? or is it an ansestrail blade in guto? show us the tsuba too, I've been thinking of getting a gunto but i got too many blades now the wife is after me about the clutter, i respond with it's an investment in HER future. it don't help alot.
i've seen red mei's,gold mei's i believe they held some sunificance but i don't remember what. keep us informed if you get any info please.
goose710

[bobO]

Got to go to work,Goose .When I get home I'll see what I can do.Don't think it's anything special,darn it.The tsuka indicates it's a late `44 Shin-gunto.Dull as a butter knife. Has a little damage to the Ha about 6" down from the kissake which is a little disturbing.PS.great vid(TO True),I'm still laughing,Thanks.

[Taygrd]

Bob-o
i've seen red mei's,gold mei's i believe they held some sunificance but i don't remember what.
goose710
The gold sometimes were used for cutting test and were faked considerably for the obvious reasons. The red mei's showed that the blade was purchased on layaway=)) Cool looking sword more pics please:)

[bobO]

I really don't think it's anything special.There are no military stamps on the nagako,the kissaki is what you would see on a modern production sword.But it is in nice shape for an old sword.there are no file marks on the tang.Still can't figure out how to post more then one pic at a time.So if you want a pic or close up of any particule part of the sword let me know.http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks197.jpghttp://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks195.jpg

[Mako]

If the tsuba has a dark 'rising sun' pattern instead of the more traditional pierced brass one with a chrysanthemum at the 4 corners,it's probably what some people wrongfully call a 'Marine Landing Sword'.
Enter Marine into the search facility and the first page shows one very similar. ;)
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/search.htm

[bobO]

The tsuba has no markings what so ever.The fuchi has one leaf radiating out left and right from a single flower with a stiple background.Here is a shot of the end of the saya.http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks190.jpg The koiguchi is metal with what looks to be srews on either side ,that have left indentions on the habaki.I THOUGHT the saya was green but I guess it could be brown.

[Mako]

This is the one that looks similar bobO...

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3544/44hilt21te1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bobO]

Yup,That's the one!So much for it being the lost muramasa.But I'm still looking.

[Mako]

bobO
Take a look through this...I think you'll find the fuchi you mentioned and there's also a plain tsuba...there could be other similarities you can spot too.;)
http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_002.htm

[bobO]

That will keep me busy for a while.So far looks like a model 98 army.the blade is still a bit of a mystery.But I'll go thru the site better at a later date.Still the guy that owns it will be thrilled,all he knew was that it was a "real" samurai sword!Thanks for all your help Mako,you da man! Now how about the plaque thing.

[Mako]

This is the fuchi I was thinking of.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/8108/gunto0060091kd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bobO]

Yup,that's the one,but the one on this sword is even more ornate.I'll post a pic when I get back from work.

[Taygrd]

Thanks for posting some more pics. A Gunto is a sword I would like to add to my collection someday. As far as the lost Muramasa, I sold it at a garage sale last week. You should have asked sooner:^o

[Mako]

As far as the lost Muramasa, I sold it at a garage sale last week. You should have asked sooner:^o
We know that you're not speaking the truth because I bought it off ebay from a guy in China for $20 and $500 Shipping a year ago.:)

Now I'm looking for the Honjô Masamune...I'm sure goose710 has it though.B-)

[bobO]

Heres a close up of the fuchi and the little brass release button thingy.On the other side the same,but where the button is theres a cherry blossum.http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks199.jpg

[Mako]

..and that tsuba looks like it could be the one second from the right.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8643/gunto0120161ug5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bobO]

YUP,That's the one.A little background.This sword was given to a friends uncle,who was in japan,working with Douglas MacArthur ,fixing up the Japanese economy right after the war.When he was discharged the Japanese asked for him to come back and continue his work.(they trusted this guy)This sword was one of many gifts they bestowed on him.When he died my friend got a few from his estate.

[Taygrd]

We know that you're not speaking the truth because I bought it off ebay from a guy in China for $20 and $500 Shipping a year ago.:)

Was it the same guy I bought the original Kogarasu Maru from for $9.98 plus $150 shipping?

BobO is the button thingy used to release rthe blade?

[bobO]

Yup,stupid thing would get you killed if you ask me.Gotta love our grasp of the techinal jargon.

[Taygrd]

Put a spring in it and turn it into a launcher=)) Okay maybe not.

[bobO]

They have knifes like that ,I do believe.Oh, yeah,I know your all fibbing about them swords,there's a reason you've only seen one wall of the man cave!!

[Mako]

I'm leaning more towards a Type 3 bobO.
Note the slightly more elaborate Fuchi. ;)

Many of these swords were signed for prestige value although they were machine made but as there are no Showa,Seki or other stamps on the Nakago it would be worth having someone on the Nihonto Message Board translate the mei.
You'd need a full length pic of both sides of the Nakago with the Habaki facing up.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9940/gunto0060081as0.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6431/gunto0110101ns9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6821/gunto0120141ns4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bobO]

Heres another shot,you can see the hamon.Where can I go beside SFI(been there)?I've looked again for a stamp not there.Also missing the button on the saya ,looks like it was never there.I'll let the pic do the talking.Mako Thanks for all your help.http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks201.jpg

[Mako]

There's not always a button on the koiguchi too bobO,just the one on the fuchi.
See PM.;)

[bobO]

Thanks Mako,done and done.This guy is gonna be blown away when I hand him back a shining sword and about 30 pages of info! Did I ever mention how freaking awesome our Mods are.I must have:-?http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks225.jpgJust seeing if this works,Mako is this gonna work?http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/bokim09/bobspicks237.jpg

[bobO]

So how do I get these to come up side by side?,And what's the red stuff?(lay away?)

[Mako]

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9615/bobspicks2251sz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/4319/bobspicks2371ol7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bobO]

Please forgive my ignorance,I'm teaching an old dawg new tricks(me).I still can only load one pic at a time?Do you think these pic's are of sufficient quality for the guys to read? I think that the kanj are mostly dates?But if this sword was used to whack some one would that be recorded, morbid I know, but I think a valid question?

[Mako]

Please forgive my ignorance,I'm teaching an old dawg new tricks(me).I still can only load one pic at a time?Do you think these pic's are of sufficient quality for the guys to read? I think that the kanj are mostly dates?But if this sword was used to whack some one would that be recorded, morbid I know, but I think a valid question?
You're getting there bobO.;)
I doubt if there's any more info' on the nakago than a name and date.
Look for one of the stamps shown here.
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/military.htm
Don't forget to let the guys know how you're getting on.

[bobO]

Well so far this is what we have.It was made,Showa ni-ju nen,ichi gatsu.Showa 20,January.It is signed Kiyotsugu.I've also learned the proper way to read the kanj,as far as up down left right.I think I might have found a partial seki stamp.More to come.Thanks for all your help Mako!

[Mako]

Kiyotsugu was a Jumei smith [Army approved] who were allocated tamahagne to make Gendaito [traditionally made swords],unfortunately not all blades with a Jumei's signature would have been made traditionally because of the shortage of tamahagne...but hey!! at least you've got a date and a recognised smith so far and they don't pop up every day.
Let's hope there's more to come.

Nice one bobO.=D>