New Guy Here Needs Some Help

G

Gutkowski

Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
1
Finally picked up my Grandfathers WWII bring back Japanese sword that he captured
From what I can get of the internet its a 1st model NCO officers sword with a copper hilt ,I dont know what I should insure it for but here are the photos .
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/gutkowski/Gramps WWII Marine Items/DSCF1159.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/gutkowski/Gramps WWII Marine Items/DSCF1160.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/gutkowski/Gramps WWII Marine Items/DSCF1161.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/gutkowski/Gramps WWII Marine Items/DSCF1162.jpg

If ayone knows what its worth is please tell me
Thanks,
Gut-


And everything else that I have from his service in WWII
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/gutkowski/Gramps WWII Marine Items/?start=all

**Update**

What is the best way to keep the blade in good shape? My grandfather has this blade covered in cosmoline and I am reading this is a big NO NO .What should I use to clean and protect the blade .
Thanks for all the good info on this sword
Gut-
 
Let me be the first to welcome you to Bladeforums! Stick around and you will learn a lot. However this post should be moved either to the bernard levine forum or sword discussion because you will get more answers there and will be all around more helpful for this type of stuff.

Nice looking sword though and thanks for posting pics.:thumbup:
 
moving-van.jpg
 
It is indeed as you found, and for others who might be interested: http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/military.htm

"NCO SHIN-GUNTO
Prior to 1945, NCO shin-gunto, non-commissioned officers swords, have all metal tsukas (handles) made to resemble the traditionally cloth wrapped shin-gunto swords. The first model had an unpainted copper hilt. On later models the hilts were made of aluminum and painted to resemble the lacing (ito) on officer's shin-gunto swords. These swords will have serial numbers on their blades and are ALL machine made, without exception. The serial numbers are simple assembly or manufacturing numbers; they are not serial numbers of blades as issued to specific soldiers. If the sword is all original, the serial numbers on the blade, tsuba, saya and all other parts should match."

Not a high dollar sword or particularly rare....
 
JAPONSKO_SAM_VYCH_1.jpg


JAPONSKO_SAM_BOJ_1.jpg



Looks familiar? These are not very valuable, sold in my local gunshop for some $320 (first picture) or $220 (the second one).
BUT - some say, that when the Japanese from old families with old blades received those cheap swords, they sometimes replaced the cheap blade with the old valuable one.

Not very likely from the image you posted, but you can still try to show it to some local expert (any iaido sensei will be able to tell at the first look) if you want to be sure.
 
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