WWII sword from Japan

Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
9,910
Hey guys,
I was sent here from the Bernard Levine forums. they said you fine gentlemen are the ones to talk with about a sword from Japan. My friend wants to know more about it and possibly its value. His dad brought it back from the war. The blade is in very fine condition, doesn't appear to be rusty at all but its evident it was carried by the distress marks everywhere else.
Here are some of the shots I have of it. Thanks in advance.

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The markings are the date: Showa Ju Ku Nen (19th year of the Showa period). Showa began 1926, ie; 1944.
Is there a stamp of any kind above this ? I can't see one but the photos is somewhat out of focus.


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Best resource I've found for quick info and Mei translations is the Military Swords of Japan (Gunto) Facebook group. There are some very advanced collectors on there as well as a number of native Japanese speakers.
 
Colt6731 said:
Best resource I've found for quick info and Mei translations is the Military Swords of Japan (Gunto) Facebook group. There are some very advanced collectors on there as well as a number of native Japanese speakers.
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The two fellas that posted above yours are pretty much all you need.

IMO, the value is between $500.00-$900.00

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Gold membership is all I have ever had, it is current and I have posted many photos. ?????
 
SouthernComfort said:
Gold membership is all I have ever had, it is current and I have posted many photos. ?????
Click to expand...

If you've renewed recently you have to go and do some setting thingie. I never can remember it, but have to go figure it out every time. You are blue now.
 
Looks like a junior officer's gunto, infantry most likely. Does not look like the navy model I have. Many navy models lack the anchor mark but the chrysanthemum motifs are different from the infantry. You also have the push button release and the painted metal scabbard which I don't think show up in the navy.

Was yours polished at some point? It looks very clean. The navy purchased quite a few stainless swords but I don't know if the army did. If so, you might have a stainless blade.

That's about the extent of my knowledge on these.

Zieg
 
The Zieg said:
Looks like a junior officer's gunto, infantry most likely. Does not look like the navy model I have. Many navy models lack the anchor mark but the chrysanthemum motifs are different from the infantry. You also have the push button release and the painted metal scabbard which I don't think show up in the navy.

Was yours polished at some point? It looks very clean. The navy purchased quite a few stainless swords but I don't know if the army did. If so, you might have a stainless blade.

That's about the extent of my knowledge on these.

Zieg
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The Japanese made katana's out of stainless steel? Do you know what the steel was?
 
David Stifle said:
The Japanese made katana's out of stainless steel? Do you know what the steel was?
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I don't know what the steel was and I don't think there were any outside the Imperial Navy. As for calling them katana, I will leave this to the experts, but I don't think the Japanese would have called these military blades by that term.

Just so we don't end up saying, "Hey, The Zieg says there were real stainless steel katanas out there!" Next thing you know I'm the guy who starts the stainless steel samurai alternative history theory. No thanks,

Zieg
 
Kai-gunto swords were more commonly used by Japanese Naval officers. They may have rayskin covered saya which have been lacquered black or dark blue or black lacquered scabbards without rayskin. Some will have only a single hanger (ashi). The tsuka (handle) has same' (rayskin) of the same type and black or navy blue ito. The metal mounts are gilted brass. Blades found in kai-gunto mounts may be machine made, some are stainless steel, while others may be traditionally made.

Many of the stainless steel (taisabiko or sabinaito) kai-gunto were made at the Tenshozan Tanrenjo in Zushi near Kamakura in Kanagawa prefecture. These blades were made exclusively for the Navy and sold through the Tenshozan store. They are signed on the nakago "Tenshozan Tanrenjo" (see nakago at left) and marked with an anchor stamp. The other main source of blades for the Navy was the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal. Many of these blades are unsigned except for an anchor stamp (different from the Tenshozan stamp) either alone or in a circle or sakura blossom (see common tang stamps above). Stainless steel blades are all considered machine made. Some maybe oil tempered (?), but on most the hamon is purely cosmetic. The Tenshozan Tanrenjo also made Naval dirks.

Please visit Stein's pages
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/military.htm

There are numerous discussions across the net on stainless kai-gunto.

Cheers

GC
 
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