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Post by chuckinohio on Feb 18, 2011 15:54:28 GMT
Does anybody make one that is worth a look?
I'm not really interested in ordering a custom job from china, are there any other options out there?
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Post by falconear on Feb 18, 2011 16:11:07 GMT
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Post by Elheru Aran on Feb 18, 2011 16:21:49 GMT
I thought they had been out already for some time? IIRC, one of our members actually purchased one some time go and did a review on it.
Incidentally, I thought it was "shin-gunto", not "kyu-gunto"? My Japanese is poor though, so I certainly won't presume to correct anybody who says differently...
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Post by Pogo4321 on Feb 18, 2011 16:43:32 GMT
The only one I know of is from Weapon Edge. www.stromloswords.com/japanese_swords.htmlI have one of their shin gunto's and it's okay. I haven't done much of anything with it. They don't come sharp but they are nice looking pieces. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2011 21:30:51 GMT
Hey, guys. A kyu-gunto isn't what some of you guys are thinking of at all (looks like Pogo knows though  ). It's a gunto/katana that's been mounted sort of like a european (cavalry?) saber, etc. like these examples:    Personally, I would also be interested in purchasing a nice functional kyu-gunto repro. I like how they look, even though it isn't a 'traditional' katana look. :roll: Not too interested in the Weapon-Edge one though. No samegawa.  (among other things...) Maybe we could convince Hanwei to make some like they did with their Yasukuni Gunto line (I have the Colonel one and it's very nice, IMO). :lol: Really doubt the demand would be high enough for them to even consider it though.... |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Feb 18, 2011 21:58:36 GMT
Now I'm not so sure I like the knuckle-bow, sabre-like hilt... but that's a very nice looking saya, on the other hand! It may just be me but I really like how those metal fittings look.
So this is kyu-gunto; I take it that shin-gunto are the WWII version, hilted more like a katana?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2011 22:59:40 GMT
Right. Kyu-gunto came before the shin-gunto, I think. I believe 'shin' means 'new' in Japanese (like in shin-shinto)... [though it probably depends on the character used... >_< ].
I think gunto means something along the lines of 'war-sword' or 'army-sword'. Can't remember.
...I guess that 'kyu' means old, then?
Of course, I could be horribly wrong in everything that I've said in this thread so far. ...It happens. Plus, I don't actually know any Japanese. Just regurgitating half-remembered things I've read from somewhere. :?
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Post by etiennehamel on Feb 19, 2011 0:01:42 GMT
i think they were used as police sword not army so it could be the difference (i'm stating this because nihontoantique had one for sale and it was called a police sword)
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Feb 19, 2011 4:27:28 GMT
I think you're correct. Although I hate to use this as an example, it's the only one that pops into my mind at the thought of kyu-gunto: the manga Rurouni Kenshin. Though they're rarely seen, they play a rather important part relatively on in the story; the "sword police" carry swords much like the kyu-gunto. I know it's a manga and not to be relied on, but aside from the rather fantastical sword fighting, much of the historical aspects are quite accurate from what I can tell.
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Post by Student of Sword on Feb 19, 2011 4:51:17 GMT
Kyu-gunto is a Western saber. I cannot recall correctly if it was based on the Prussian or French's contemporary. It is NOT a Japanese blade at all. The new Meiji Government adopted Western military equipment wholesale. It was used primarily during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. It was abandoned sometime in the 20s.
PS: I think the confusion regarding katana blade w/ Western hilt is because many officers brought w/ them their family blade & mount them on the kyu-gunto. The standard issued swords are Western style.
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Post by etiennehamel on Feb 19, 2011 5:04:56 GMT
sorry if i doubt it student even though i bet you're more knowledgeable than me about this i don't know what you say doesn't seem right...(might just be me)
the blade MUST be japanese but the fittings might be other than japanese.
sorry if its what you said but in other words i'm in need of sleep right now...
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Post by Student of Sword on Feb 19, 2011 5:49:25 GMT
I did look it up on my book and you are right. Very early on, they imported French & Prussian sabers. Those were completely Western. The ones they made domestically were katana blades with western saber hilt. Those blades were butt ugly. There is no discernible yokote. The kissaki looks misshapen. Bo-hi termination is terrible. Even the ugliest production katana today looks better.
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Post by chuckinohio on Feb 19, 2011 12:48:32 GMT
The lack of samegawa doesn't bother me as much as the scabbard on the Weapon Edge version. It seems a bit too blah despite being horriffically shiny.
Weapon Edge seems to be hit or miss in their quality at times, does any one else have any opinions on their products?
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Post by MEversbergII on Feb 19, 2011 14:02:14 GMT
I own one of their shin-gunto; it's pretty good. It has little details you wouldn't think of, like alternating simulated ito. This reminds me, I need to get it sharpened so I can do a full on review...
Dave Kelly has reviewed a number of their sabres both here and on the old site. Seems to run the gambit of inaccurate (their P1908) to a good representation (their hussar sabre).
M.
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). It's a gunto/katana that's been mounted sort of like a european (cavalry?) saber, etc. like these examples:
(among other things...)
