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Post by madocreg on Jan 26, 2013 20:03:42 GMT
IMG_1624.JPG[/attachment]This sword was left at my home more than 20 years ago. I had forgotten about it until recently and I am now trying to find out what it is and how to take better care of it. I was told that it was a Japanese military sword by the friend who left it with me.
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SanMarc
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,193
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Post by SanMarc on Jan 26, 2013 20:24:41 GMT
Every thing about that screems chinese fake........
Sorry.....
...SanMarc.
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Post by Springs on Jan 26, 2013 20:28:49 GMT
While I'm not 100% on this, but I think that there is just another Gunto copy, and not a particularly good one at that. The ito looks all wrong, (they were either traditionally wrapped or made out of metal to look like a wrapped tsuka), the molding and details on the kashira and tsuba seem to be lacking in detail, the tsuka seems rather short judging by how many diamonds are on it, it's also lacking a mekugi peg so it might even be a rat tail under there. The mass produced type gunto also have a serial number at the bottom of the blade, which I don't see here.
There are other points, but overall I think it's a fake, unless I'm missing something and swords like this were actually made...?
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Post by madocreg on Jan 26, 2013 23:43:12 GMT
I was not expecting much from it. Blade has seen lots of use in some manner. The scabbard seems well made and fits the blade well. What is a Gunto? The wooden handle is covered by the material under the wrap so I can't tell if there is a peg under there. I have done no exploring with dismantling it. Any ideas on the engraving?
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Jan 27, 2013 14:10:16 GMT
And someone has had a go at it with a stone or sandpaper to remove rust, blade shape is wrong, best suggestion is to remove the "handle" - you should see a peg from both sides, may be under the wrapping, tap it out then slide off the "handle" and see what is under.
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Post by Springs on Jan 27, 2013 17:38:16 GMT
A Gunto is a WW2 Japanese military sword, which is what this one looks like. They came in types 94, 95 and 98. Most of the ones you see are the mass produced ones without a tsuka wrap, being made out of metal that looks like a wrapped tsuka instead.
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Post by madocreg on Jan 28, 2013 19:23:25 GMT
Thanks, I looked up some images of Gunto and I am sure mine is not a real one.
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