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Post by AmazingStuffLLC on Mar 31, 2013 21:07:52 GMT
I just picked this sword up at an auction recently and I am trying to figure out what the marking say. I have no experience with swords but find them quite intriguing. I am hoping I have a "real deal" sword here and not a fake/repro. I have attached a picture of both sides of the handle. Here is some more information about the sword that I found on the wonderful web. I believe it is a WWII era sword Torii Sori Daito (Katana/Tachi) Handle length 23.6cm Blade Length 66.2cm Blade thickness .6cm Everything is also numbered 274 There is no scabbard. No cracks in the blade, a few small knicks on the blade edge and some scratches. Any information/help would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by Bluntsword on Mar 31, 2013 22:00:54 GMT
Hello AmazingStuff.
Just recently I purchased a HW replica Gunto, so I did a huge amount of research before purchase. In the end the replica best suited my needs as I'm using it. You can find the review in the review section (there's also linked a lot of usfull sites when it comes to guntos).
But from my research and having a quick look at the sites and your images, I have to guestimate that you have a Navy Gunto (from the tsuba and fuchi designs). Now if this is a replica it's a very very good replica, what makes me say that: - the same is correct (black lacquered) - tsuba looks correct design - fuchi looks correct design - the age of the parts just look right
I can't read Japanese so I can't help you in that department, but hopefully someone else hear came be better help to you.
Also welcome to SBG.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Apr 1, 2013 0:18:16 GMT
Pretty hard translation for my level, but I think I might have figured it out. Sometimes these really give an headache, and this one was very hard for me. Omote: Using logic and first reading it partly correctly the mei might read 天照山鍛錬場 Tenshozan Tanrenjo and last character is probably kore. Not sure what second last is, I first thought ka or tetsu, but not sure of it. So this would mean made at Tenshozan forge. Does this sword have an anchor stamp on the nakago? Ura: Showa Ju Hachi Nen Hachi Gatsu Hi = One day in August 1943. I believe it's made of stainless steel. Plain brown tassel, tsuka, tsuba & seppa, all seem correct to my eye (even though I usually associate hiramaki with kai-gunto), look here for further reference: www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~j-gunto/gunto_006.htm
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Post by AmazingStuffLLC on Apr 1, 2013 2:34:17 GMT
I do not see an anchor stamp anywhere, or any other stamps/markings for that matter. Just the markings pictured and the number 274.
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Post by Lee Bray on Apr 1, 2013 3:36:40 GMT
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Apr 1, 2013 3:55:15 GMT
Stainless blades were made between 1937 And 1944 for the Navy, most had a anchor stamp - vis. Tenshozan Tanren Jo Kin Saku from here www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopi ... 50&t=11604
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Post by AmazingStuffLLC on Apr 1, 2013 19:58:17 GMT
Yeah, I don't see anything that even resembles an anchor stamp. So even though there is no anchor stamp is it still Navy?
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Post by Vue on Apr 2, 2013 0:49:47 GMT
Yes I believe so, the mounting is from the Navy and the nakago has no rust as it's stainless steel like other's mentioned. Why stainless steel? Common sense and science dictates water and carbon steel don't get on
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Post by AmazingStuffLLC on Apr 2, 2013 1:34:29 GMT
This didn't have a scabbard with it, is it possible to find one for it? Or does that not really affect the collectibility/value. I paid $280 for it, not sure if that was too much or not but I wanted one so I bought it lol!
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Post by Vue on Apr 2, 2013 2:01:13 GMT
For 280 I think you did good, you can easily get your money back and then some just putting it on Ebay. Usually if the blade is good then everything else is secondary, this however only applies to traditionally made blades and not the stainless variety. I think you'll find there would be more interest from Historic/militaria collectors then the Nihonto collectors for this particular example, with the scabbard it's always more appealing and would add more value since this is only a stainless version.
The blade seems to be in a fairly good state from what I could see and I think it would make a nice Iaito blade remounted.
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Post by aussie-rabbit on Apr 2, 2013 3:52:33 GMT
The stainless blades were ordered by the Navy due to the high salt environment. quote 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. end quote
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