Samurai Sword...Opinions Please!

[KMC1945]

Hello Guys,

An acquaintance of mine has asked me for info on a sword he received years ago from an elderly neighbor. He is not a collector, he is just interested in knowing what it is exactly and a ballpark range of what it's worth. I don't know much about Japanese swords so I will let the pics he sent me do the talking. I told him no place better to ask than my fellow collectors on the forum. I do know that it is important to see any makers markings on the tang of the blade. Unfortunately, he did not send me any pics of these markings. He was told by someone who claimed experience that it was an officer's sword but I don't know for sure, although there is what seems like serial number at the very bottom of the handle (see pic). Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

EDIT: I neglected to mention that these are NOT my photos. These are just what I received from the owner. That being said, I know some of them are not exactly clear and for that I apologize. I hope they're still good enough to make out the general details. Thanks again everyone.

[KMC1945]

more pics...

[KMC1945]

more pics....

[KMC1945]

more pics......

[KMC1945]

more pics....... serial number on grip

[KMC1945]

last pics for now......

[checkit]

Nice early example of a Naval Officer's Sword. The serial number on the sword "chape" is only seen on early versions, and I believe it is considered to be a patent number. Most Naval swords do not have old blades, but I have seen one's with this early chape that did have nice old blades in them.

Overall condition is fairly poor, and it is hard to assign a value based on these pics.

[Papa Nambu]

I can tell you it's a navy officer's sword, and it looks like it hasn't been taken care of, but I've seen worse and this still has potential. Many of these have machine made stainless steel blades, but some are hand made. Some of the regulars here know a lot more about swords than I do and might be able to give you more details, but they usually need to see the tang.

[Paul G]

I think its called a Kai Gunto

[NLF]

This type indeed is called a "kai gunto" and is an early model. Late war single support ring swords had stainless blades. This one is the worst condition I have seen of these. With the photos being bad, and the condition it looks more like one of the Chinese knockoffs. The value would be around 400.00 in my opinion.

[gunto]

Kaigunto it is ,with rare patent marked fitting.
Cant value ,since we dont know who made the blade.



The stainless blade kaiguntos does have 2 ashi.
Who says the single ashi types is navy ?

[NLF]

The stainless blade kaiguntos does have 2 ashi.
Who says the single ashi types is navy ?[/QUOTE]

I would say because, they haven anchor stamped in the blade tang and navy tsuba and tsuka and more. Usualy with a black laquor saya.

[checkit]

Kaigunto it is ,with rare patent marked fitting.
Cant value ,since we dont know who made the blade.



The stainless blade kaiguntos does have 2 ashi.
Who says the single ashi types is navy ?

I have heard this controversy before, but to me, single hanger models are clearly a late version KaiGunto. I don't know if Fuller & Gregory still back this up.

[checkit]

"This one is the worst condition I have seen of these."

I have seen much, much worse. This one looks restorable, but it is not exactly a do-it-yourself project for most people.

To restore the Saya, you would have to stabilize it Saya with animal hide glue. Then a clear coat (with fittings removed, of course) followed by about a dozen thin coats of black Uryushi or Cashew Lacquer. (The clear coat keeps the black lacquer from staining the white Rayskin). Then micro wet sanding the black lacquer off until the white dots show through.

This is very tedious work, and with the long drying times, it would take a month, using traditional materials, to restore the Saya.

[NLF]

who is going to pay 100.00 an inch to restore the blade! I bought a near mint one for 1600.00