I have couple of machine blades and I am now after a more "classic" gendaito sword . I am a newbie to WWII Japanese swords and completely out of my depth with old blades...
I saw this sword which has a blade described as older than what I was truly after . I like the naval mounts . Here are some of the seller’s photos and his description . Can you please help me and tell if you agree with the seller’s description and if indeed this sword matches his description ?
This sword interest me as a WW2 addition to a militaria collection. I am not a Japanese sword purist, so if a war-time modification/re-tempering has “ruined” the inherent value of an old sword, it is still ok in my eyes if it was done bona-fides pre 1945 - if you see where I am coming from ?
Anyway … onto the sword
Japanese WW2 Naval Officer's Kai-Gunto Retempered Koto Blade
Nagasa : 63 cm, Motohaba 2.6 cm, Sakihaba 1.5 cm, Kasane 6 cm
WWII Japanese Naval Officer's sword. This Kai-gunto koshirae is in good condition. The same wrap on the saya is intact and all of the original metal fittings are present. The seppa for the tsuba are dated 1944. The wrap on the tsuka is original and in good condition. The blade is an old koto tachi that was re-tempered at some point in its history. The hamon is wide with a wild outline. There is a lot of togari and it becomes hitasura and wild in the upper area of the blade. There is no mizukage but still the awkward and late style of this hamon tells us that it is not the original hamon. The shape of this blade, with elegant taper and koshi sori , combined with the nakago patina would support an original date of production around 1400 or earlier. The horimono is also is an old koto style. The nakago kasane is much thicker than the blade, thus this blade has been polished many times over the centuries. The bade is very light in one's hand and well balanced. This sword was very nice at one time - then probably burnt in a fire - then re tempered in the Edo Period. The re tempering makes the blade useful again for battle, so it was carried in WWII by a naval officer.
Many thanks for your help !!
I saw this sword which has a blade described as older than what I was truly after . I like the naval mounts . Here are some of the seller’s photos and his description . Can you please help me and tell if you agree with the seller’s description and if indeed this sword matches his description ?
This sword interest me as a WW2 addition to a militaria collection. I am not a Japanese sword purist, so if a war-time modification/re-tempering has “ruined” the inherent value of an old sword, it is still ok in my eyes if it was done bona-fides pre 1945 - if you see where I am coming from ?
Anyway … onto the sword
Japanese WW2 Naval Officer's Kai-Gunto Retempered Koto Blade
Nagasa : 63 cm, Motohaba 2.6 cm, Sakihaba 1.5 cm, Kasane 6 cm
WWII Japanese Naval Officer's sword. This Kai-gunto koshirae is in good condition. The same wrap on the saya is intact and all of the original metal fittings are present. The seppa for the tsuba are dated 1944. The wrap on the tsuka is original and in good condition. The blade is an old koto tachi that was re-tempered at some point in its history. The hamon is wide with a wild outline. There is a lot of togari and it becomes hitasura and wild in the upper area of the blade. There is no mizukage but still the awkward and late style of this hamon tells us that it is not the original hamon. The shape of this blade, with elegant taper and koshi sori , combined with the nakago patina would support an original date of production around 1400 or earlier. The horimono is also is an old koto style. The nakago kasane is much thicker than the blade, thus this blade has been polished many times over the centuries. The bade is very light in one's hand and well balanced. This sword was very nice at one time - then probably burnt in a fire - then re tempered in the Edo Period. The re tempering makes the blade useful again for battle, so it was carried in WWII by a naval officer.
Many thanks for your help !!
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