Gunto questions...

[leaftree]

I came across this gunto and was planning on taking a closer look at it.

From what I can tell it's a type 94.

I have doubts about the leather cover of the saya. Looks to new? I could not find any similar in the threads.

Is it unusual for the saya to be substantially longer than the gunto itself? A replacement possibly?

According to the seller the tang has no name on it, nor is their any other markings on the blade.

Am I on the right track here or is this garbage? Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

[leaftree]

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[leaftree]

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[leaftree]

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[leaftree]

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[Stu W]

Hi,

I tend to associate the Type 94 with the double ashi style.

It's not unheard of to find a difference in the sword to saya length. Could have been a family blade (although a mumei wakizashi would not be the norm) the officer wanted to use, could be a replacement or perhaps he was in a non combat environment and simply didn't want to be carrying the extra weight associated to a longer piece.

As to the saya cover, it does indeed look much newer than most I have seen but that may be supportive of the possibility that the owner was in a non combat role. Why a cover then you might ask. My guess would be that it's easier to find or fit a wood saya to a non standard shape blade than to find a metal one that would fit properly. Leather covers were quite common on wood saya.

If you are able to get photos of the nakago we may be able to offer further more informed opinions. I don't think it's "garbage" and it never hurts to look.
Assuming that the seller lives no further east than Abbotsford it's worth the drive to see it in hand.

Regards,
Stu

[GHP]

Adding to what Stu said. On the practical side, a wood/leather scabbard is lighter and not as noisy as a steel scabbard; and, it is easier to have a wood-core made.

If the scabbard was made for this wakizashi blade, then it would have been about an inch or two longer than the blade.

By the way, Japanese blades are measured along a straight line axis along the back, from the tip (kissaki) to the notch in the blade where the habaki ends (mune-machi) --about an inch or so from the tsuba. Just eyeballing yours, it looks to be about 1-shaku 7-sun ... about 20.25 inches.

Here's a good illustration I found at this site:


--Guy

[Roger Fox]

Sorry if I'm interjecting unnecessarily here, but...there is no leather cover to this scabbard.

There is a leather cover remnant, about 3" long, holding the hanger ring. And, with that, I don't believe there is anything remarkable about it's condition.

Plus, if that remnant slides up enough to snap onto the handle retainer strap, then it will probably slide completely off the saya, making the ring totally ineffective as a carrying device.

That, coupled with the scabbard having, evidently, been painted to closely match the leather cover that probably used to be there...plus the length discrepancy as previously noted...I have to think this saya is not only a replacement, but has been significantly cosmetically modified, post-war.

The sword looks decent.

Roger

[gunto]

Looks like old blade.

[Stu W]

Sorry if I'm interjecting unnecessarily here, but...there is no leather cover to this scabbard.

There is a leather cover remnant, about 3" long, holding the hanger ring...Roger

Hi Roger,

I don't think you are interjecting unnecessarily and as I have much to learn myself I appreciate all points of view. I'm viewing this thread on an iPad so perhaps something is lost to my eye (wouldn't be the first time) but it appears to me to be a full length cover with an additional overlapping piece where the ashi is attached. If the saya is simply painted in a matching color and there is no leather beyond that short strip then I'll be sticking with a large computer monitor for viewing in the future.

Hopefully leaftree can clarify.

Regards,
Stu

[gunto]

Under the leather manchet is there space for a kurigata?

[Luis22]

From the pics I believe is 100% genuine

[nambu-shiki]

I too am seeing a painted saya with the aforementioned leather remnant.

Bill

[Stu W]

Leather or wood?

I find this quite interesting so have sent a PM to leaftree asking for clarification.

Regards,
Stu

[leaftree]

Sword...

Life has kept me busy the last few days. I will post more pics and info as soon as possible.

Upon closer inspection of the pictures I would say that Roger Fox is correct, and it is only a leather remnant that we see on a wood or painted brown saya.

I have only held one of these once in my life, so I am extremely novice in all this.

Regards,