Kaigunto with manufacturers mark

[gunto]

Kaigunto seppa with manufacturers mark and Toyokawa naval arsenal stamp.

Gunto Sei Saku Jo , located in Tokyo. Company was owned by Mr. Matsuyama. They made koshirae for army and navy and for police, diplomatic and ceremonial uses.


Its stated rare by G & F , anyone has the same or other makers mark?

[GHP]

Hi,

I've not seen these maker marks before. I would like to say how nice the "Matsuyama" mark is. It is the symbol for mountain 山 within a circlet of two pine (matsu) needles (山). Really inventive from an artistic point of view.

--Guy

[gunto]

This is how the sword look liked when I got it.

It looks like battle damage from a gun shot or a granate fragment.

Heres the old damage tsuka with the new one.

[GHP]

Is the tang also scarred? It looks so in the image you posted. Very interesting. Can we have a photo of the naked tang?

I've broken handles before on WW2 ere gunto simply because the wood was rotten and the tang too short. If this one is battle-damaged, it will make a nice collector's story.

Who carved the new handle core and wrapped it? Nice.

--Guy

[gunto]

Yes, nakago is damage to. I put a photo on later.
I made the new.

[GHP]

Yes, nakago is damage to. I put a photo on later.
I made the new.

Nice job!! This does not look like a first attempt. Did you use a router to shape the inside of the handle blank, or did you use hand tools?

I like your "hiramaki" style of wrapping. Have you experimented with hishigami (paper triangle wedges) placed under the wrapping? Hishigami will cause the tsukaito to bulge outwards, providing a rounder grip that fits well in the palm of the hand.

Are you also using a full wrap of same-skin instead of panels?



--Guy

[gunto]

Thanks .
Its not my first time , done it now for 15 years.
I use chrisels , all is hand made.
I use hisigami and is used on this tsuka .
The samegawa is full wrap, but I do both ways.

[gunto]

Full wrap samegawa.

[GHP]

VERY nice! I did not realize the samegawa was dyed after installed.



--Guy

[Luis22]

Nice work....Nice Kai gunto!!

[gunto]

Thanks .

[GHP]

Gunto,

How exciting to think this sword might have saved its owner's life! Or, at least prevented a worse wound.

Thank you for showing the nakago. I see that there is a slight bulge on the opposite side where the bullet/shrapnel hit.

Too bad this sword cannot talk!!!

Again, thanks!

--Guy

[gunto]

I couldnt live with that someone had polished the nakago , so nakago was repatinated.

[GHP]

I couldnt live with that someone had polished the nakago , so nakago was repatinated.

Nice patination job; though, it's a shame the "wound" was also repatinated; I would expect "new meat" showing there.

Still, the repatination is far superior to the polished nakago. How old do you think the sword is? I see see what looks like former age pitting, and along with the two nakao-ana, I would expect it (therefore) to be older than Showa.

--Guy

[gunto]

Its koto.