Original ww2 japanese guntos?

[fpicoli]

Hi

I would apreciate some help on this 2 items.

Are they original ww2 japanese NCO/Officer shin gunto?

Or are they fakes/repros?

My opinion is that they are not original ww2 japanese swords.

Maybe chinesa fakes. But im not an expert.

Can anyone help me identifying these?

Best regards

Fábio

NCO sword












Officer sword

[reeder3]

Both are original.

[BruceP]

Fabio, Reeder is correct.

The navy officer gunto is of the unusual style commonly called the Navy (sometimes incorrectly -Marine) Landing Sword, because the gold gilded metal fittings on the saya (scabbard) are army pieces, but gilded to have the navy look. No one really knows why these were made this way, but there are many like this out there.

The Type 95 NCO gunto is made for the Nagoya Arsenal (you can faintly see their inspector Mark beside the serial number.

Both very fine Specimens!

Interested in selling the Navy one? pm me if so!

[fpicoli]

How much each one worth???

[fpicoli]

Just another question:

Why the NCO Arms sword has it sccabard painted in black?

[BruceP]

You don't see the black scabbard often but they were a noted version in the reference books.

Depending upon your location, the NCO gunto go for $650 - $1,400 depending upon version, condition and who you're selling to.

The NLF gunto go for $800-1,200 again, based upon the same criteria.

[Stu W]

Both original pieces. Lots of post war black painted NCO saya too.

Neither of those swords commands a top end value in my view.

Regards,
Stu

[Bob Coleman]

The naval sword is of the type put together from left over parts and sold post war as souvenirs to GI's by Japan Sword Company, which is still in business today in Tokyo. I have purchased four of these from Korean War vets who all gave me the same information as to where they acquired them. Tell tale signs are the single hanger, lacquer scabbard, solid iron tsuba without the sun ray plates and gilt painted fittings. All four that I saw were unsigned stainless steel blades with an anchor stamp and the end of the tang roughly snapped off. All four I bought also came with a cheap brown cloth sword bag.

[fpicoli]

The naval sword is of the type put together from left over parts and sold post war as souvenirs to GI's by Japan Sword Company, which is still in business today in Tokyo. I have purchased four of these from Korean War vets who all gave me the same information as to where they acquired them. Tell tale signs are the single hanger, lacquer scabbard, solid iron tsuba without the sun ray plates and gilt painted fittings. All four that I saw were unsigned stainless steel blades with an anchor stamp and the end of the tang roughly snapped off. All four I bought also came with a cheap brown cloth sword bag.

So, this Naval sword was put togheter, and not used during the war as one.
How would look a original Naval landing force gunto used during the war?

WhatsApp about the NCO sword? Is it all original, veem the black print on the saya (scabbard)?

[Bob Coleman]

So, this Naval sword was put togheter, and not used during the war as one.
How would look a original Naval landing force gunto used during the war?

WhatsApp about the NCO sword? Is it all original, veem the black print on the saya (scabbard)?

The scabbard would be covered with polished shark or ray skin. It would have two suspension hangers, not one. The fittings would be gilt plated and not painted. Finally, the tsuba would have a large separate disc mounted to each side of the tsuba with sunrays stamped in to it. A leather combat cover could be used with a plain wood scabbard in naval Landing Forces with the normal scabbard used for standard duty.

[GHP]

The scabbard would be covered with polished shark or ray skin. It would have two suspension hangers, not one. The fittings would be gilt plated and not painted. Finally, the tsuba would have a large separate disc mounted to each side of the tsuba with sunrays stamped in to it. A leather combat cover could be used with a plain wood scabbard in naval Landing Forces with the normal scabbard used for standard duty.

Naval gunto:



With combat cover:



Tsuba & large discs that Bob is talking about:


More at Ohmura-san's site


--Guy

[BruceP]

The naval sword is of the type put together from left over parts and sold post war as souvenirs to GI's by Japan Sword Company, which is still in business today in Tokyo. I have purchased four of these from Korean War vets who all gave me the same information as to where they acquired them. Tell tale signs are the single hanger, lacquer scabbard, solid iron tsuba without the sun ray plates and gilt painted fittings. All four that I saw were unsigned stainless steel blades with an anchor stamp and the end of the tang roughly snapped off. All four I bought also came with a cheap brown cloth sword bag.

Bob, this is really big news!!! I remember a discussion on these where a guy told of a relative who claimed to see a warehouse full of these after the war. Is it possible the Japan Sword Company is selling an inventory they acquired after the war, but the swords were made toward the end of the war?

[BruceP]

I just rechecked my Fuller & Gr3gory on the black NCO scabbard - they show black as a factory option on late-war models, but don't mention it on earlier versions like this one. Honestly I've seen so many variations I wouldn't rule out the color as original, however I've owned 3 with post-war paint too. One way to find out is to rub some acetone on a spot. If the black comes off, it's non-leaded paint and post-war. Another way is to remove the small screw that holds the scabbard throat, and pull the throat piece out. I've found the original color is sometimes still there on the inside screw tab.

[Bob Coleman]

Bob, this is really big news!!! I remember a discussion on these where a guy told of a relative who claimed to see a warehouse full of these after the war. Is it possible the Japan Sword Company is selling an inventory they acquired after the war, but the swords were made toward the end of the war?

Bruce-
The blades were definitely left over late war production. The other parts were likely unfinished war time parts. The situation is similar to the Atwood German parts daggers that came out in the mid 1960's. In this case, they were assembled with whatever parts were available. Due to material shortages after the war, it was likely there was no attempt to fabricate the miaaing parts as the intended customer base would not notice the difference.

[vincepardosky]

officer's japanese sword

Hi to All
I'm new to this forum, sorry if I disturb,
I was interested in buying officer's japanese sword Shin Gunto and I saw that Fabio has found quite a few.
Let me know if is there any possibility to buy
Many thanks
EP