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Imperial Army Gunto with Koto Blade

SOLD

Officers of the Imperial Japanese forces were permitted to privately purchase swords or have old blades remounted in military mountings as their service side arms. Examples of Swords from all periods can be found contained in military mountings. This is also true in the varied ranges of respective quality. Blades that had been within a family for many generations may have been refitted for a young officer going off to war. Officers also purchased swords from dealers and had them prepared.

This sword blade is an example of a Koto period sword that has been remounted for military service. It is very long at 30 3/8 inches despite being suriage (shortened). Unfortunately, the blade is Saiha (retempered), meaning that it was likely in one of the many fires that plagued Japans citys and villages over the centuries, and subsequently heat treated over again to re-establish it as a viable weapon. Swords that are saiha loose all their original hamon as created by their maker, but as sword manufacture was both expensive and time consuming, it was logical to save those swords which were either of historic or sentimental value, and would revive it as a serviceable weapon. We can speculate many possibilities for this sword and its history, but one clear fact remains; it was thought to be adequate (or significant) enough as a weapon to be put into service again. Due to its length and curvature, the military mountings are therefore also unusual as they must accommodate a blade outside average gunto dimensions. This shows yet another commitment that it was sufficiently thought of to go warrant the extra effort (and cost) to construct new mountings.

I always encourage those interested in Nihonto to collect the best examples they can afford. So let me be clear on this point;

Saiha blades fall outside the category I recommend as desireable Nihonto and I encourage Nihonto collectors to both learn the tell-tale signs of retempered swords and to avoid purchasing them.

So why is this listed on my site? The answer is very simple; I’m trying to help a client improve his collection by selling it to a market it is better suited, and thus enabling him to put the proceeds to something better for his collection. The collectability of this piece as a Nihonto is compromised. The merit it carries lies in its length, and how that lends to its mountings as a military sidearm and thus a good example for a collector of militaria. The blade itself could also suite well to an Iai practioner in need of a longer blade. It is therefore offered here within these interests, and not for artisan or craftsmanship which has long since been compromised. Factory made guntos of shorter length and comparable condition approach the asking price of this sword.

Offered on Consignment: $1400.00 SOLD