Katana by taniguchi yoshikane , seki swordsmith .paper mache scabbard cover !

[Rob truscott]

Thought id post my Shin Gunto Katana by Taniguchi Yoshikane of the seki arsenel . Its housed in a laquered paper mache cover which i suppose relates to late war leather restrictions. The silk flag is apparently signed by Navy Administation Officers .

[tomp]

Nice!



Tom

[Alan M]

Hi Rob , it,s amazing the ingenuity in the use of alternative materials during times of shortage ! Nice sword and flag

[Kiipu]

谷口義包作　Taniguchi Yoshikane saku.
Type 98 with papier-mâché scabbard cover. Has large Seki 関 stamp. Tang has two mekugi ana close together, possibly rehilted at some point.

[ghp95134]

関鍛治刀匠名簿・ 昭和14年10月
From the Register of Names of Seki Forge Swordsmiths Since Showa 14, October (1939)

義包 谷口和兄 S15.08.31
Swordsmith Name: Yoshikane
Civil name: Taniguchi Kazué
Entered into the Seki Guild: Showa 15 [1940], August 31

From Markus Sesko's Japanese Swordsmiths:
YOSHIKANE (義包), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshikane” (義包), real name Taniguchi Kazue (谷口和兄), he worked as guntō smith, Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)


Cheers,
-- Guy

[ghp95134]

Flag was presented to a Mr. Kato [加藤] possibly naval officer, but the familiar 君 [kun] for "Mr." is used instead of a rank, so I don' know if he was an officer or not. I see the names of a rear admiral, a navy captain [colonel], three navy lieutenants [army captain equivalent], and some others.

I cannot read through the blade and saya, but the RADM's name might be Hayagawa 早川. If you show a clear shot I can research the name. Nevermind, I found him as an Admin RADM:

早川貞吉Hayakawa Teikichi､1891-1976(経3､25/32愛知).主計少将.
1914.12/19少主計候補生､経理学校乙種学生15. 5/15明石乗員
15.12/13少主計､(-17.4/1)富士乗員
17.12/1中主計
19.9/23主計中尉
20.12/1主計大尉､淀主計長22.5/1呉海兵団教官23.4/1千歳主計長10/10兼淀主計長11/10-25.2/2平戸(24.12/1兼大和)主計長25.3/2機関学校教官26.6/15呉軍需部部員
27.12/1主計少佐､間宮主計長28.12/10経理学校主計長兼教官兼監事兼副官 31.12/1舞鶴要港部員
32.12/1主計中佐36.12/1長門主計長37.1/26-12/1陸奥主計長
37.12/1主計大佐.
人名事典はや〜.The Naval Data Base.

I think the navy captain is Shimizu Nobuhide:
清水信英Shimizu Nobuhide(経3､23/32愛媛).主計大佐.
1914.12/19少主計候補生
15.12/13少主計
17.12/1中主計
19.9/23主計中尉>千代田主計長心得20.8/1知床艤装員9/18兼主計長心得/20竣工
20.12/1主計大尉､知床主計長21.12/1矢矧主計長>大井主計長>多摩主計長26 .12/1佐世保軍需部員
27.12/1主計少佐>比叡主計長29.11/30横須賀軍需部員31.12/1横須賀経理部員
32.12/1主計中佐､榛名主計長33.12/1兵学校主計長兼教官>呉軍需部第3課� �兼部員.
人名事典しみ〜.The Naval Data Base.

Cheers!
-- Guy

[jeeplover]

Why does it have two holes? I usually see this on older swords that have been refitted. Excuse my question I see it was answered I guess the earlier post just didn't load.

[ghp95134]

Why does it have two holes? I usually see this on older swords that have been refitted.

In this case it might have had a different handle/scabbard made for it. Sometimes you'll see a second hole near the bottom for a second retaining pin; in this case it would offer a failsafe if the forward bamboo peg broke or was lost. My newly-made sword had two holes for that reason.

But I digress. In your case it was more than likely a second handle fitted to shorten the length of the cutting edge by an inch or so.

Cheers,
-- Guy

[Bruce Pennington]

This one is interesting, with the all-brown tassel. I would have filed it under Gunzoku, but with the flag translated as coming from Naval personnel, this may be a Navy tassel. Yet, Guy's reading of the "Mr Kato" could still indicate he was Navy Gunzoku. When I first saw this, I was puzzled by the icky dark same'. The fittings are Army, but maybe the same' was darkened for a guy that was going to work with the Navy? I don't know.

I'm still going to chart this one as Gunzoku, since the fittings are Army.

[ghp95134]

Bruce, I doubt the flag is associated with the sword. (Unless, of course, there is provenance.)

-- Guy