Okay, so, let me tell you about this whole “gunto sword” thing I got into recently. It all started when I stumbled upon some forum posts talking about Japanese military swords. You know, the ones used by the Imperial Japanese army and navy, called “Gunto”. I got curious, especially when I read that there are a lot of fakes going around, including Shin-gunto, Kai-gunto, and even Kyu-gunto.

First thing I did was dive into this “Fakes thread” they mentioned. People were sharing tips on how to spot a fake. They said to watch out for serial numbers on the habaki or weird etched symbols. Sounded like a real detective work!
I started looking at pictures, comparing real ones and fakes. I learned that real ones have these Kanji inscriptions, called “mei”, on the tang, which is the part of the blade that goes into the handle. The fakes, obviously, don’t have that or have some gibberish written on them.
Then, I found a discussion where someone was asking if their sword was real or not. And guess what? Turns out it was a genuine Japanese sword! That got me even more excited.
I got so into it, that I was bugging everyone I knew, asking if they knew how to tell the age of these swords or if they were handmade or machine-made. Some people told me to check the materials, the way it was made, and the overall quality. They said real katanas are made of high-quality steel.
Then I found out that Gunto swords are different from the classic Katana swords. Katanas are more about the samurai spirit and old-school craftsmanship, while Gunto is more like a symbol of Japan’s military history and how they started making things on a larger scale with machines, especially after they started conscripting soldiers around 1872.

One story I read was about a Shin Gunto that was taken from a Japanese soldier who surrendered in the Philippines. It was a saber issued to non-commissioned officers and officers. This made me realize that these swords are not just weapons, they carry a lot of history.
And to think, Japanese officers actually carried swords like these during World War II! They weren’t just for show like the ones officers in other countries carried.
So, yeah, that’s my journey into the world of Gunto swords. I went from knowing nothing to learning how to spot fakes, understanding the history, and appreciating the craftsmanship. It’s been a wild ride, but super interesting!