Shin-gunto swords are sometimes found with a colored tassel (left) attached to the kabuto-gane (hilt buttcap). The officer's rank that carried the sword can be determined from the color of the tassel. Blue/brown tassels were used by company grade officers (lieutenants and captains), red/brown by field grade officers (majors and colonels), red/gold tassels for general grade officers. Tassels can be easily switched from sword to sword and reproduction tassels can also be added to WW II vintage swords. A new general grade tassel on a poor quality sword is indicative of a 'made-up' story. NCO swords had a leather sword knot (right). Kyu-gunto swords had a ball type corded knot.
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