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The paper is wrong. The correct reading for the writing on the nakago is as follows. 殺身成仁 (Mi o koroshite jin o nasu) – Die to achieve virtue.

Yes, I can confirm that is correct. The serial number is 871.

Thank you for your response Toryu! I will certainly take more and better photos, including the whole nakago, as well as close ups of the hamon and kissaki/boshi. Thank you for the compliment!

Ah, thanks for the clarification Geraint! I now understand what you were eluding to. Yeah, it seems that the more I look into the signature, the more I keep finding discrepancies that does not match legitimate Yasutsugu signatures. But then again, that is also just my naked eye and I have no knowledge or expertise. But yes, I am considering getting a shinsa on the sword but I'm going to wait it out and see if I can get more information before I do so. Also, I'm reluctant to part ways with the sword for that long since I just received it lol. I'm still hoping I can get more info from others but thanks again for feedback.

Some cicadas are quite large, and baby lizards can be very small... just sayin'

Thanks everyone for the interest and the comments, really appreciate the support. Just want to give a quick update that I listed the first batch of 9 swords for sale here. Please check them out and let me know if you have any questions, happy to help.

I am very happy to share that my ebay store Sohei Swords in conjunction with Eric’s Ericowazamono will be helping to handle the sale of the John Plimpton Collection of Japanese Military and Civil Swords. His collection, assembled over 50 years and through the heyday of the post-war Japanese sword hunt in the U.S., features some of the finest and rarest versions of Japanese military related swords. The collection spans the earliest days of the Meiji era, including some very rare early Meiji naval and cavalry swords, all the way to the last days of World War 2 and ‘last-ditch’ items. There are Onshi imperial gifts, coronation tachis, imperial household swords, general grade swords, railway swords, and everything in between. John has painstakingly catalogued his collection as the backbone of his upcoming book Guide to Imperial Japanese Military and Civil Swords, 1873-1945. Information on the book can be found here. The book is on track to be published next year and we are excited to keep the forum informed of its progress. We will be offering swords that are featured and published in the book, but we hope this thread can be used for discussion of any of the items. I will start separate threads in the Sales section as we list items, providing details and prices. Some of the highlights include General-grade swords with tortoise-shell tsukas, nihontos mounted in court koshirae, and even an Onshi imperial gift Yasukunito. Attached are a few excerpts from the book highlighting some of the swords he collected. We expect to release items over time once pictures and descriptions are prepared. But we are very excited to begin sharing these swords with the forum and invite your discussion. Feel free to comment or ask questions. I can also be reached privately via PM or at soheiswords@gmail.com. Thanks for your consideration. Matt

I bought this yesterday and assume it is just an ornamental tourist piece that is quite modern Typically Japanese with the hidden elements unseen (below the surface) It is 140mm long I like the shape and overall finish apart from the scale which makes the flying insect way too big Some detail is good and other detail not so good Over to you for any comments but this is more of a sharing post

Check this 'Christian' one - not! The design is, to my eyes at least, four stepped or double habaki set around the seppa-dai. I like it very much. Much better in fact than if it were a Christian piece. https://www.jauce.com/auction/c1022974466

It is a crap sword whether it is right or not . The yasurimei look a lot coarser than those in Christian's examples . Ian Brooks

Every cross is not Christian! I bought on 'Christian' cross but I told him it was horse tack side piece

Maybe one of his students... Not the Emura work

@Stephen <-- may be correct. Please refer to the website below for information on Emura. No references made to a single character signature. The hamon does not appear to be Emura style. It is said that some of the prisoners made the swords completely, without his assistance. Trying hard here but, maybe this was not up to his standards and he stopped the signature from being applied. Following the biggest lesson given to me...judge the blade, not the name. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/emura.htm

Japanese sword index has 5 variations of Ohmura mei, so the kanji doesn’t bother me. The missing second kanji is unique, but I’ve seen things, like kanji out of order on a Mantetsu, and other errors. Rush to meet high demand forces human error. I’d have to base the decision on the blade itself. Does it look like something made by Emura?

In my opinion the blade is gimei. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/emura.htm and some stuff i have found, one of them is also only signed with E.

There is nothing indicating it is a Showato. Which means it is a Gendaito. Which means it uses Tamahagane. This is going round and round in circles. Not sure what further assurance you need.

I’m aware it’s likely not a “special” sword or a particularly valuable piece. Especially after seeing all the beautiful examples shared on this forum! But it’s special to me, and it would be a personal joy and achievement for me to restore it. Thanks again everyone for all your help!

Just got my first bunny rabbit kodogu and happy to join the thread. Jeremiah, I hope we didn't bid against each other on this one!

The 2nd photo that Vajo posted shows the serial number, I believe it is 871 and not 371. A clearer photo would help as the lighting appears to be from the side. Mdiddy, could you confirm the serial number please?

Dated the 7th month of Showa 18 (July, 1943).

It is authentic, yes. World War 2. Looks to be signed ‘Yoshimitsu’. —Matt www.StCroixBlades.com

Looks like it was made by ‘Teruhide’. It is signed Ishido Teruhide saku. —Matt www.StCroixBlades.com

The Plimpton collection may fill in quite a few of our "never seen before" items! Here's a Type 19 Japanese Railway emblem (item "i" on Dawson's chart):

Another NCR gunto with "1993" on habaki, on a gunto for sale from the John Plimpton collection, by @mdiddy HERE.

A nice table top okimono. Something to look at and handle when idly musing on a rainy day.

@Stegel Given that the sword is in the hundreds range (371), should it not have a horse shoe drag? Because the early swords I remember seeing up to and past 600 all have horse shoe shaped drags. Yet this drag appears to be the more common half oval type evident in later models, up until and past 6,000? I can't see very well because of the low resolution, but it definitely looks like a horizontal line across the saya. It could be the half circle too... I really can't tell but it definitely doesn't look like the horse shoe. So which drags do you attribute to what serial ranges, because if there was a drag style inbetween the first 100 to 700, I am unaware of it and am keen to see what number ranges contain each of the four styles. I have been very lax the last couple of years in keeping records of coppers I've seen, so I am sure your own records would be much more complete.

Looking at the pictures it seems like a different metal was used for the silver parts, so also a different color was intended. Goto masters often worked with Shakudo, Silver and Gold in one work. The small marks are no signatures unfortunately. Goto signed their pieces quite clearly. However, there are some secret signatures on Goto pieces in form of small dots often on the side of the pieces. These were made as kind of a secret sign by a later master, that the piece is genuine and from an earlier master, if I remember correctly. You can find some more info about how to identify goto pieces under tsuba.info/goto

Any one notice that they all have the same shaped/style tsuba? both brass and steel as materials are present. Nick K posted a document with a similar looking tsuba in the type 95 thread. It was the announcement for the removal of the tassel mounting hole and also the introduction of the leather tassel 'without' the buckle, as used on all 'non- brass' tsuba type 95's. Essentially this was a contingency 'Rinji' announcement.

Given the serial number of the blade, the scabbard drag is correct. Looking at the colour of the scabbard, i would tend to agree with Bruce's mixed feelings. It appears a bit 'lime' green to me, but it could be just the photo settings after editing for publication. (adjustments to light levels, etc) There are a few scuffs present so it is not 'Mint' as per John's definitions (thanks for them John), but, i think it's a little better than 'Near Mint' if that's possible. Appears to be a very nice example.

Thanks! Always glad for an opportunity to make prediction for a blade being submitted. Feels like mid Momoyama to 1650, likely the early portion of the interval. Regarding the school - so many similar ones. Can be along the lines of Fujiwara Nobutaka. Can be Fuyuhiro.

I can’t comment on anything to help as I’m too new to this. I was immediately drawn to the saya, I like the texture to it and wonder what it is and how it was done.

It's bamboo with resident's

I was looking at few sword glossaries and I think maybe 天井板 suggested by Steve would be the one used most.

I think you have given solid advice Franco. I just wanted that Tony would not feel too negative about the sword if it would happen to have a flaw or two. As he has mentioned several times he has been collecting just few years so far. I have a sword that has severe problems with boshi and I am perfectly ok with it. I do agree with your thoughts Franco that it is an important thing to consider as it will affect many things when collecting is considered.

I've never taken time to read more of Darcy blogs. Glad i ran across this, what ive been saying for years. Slight oiling of nakago is good. https://blog.yuhindo.com/oil-your-nakago/

I'm one of those who wipes my fingers that have been handling a choji oiled tissue lightly over the tang. Just the slightest oil rub, keeping active rust away and the patina stable.

Dear Mason. Welcome to NMB! You have obviously done quite a bit of research which is very refreshing, keep it up. Your comments about the mei are spot on, this has nothing to do with the great Rai Kuniyuki. Just to add to your observations the position of the mei on the nakago is wrong as well. The seller states that this is a shortened tachi ,I see nothing in the photographs would support that, although the photographs are not great and do not show you all that you need to see. The nakago jiri and overall shape of the nakago do not suggest that it is suriage, but rather an ubu wakizashi. It looks as though whoever added the mei mucked about with the nakago a great deal. I'm sure others will chime in with more but it's great to see someone who has done their research. All the best.

Well when I first started collecting a few years ago my primary interest was gunto and I knew nothing about nihonto and didn't feel like I knew enough to be a caretaker for them. I liked the beat up old swords and I liked to give them a home. I also don't mind buying unseen a little as theres far less competition and also a bit of a thrill finding something good inside. (Case in point). If it's not then I still have a little piece of history that deserves to be looked after. As my collection has grown I joined the forum and have slowly been sharing a few pieces I have here and there instead of lurking. This has made me want to expand into true nihonto. My goal was to have my gunto collection and a few older blades and find one that would be the centrepiece of my collection. I told myself I'd sell my lowest gunto and use the funds to buy nihonto but in the end I haven't ever tried to sell one of them. Feels to me like I've skipped a few steps and found something. So in all likelihood It will be polished I don't know who and where yet and I'm not really interested in making a profit from it in any way. I paid more for a couple of my gunto than this. Since posting this on the forum I spent every day reading up on all the little bits people have spoken about in the replies so feel free. negatives and positives I want to hear them all I'm not worried in any way. Cheers guys

Kajiyama Yasunori. Custom ordered for Colonel Matsuda, 7th Airfield Engineers. Original linen bad and surrender tag. His name scratched onto the saya.

This is an amazing opportunity for those of you who collect in this area. It is rare to see swords like these for sale. It is not my area of collecting or I would be gathering funds for a special purchase. Good move Eric and Matt. There will be hard work ahead. I wish you both the best.

A large (74 x 70mm) and heavy shakudo plate cut with shippo design. There is an almost identical example in the Ashmolean Musuem signed by Goto Mitsutoshi. A visually impressive piece with a well executed design £SOLD

I am biased because I have held this sword in my hand. It's incredible, perfect minty example, low number. Probably the best early copper nco I have seen. It is also set to be published in an upcoming book (see here for some details). It's the exact sword from the book.

Saw this unusual type 30 bayonet, it has both Mukden and Tayogawa arsenal marks.

Is that Gucci or Louis Vuitton I always mixed those guys up

Hi Inna The sword is signed Masanori and dated 1944 , most likely a showato blade . just my two pence worth ,

Looks authentic to me (refer your post in the translation section!).

50 Tsuba are offered for sale at Catawiki: https://www.catawiki.com/en/a/569805 Best Chris

Here is an updated picture! I flipped the horizontal orientation of everything, wrapped all the metal hooks in teflon tape, added a tassel to a Type 98, removed a Type 95 wood handle from the display and added a "Type 3"! Hope you all like it.

Hi George, If the sword is worthy of a polish it deserves a properly trained polisher. The one you have chosen doesn't qualify; sorry. You could send it to Bob Benson in Hawaii to see if he recommends a polish. Grey