Stegel

Had a quick look, couldn't find the exact one i mentioned... over 10000 listings!! This one is pretty close with good detail. Price is a lot more than i seen before. IJA : http://www.ebay.com/itm/clay-tempened-Japanese-ww2-Field-officer-tassel-choji-hamon-gunto-katana-sword-/111959127342?hash=item1a1148b52e:g:shwAAOSwJQdXA-UR IJN : http://www.ebay.com/itm/clay-tempened-Japanese-KAI-GUNTO-OFFICER-SWORD-WWII-katana-sword-/111959141320?hash=item1a1148ebc8:g:VzIAAOSwSX9XA-fx

There is a seller from China that makes a really impressive replica of the type 98, it sells for about the $300 mark from memory. His listing shows up every now and then, if i see it again, i will link/post it here. It is by far the closest to the real thing i've seen. The details from the replica i mentioned are very good. I agree in the past that it was their downfall, but not now..

Ben, i'd be surprised if the broker gave you the correct tariff code aswell. Doing it this way means you act as an importer yourself, the tariff class is the correct one for antique swords etc. Do a search for tariff codes and you should see under this code what is allowed, your sword will be allowed, it's just the gst they charge on the value that you will have to pay-no other duties. I've never had an issue with Australia post like this. If it is shipped by Fedex you'll get double the rip off, as they charge more, and still put it through this process. Remember this is only if the declared value exceeds $1000, if the seller declares it under that you should have no worries.

Hi Ben, I've come across this a few times, they select at random any item that is valued over $1000. Then they get to tax you (GST) on the total value, You need to get the "B374-Importdeclaration-goodN10Post_Submit" form from the customs web page, search for B374 (you can download it and fill it in/save etc) fill it in and submit. (It's known as N10, or import declaration) Use description as : antique sword etc for Tariff code use: 93070000 the Stat code is : 20 this should put you in the correct catagory (as an importer of these type of goods) and all you do then is pay the GST amount to be able to get your sword. If you go to a broker, they will salivate at the prospect of you as a customer---- they charge like wounded bulls!! This should cut the middle men out and save you some money. Cheers BTW- i've never needed "certificate of Antiquity issued by a recognised association or authority will need to be supplied" with the above method.......only proof of purchase and value as reciepted.

O.K Bill!! i won't be shy, how much you want for it??? I didn't see it on your web site! How many others you got and do you want to tease us with a few pics please??

Not wanting to steal Bills thunder, but i just noticed this one on his web site, a 1943 mantetsu, also has the 'w' stamp at the end of the tang. Thought i'd add it here to your collection of 'w' stamped pieces. Link to Bills site: http://artswords.com The description that goes with it:

It sold for the BUY IT NOW price of US$3000.......considering the exchange rate to AUD, and the asking price on the web page, a nice earn!

The second link is to a fake from China/India, i'm a bit surprised that the seller didn't ID it as such. I can see a refund coming if the buyer is quick enough The copper handled one is interesting, 2 other bidders eventually pushed up the buyer to almost double his bid in the last minute... it would be a bit disheartening, but he must of wanted it bad

Thanks for the reply Bruce, it looked interesting enough to ask about. Cheers

Fred, i'm a little confused, from what i can see, NO one disputed the fact that it had a brass end...... only that the scabbard was painted over.

I thought you're guess was pretty accurate, but.... well, every now and then a surprise pops up. I don't think it is a record though, about 2 yrs back a couple of Copper NCO's went for 3500 and 4200. A fellow i know sold one for US $6,433.70.....but it was a 2 digit and numbers matching! I suppose it's a combination of 1- Availability 2- Desirability, and enough of #2 on the day!! Found the add:

I agree, this one has been painted over, however, originally these had a primer applied to the base metal before the OD was applied. The brass plugs were also painted over. I have one with almost mint paint on the scabbard, here's the picture for your interest.

I also have one of my Type 95's with the logos in reverse order. Bruce, your fuchi appears to be made of brass?? can you confirm pls?

Yes Ike, i'm reading it the same as you are.

This is what John Stuart had to say about the Kanji in the circle... post #170 in the Arsenal Stamps thread. John A Stuart Daimyo Posted 04 December 2012 - 08:31 AM The one stamp looks like 應 the verb ataru, one meaning 'to accept'. I don't know by whom this sword was accepted or OK'd. It does look like Chinese manufacture. 應 in Chinese is not used in the sense of acceptance though.In Chinese it is used as in this sentence " 我們應該去。" (Cantonese) "Ngo ying gai hueh. " " We should go. " Where 應 means 'should'. John http://www.johnstuart.biz

Hamfish, my answer would have to be yes, or at least with different insignia and kit, as per the European theater. The third photo shows Chinese Militia displaying their weapons with Chinese Nationalist Soldiers standing in the background. The others are from Indonesia with PETA troops, who continued to fight another 4yrs to secure independance from the Dutch. The third last photo is Indonesian school boy volunteers in training to form a volunteer unit for the Japanese. I'm not a buff on uniforms as they are not my forte, but i think there are clear differences from the standard Japanese issue. I could be wrong and am happy to be corrected if need be. The photo you posted appears to me at least, as a proper 'early' issue Japanese uniform, as Dave said. Daves photo is interesting in that it appears to be a concoction of different uniforms, German helmets mixed in aswell.

I think he is Japanese, although, the longer i look at the picture, the more uncertain i become!! I'll go with Japanese.

Excellent photo Dave!! German helmets, Sam Browne style belt......wow! yes that poster, was not heard from again and never came good with his promise of handing over his gunto's !! Lol Thanks for posting

Back to the OP and topic of this thread, there was a lot of discussion over at Gunboards with this subject, opinion appears to be equally divided. Here's a few links if you are interested : http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?473825-2nd-sword-what-is-it and this one has pictures of Indonesian and Chinese collaborators with Japanese style swords: http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?385909-Senior-NCO-Sword&highlight=SENIOR+SWORD Dominic, i've just seen this, it is IMO way over priced as a starting bid: http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Japanese-Katana-Sword-/162023361140?hash=item25b9584a74:g:EccAAOSwBnVW~Afg

Bruce, here's a link with a reasonably priced copy of the later edition 1996. http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Military-Civil-Swords-Dirks/dp/1574270621 The first picture is the cover of the 1986 edition, second is the 1996 edition. Dawson's book is excellent, but the last F&G has lots of info which isn't found elsewhere. So the two complement each other IMO.

Thanks for the quick response Steve! It's the only one of its kind that i have seen!

Bruce, there are 2 books by Fuller & Gregory, the one you refer to is the 1986 edition, a later 1996 edition(out of print) is better, with more info. Steve, do you have any pics of the other un-recognised patterns and the vulcanised rubber scabbard examples, to show us?? The white painted versions, are winter camo. It is an off-white colour, and over the years i have seen quite a few.

I didn't realise that you were asking for answers Hamish!! i thought you were going to explain more on these, sorry about that. We're both looking for info i suppose. I was looking about on the web and found this one, it has the same style tang as mine, but mine is mumei from memory. http://www.japanesesword.com/Images/Swords/06/1106/1106gunto7/1106gunto7.html

Hi I have what may be a murata blade, (i don't know for sure) It is of the Kogarusa maru style, the hamon is a straight type. Here are some pics of the blade with another gunto by Kanenori, also the same style of blade. (not straight hamon) I couldn't find any of the tang, so i'll try to take some over the weekend when i get time, but it has from memory the screw type mount at the end. Are these generally oil-quenched??

Thanks BP and Malcolm, very interesting. Like you Shamsy, i've never taken one apart to look either.