Stegel

Closest i've seen is this type19, still not the same specs as you show.

Shamsy is spot on with the pictures, they are very poor. Can you get better pics to show us? From the pics you have shown, i'm with Trystan on this one, It looks to be genuine handle on Chinese blade and scabbard. Check the drag for serial numbers, if it's chinese, they should be there.

+1 There's one on fleabay at the moment, it's been there for a couple months and he is asking 5.2k. for serial # 3436 here's the link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Genuine-WW2-Japanese-Army-Military-Officer-NCO-Sword-Copper-Handle-Gunto/223987415334?hash=item3426b0b926:g:bLYAAOSw0ytemPI9 A few factors that govern prices on these, 1-Condition, 2-matching numbers and 3-the lowness of numbers...(4/3/2-digits etc) If you or your husband isn't keeping it but intends to sell, i recommend taking some higher resolution and SHARPER photos. In the meantime, i'm with the other members here and suggest a wiping over of the blade and scabbard (saya) with a good quality machine oil as least. Very nice find!

Second one is the Suya Shoten Logo. You can find more info here: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/he-untold-story-suya-shoten-711132/

I have one with a 3 centre punch marks towards the end of the nakago, not on the nakago mune. Yours is now the 2nd one i have seen, looks like Dave's would be a third example. Without knowing otherwise, i would tend to agree with Dave that it is something done during the manufacturing process

I don't think these examples are the Rinji Spec swords. Last Ditch yes. The ones shown, and they come in black and brown, with plain tsuba, i would consider to be Army use. The cross hatching can be found on both black and brown handles. Some are signed and some not. The only 'Navy' one i have seen is pictured in the 2nd post and has the Rayed seppa in copper and brass tsuba.

Oh, also added the NCR (Nth China Railway) tassel.

Great find O_A, but that is not a General's tassel, it's actually the Emperor's tassel ! When i saw it, i knew i needed to update, so i spoke to Nick Komiya over at Warrelics forum and he helped out with a colour photo of it ! He's updated his thread on the Emperor's clothes with this uniform change from 1934 and it also includes details of the Emperor's Type 94 as released in the Government Gazette of the time. I've updated the picture reference with the Emperor tassel and the Civilian tassel introduced in 1940 (also provided by Nick). The civilian one is mistakenly assumed by most collectors to be the 'Late War' replacement for Army officers, being all brown. I know... as once upon a time i too believed the same, but this is now another Myth, similar to the Type 3/NLF/44 pattern Gunto, that has been exposed and buried by him via the archives. It is similar to the Navy issue, only a lighter brown as per the Army brown. I considered doing a Kyu-preWW2 one, but changed my mind as i know little about them. It would need some of the Kyu collectors to do one of their own, or help out. BTW- if anyone notices any errors, please PM me so i can fix them.

Hey Chris, you've inspired me to do this today....been meaning to do it for a while and with the virus mayhem, thought i'd finally do it. Open to all criticism - and suggestions to improve. btw- thanks to all for the nice comments on my tassel !

Hi David, I have a few originals, i posted them in another thread a few years back, but include them here also. If you're not aware, all tassels come in two grades, Standard and Deluxe as mentioned on Ohmuras Web page. The Standard has solid colours looking straight at the flattened strap. Deluxe has the solid colour with edges in the opposing colour, just like the very good reproduction that JP posted before. (Apart from being brand new with strong vibrant colours, this is what may have made you say it is too red Neil?) Different manufacturers also made these using either yellow (like yours Neil), or gold bullion thread. With age the gold tends to tarnish and go dull sometimes, i suspect this also depends on the kind of life and treatment/use the strap has been subjected to, as others are nice and bright. The tassels themselves also come in a darker yellow/gold or a lighter yellow which is more common with the yellow thread used in the zig zag stitching. Here's the Standard tassel, one yellow and the other dark yellow tassel fringe.Note the strap edges. Here's the Deluxe tassel, note the edges of the straps with opposing colours to them.

Hey Neil, Kind of in the same theme, i found another while looking in my fridge over the weekend! This one has got lovely patina and is my favourite. No??.....O.K just noticed the spelling isn't the same, but it does start with 'S' and has a 't' in it !

I like the first one Neil, had a look at mine and i got 2 aswell. Here they are..

Hi Aaron, Could you please post a better picture of the brass collar (habaki) on the blade side... i'm not sure but i think there may be a small stamp there??. Very nice family history you got here! Thanks

Just thought i'd throw this in the mix, some food for thought perhaps. Dave and Bruce, i don't think we could say that with 100% certainty. However the possibility does exist. I think this is still a possibilty, I have a gunto with leather covered scabbard that utilises the locking button mechanism and not the strap. Admittedly it is a steel scabbard, but as you say- there are always peculiarities and 'exceptions to the rule'. It actually has the strap studs on the leather as well, perhaps it had a handle cover which used them? I have also seen leather covers with the hanger stitched in, so no hanger mounted on the scabbard directly, which could be the case in the original post. Here's my first ever sword, got it back in 1974 directly from the returned serviceman in Queensland. The saya is painted wood, but has the type 98 hanger fitted. It also has a suede saya cover. So Black scabbard and Black leather cover! It also came with a Brown 'Sam Browne' style, double buckle and shoulder strap, leather belt.

Thank you very much Malcom!! Very interesting!!

Sorry John, i'm not lucky enough for that, but i think i might have the closest Mis-matched combo. Blade 38809 and Scabbard 38804, only 5 apart. Close enough to think it may have happened at the Arsenal itself. Anyone got closer??

Interesting read, and good write up Steve, I'll just add a bit in response to a few posts here aswell. As far as i can tell, in the Pattern 2 the only major variations were the handles. Minor things such as accompanying mekugi screws, sarute and paint colours followed. Neil, the leather sarute in Pattern 1 were discontinued around the #700 mark, yours if later, would not have had one. (BTW- is yours 4131 with 1719??) The extremely nice and mint #52627 you show, i place at April 1941, and although very nice and clean (but not like yours) about 1/2 hr or so after this one! Bruce, I don't think that would of happened, too many good eye's on this forum to let one slip through. Also in so far as the Brass tsuba's go, all have the extra hole for the leather buckle tassel to mount from. The only ones that didn't have the hole and were released were the steel tsuba Pattern 3 versions. Nick K clarified that high level documents did not need reflect Rinji specs in a post over at warrelics forum. So the official document for tassel use, may have been intended for a new brass tsuba that never eventuated, and due to the nature of Rinji specs, did not require to be updated and reflect this. This may be something you could mention in the next chapter though. Thomas, i agree with your observations in stamps, and the early AL-handled swords

Over quite a few years of collecting, i have only come across 2 or 3 examples with non machine blades fitted. One was a star stamped blade in Type 95 fittings, one was an old blade with custom scabbard but still type 95 fittings (Bang Bang's last photo), and more recently this example. To me they are more of a curiosity and i have no particular interest to include them in my collection. You can't walk safely on both sides of a barbed wire fence, but i think that arguments exist for both 'war' and 'post-war' construction. In saying that, i won't side with one, while not fully convinced of the other, so i won't comment, make assumptions or any kind of generalisations. I will only make observations if i can. Tom, What i find 'odd' with this example is that the blade tang has two mekugi holes, but only the end one 'appears' to be used. The Aluminium handle is the last of the variants issued, and no mekugi mounting hole is drilled. No Habiki present, but i think that has more to do with the blade dimensions (last hole to habiki notch, wider blade) and that may actually assist in keeping the handle on tightly. (i could see this becoming loose or sloppy with time) A sarute has also been added to the handle. Now for your info i have attached pictures of what i believe is the same sword some 4-5yrs ago when i first seen it. It obviously has been played with since then, and who knows how many times before that. (to see smith signature no doubt) If you're thinking of getting this sword for yourself, then i would advise to give it a miss. This is my opinion as a collector of type 95 Gunto's. Dave, the sword you've shown is obviously a type 98, with just an Aluminium handle added, not something that you would expect to be done really, and another to probably steer clear of.

If you plan on going ahead with the removal of the handle, just be aware that the mekugi screws were generally all center punched to flare the ends and lock the thread to prevent the nut loosening from the bolt. This is because no spring washers of any kind are used. Use 'good' not worn tools which are a good fit into the slot of the bolt and the nut. You could try with a pair of circlip pliers as bruce has suggested, or try and get a screwdriver bit from your local hardware. The set i've shown is a cheap set i bought for only $9, but with brass it will do the job. Your bolt and nut set are punched as i've highlighted. As i looked after my 'ol man' in his later years, i can fully understand the need to keep him occupied and his interest going. Good luck with what is essentially a restoration attempt, i have never done one, but other members here certainly have. Here's essentially what you'll be dealing with:

One day to go, and at the moment, assuming sale goes through, -he has recouped his original outlay in the relic. Now it's all profit.

You guys are getting to be quite good at this! Yes it's a replica, handle casting,stampings and blade edge are the big ones. Wrong contractor for this number range also.

here's the link if you're interested: https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Japanese-NCO-Sword-Type-95-with-Wooden-handle-1944-45/174159780952?hash=item288cbb5c58:g:TpcAAOSwGzNeIzGH

Just for your info... This guy has done a second lot of mods to this and is re-selling again! Changed it's appearance, but once you know, you can tell a pig is a pig, no matter how much lipstick you put on it. Wow, so soon after the first attempt. A lot of front and no shame at all, NOW we know he IS a backyard scammer 100%

Here's one of mine...

Not meaning to de-rail this wonderful thread of Bill's, i thought this may/may not be related in some way. A Very Last- Last Ditch Navy sword, and as with Bill's, i've never seen another. I'm of the impression that these along with the Army versions may have all been Manchu constructions. All have lower grade Blades that are made by smiths and not "machine" made as such. Some are signed, others are not signed. This, along with the photo's are from a collection belonging to "Trenchwarfare" from the GunBoards Forum.