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Thank you Morita San

Thanks Mate, Really appreciate that. Cheers David

G'day Hoanh, Thanks for your very fast response mate. I do have two follow up questions: Is the name the two kanji or the longer inscription? what does the longer inscription say? Cheers David

G'day, I always have real trouble with this style of marking, trying to match the characters to the Kanji pages. I'd be most grateful if anyone could assist me here. I think the name might be 'Ichiyama' but I don't have much confidence that I've got it right. As for the rest of the inscription, I've got no idea. Cheers David

G'day, I've just got hold of an IJA Parade Sabre in good condition with a silver family mon on the backstrap. The sword appears to be of higher quality than some others I've owned. Does anyone have any idea which family the 'mon' belongs to? Cheers David

Cheers Barrie, much appreciated. David

G'day, I've been asked by mate whether I know of anybody who can replace or repair the tsuka ito silk braid on his Type 98 Shin Gunto sword. Does anybody know of someone who is able to do this, preferably in Australia but if not elsewhere. I'd be most grateful for any advice or assistance. Cheers David

Thank you Morita San

Thanks Mark, was his name pronounced Kazushige ? Cheers David

G'day Fella's, I'm hoping you can help me out here. I find these chiseled kanji very difficult to decipher. I read the name as: ( 一 ) Ichi, Kazu, ( 重 ) Shige, Nobu, ( 年 ) Chika, Toshi Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to make sense. As for the kanji on the other side, that seems particularly difficult with the white painted store numbers overwritten. I'd be grateful for some assistance, pictures attached. Cheers David

Cheers Grey, Thanks for your info, I really appreciate it. I wonder was this common practice during the Meiji period and does this sort of blade have a common designation? Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Those novices amongst us are always grateful to you guys when you are able to share. Cheers David

G'day Guys, I recently acquired a group of 3 showa period shin gunto (one fitted with Type 98 mounts and the the other two with Type 3) but along with those was also given a tanto. I know very little about these weapons, and this one was labelled with a tag that indicated it might at some time have been part of a collection. I've attached some photo's and wondered if anyone was able to tell me a little more about what I have here (genuine or not, period etc etc). Grateful for any information or advice. Cheers David

Thanks Guys, Much appreciated.

Thanks Mate, Really appreciate that. I always seem to get these mei upside down. Did I get the name right? Cheers David

G'day Guys, I've had a crack at this one and think it says Yoshi Naga 義長. Am I close? I'd also appreciate some help with the inscription on the other side as well. Pictures attached. Cheers David

Thanks again John, I'm sorry if I sound a bit dense but if the first two kanji are 薮下 Yabushita (who is known as Yoshimitsu, real name Yabushita Fujio) and the last kanji is 作 saku which means made, I believe, can you tell me what the 3rd and 4th Kanji are?

Cheers John, At least I got the first part right which is progress at least. Can you tell me what it says after Yoshimitsu?

Thanks Mate, Was my translation of the inscription correct?

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate that. The inscription on the second sword is difficult. I have used the Kanji Pages and I think it says Yoshichika. It also has a stamp which is called a Sho stamp. Pictures attached.

G'day Guys, I've just got my hands on two new Gunto. I'll post them one at a time. The first is I think a Nagamitsu from the comparison I can make with the signature Mei on Richard Stein's site although I cannot read the the signature on the other side of the Nakago. I've attached pictures of that sword first and would be hugely grateful if you could confirm my interpretation of the signature and help me with the inscription on the other side. I'll get some pictures of the the second sword now. Cheers David

Cheers Grey, I can see that now you have pointed it out, I'll just have to keep at it.

Thanks Guys, As always I appreciate the heads up and the education. I find this style of kanji very difficult to compare with the kanji tables so forgive me if I get it wrong, is it Kane Take ? As for the seki and showa stamps both being evident, would that be related to the 1945 date of production or that the two stamps signified different things? Cheers David

Thanks John, I'll make sure I do that and thank you for doing it on this occasion. Cheers David

G'day Fella's, I've just sourced a late model wartime Gunto which looks as if its been in storage for some considerable time. I've attached some pictures. I have two questions, firstly could I have some assistance translating the inscriptions and secondly, this is the first example I have seen of one of these late model swords with two holes, is this significant and is there a reason. Cheers David

Thank you, I have another question; was the title 'Paymaster Captain' a specific rank like 'Quartermaster' or 'Adjutant' in the British and Australian Army or was it an appointment i.e. Captain Hama was the officer in charge of pay and administration for a specific unit? Cheers David