Bruce Pennington

Someone offered him the gunto and he said they are the only pictures he had received, so I think the owner must have printed out photos for the guy.

Hi Iryna! Your sword style is the Type 98 Japanese officers gunto (army sword). The saya (scabbard) was made for a leather cover, but it's gone missing over the last 80 years. It would look like these, originally: You can read all about these swords on Ohmura's excellent site: Military Swords of Imperial Japan Here is a good page for care and cleaning: Japanese Sword Care

Conway, This is the first example I've seen with both the shop logo and the small star on fittings. Paul's example in the OP doesn't have the star on the fittings and all the other examples I have of the star didn't show the koiguchi. It would fit since the logo has a small star in the center, but we'll have to find another example or 2 with them both. The example I have from Tony A of Wehrmacht-awards has the star between the 2 numbers, like Nicholas' seppa, but he didn't post the koiguchi in his thread from 2023. WW2 Shingunto For Sale - Tony A

John, The leather seems to be custom fit for the saya. How would it have been cut down?

Shin Gunto? - Wehrmacht-awards

Guy, Wehrmacht-awards, pointed out I missed the vertical stroke on the left side, so updated stroke on the website, it's first recommendation was "naga", so Kanenaga

Jon, Occasionally, you can find tsuka and tsuba/seppa sets available online, mostly ebay, for sale. Most of the WWII tsuka ana (the hole in the handle for the bamboo peg) seem fairly standard, but it can be a hit or miss kind of thing as fittings were custom made to fit each blade. I bought replacement tsuba/seppa for my dad's Mantetsu. The hole for the nakago was too narrow, but using small files, I was able to open them up for a proper fit.

Thought I'd try a hand-written kanji I.D. page I got a while back from Guy Powers over on Warrelics. It recommended "hisa" Kanji.sljfaq.org So, Kanehisa? 兼久 (Kanehisa)

It's one of the worst mei I've ever seen. Other ideas: 菊秀 (Kikuhide) 藤房 (Katsufusa @SteveM - stop hiding, buddy!

I got confused. Is the thicker one also longer of the two? Usually, Takayama-to are shorter than the norm.

Marcel, Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention! I got a big education today from this. We have been aware for some time, now, that swords were made "in the islands" for collaboration forces, and the Java sword making operation was fairly well known. Sumaran Sword - Java. But I had no real idea of the operations in Sumatra. I found this in-depth article written on the creation of the Giyugun. Here is a quote about the 2 forces: "After successfully occupying various regions, the next strategy carried out by the Japanese military government was by holding military training to support Japan in the war against allies. The army to be made by Japan is included in the master plan (Tairikhushi) issued by Supreme Army Headquarters in Tokyo. In early 1943, Japanese military forces suffered a setback. Japan's position in the occupied area experienced various threats. So that the plan for the formation of a reserve army cannot be delayed anymore. Japan then recruited military and semi-military personnel who were indigenous people who would help Japan in the war against allies [8]. Japan then recruited thousands of indigenous youth to become semi-military soldiers. The first military force was formed, heiho (auxiliary soldier), which began in mid-May 1943. The young man who was a member of Heiho was a single young man from the ages of 16 to 20 years. Another Japanese military army formation project is Giyugun which means, giyu = voluntary, gun = army corps. Giyugun is a Voluntary Army Corps. In Java, the term used is Defender of the Motherland (PETA). Giyugun in Sumatra and PETA in Java, although they are the same military command but have no organizational links at all. In some residencies in Sumatra almost had their military training centre [9]." As for the writing on your sword, I'm no Japanese language guy, but it doesn't look like Japanese to my eye. Is there anyone in your area that might recognize this as Sumatran writing from the war? For reference, for those of us that don't know the area and history: Attached article below: Sumatra Giyugun Creation.pdf

Thanks for the reminder, guys, on this stamp. I had never added it to the Stamps doc. I had that blade in the "W" discussion, but not under the shop name. Added to next year's update.

Think that was a line from a Beatle's song Having trouble with this one. Can someone ID this guy for me? Thanks. 1942, but who?

Might be the sun. I half expected a crescent moon on the other side. I have seen both, as well as star configurations on habaki. Thanks for the added photos!

Nice one, Ed! All brown Gunzoku tassel.

right side up: Maybe 則宗 Norimune?

Wartime sword that likely had a damaged tsuka (handle). Someone along the way crafted a new wooden handle, but kept the Army kabutogane (end cap).

I'm often frustrated doing searches, too. Guys will post nakago shots, but not post overall pictures of the sword. I've gotten into the habit of asking for additional fittings shots on blades that I want to file. I haven't been through them all, but there are 22 pages that come up when you search Emura on NMB. Here's one in civil saya. However 80 years after the war, there is no way to know if it was original or a post-war refit:

Pre Covid, you'd pay $2,400 for just one intact kaigunto. Haven't kept up with the market on them today, though. With both having custom rayskin saya cover, I'd say the price is great!

Photo added for the discussion. Suya stamped definitely double struck. Saya has the horse shoe shaped end for those who watch those things:

Ok! Well, learned something today. So, what about Marcin's gunto? Marcin, do you have a width of the tsuba?

Yes, plus there were two Nagamitsu making blades during the war. I thought @mecox had an article on them, but after checking, it was Nobumitsu he wrote about.

Thanks, Thomas! They must have gotten the contract for making the Taiwan swords. Here's the Fuller example you mentioned:

Angus, Just curious as to what design is on the other side of the habaki?

Hi Julie! I think you are right that this saya (scabbard) was originally leather covered. With a 1940 date, the blade was made too early to see a star stamp. My earliest on record is Feb, 1941. Did you slide the brass collar, habaki, down? Sometimes a stamp can be hidden underneath. Either way, it might help if you post a couple of close-ups of the blade, showing the hamon (temper line). Sometimes guys can tell if it was traditionally made by the way it looks.