Bruce Pennington

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.

Thanks Thomas! This shop seems to have had a variety of logo and markings. On a dirk: On a sword of some kind (kyugunto?) and now this one.

Agreed. Very nice police saber, Emil. I like it!

Marcin, I was traveling all yesterday. I assume John was just as busy, and he's the guy to ask for sure. An off-set chuso, as I understand, would put this into the 98 category. I've seen 98's with centered chuso, but I don't think I've seen 94's with off-set ones. John will clear it up for us. @PNSSHOGUN

I thought this was an interesting variation. They put a, for lack of a better term, reinforcement band past the haikan. Found on this Wehrmact-awards thread.

Thanks, Sam, haven't seen that one. We should be able to get a read on that from @Kiipu or @SteveM

They had suggestions for the same problem, here: Be sure to get a good Japanese sword cleaning kit. They are easy to find online for around $13. Here's a link for care and cleaning: Japanese Sword Care

Thanks, Tobi. Sam records/tracks the numbers. Search online and you can get for around $13 a good Japanese sword cleaning kit. An oiled rag will clean most of the parts and improve the look of your whole sword. Here is a link to care and cleaning: Japanese Sword Care

Pending a view of the handguard face, here are the 2 that are close in Plimpton's book: Meiji 41 Patrolman's sword 1886 Warrant Officer sword

Roger, I still could use a shot of the facing side of the handguard, please

Yes, Don might be able to make one! Forgot about him. He made some screws for me once. There are several free photo reduction sites on the web (plus many discussed here at NMB). If they are from your phone, I've found that simply editing them, even just a little, reducing the sides and top, magically brings them down enough to post. Would help if you post photos of the enlarge hole you mentioned. Is it in the aluminum handle? Might try making a leather plug, then drilling a hole in it for the barrel screw. Just an idea.

Roger! Another COS resident! Too bad I'm leaving town in 2 days, or we'd have to get together and drool over each other's swords. Can you post a photo of the pattern on the back, top of the backstrap? Also, anything on the very end of the pommel? And another shot showing the face of the handguard? I don't have my Dawson or Fuller with me. Plimpton has a couple swords with the plain disc instead of a sakura. They seem to be in the 1875 versions of Type 8 kyu gunto. He calls some "Warrant Officer" but I don't know where he got the idea that Warrant officers had their own style swords. There was a great amount of variation in those early years.

I think I might have one on file with a belt, but I suspect that was added by the collector. As to the number of kaikan (ashi), you are assuming the belt would be Navy. Army, after 1938, used one kaikan, one hanger. But remember, these souvenir swords are neither Army nor Navy. They intentionally used mixed fittings. It became illegal to sell war weapons and ship them. These were made so they were clearly never a military item.