Bruce Pennington

@RLG77 Richard, Any chance of seeing some shots of the blade? Is the nakago (tang) signed? Hope you're still around!

Mal are you refering to how the box at the bottom of the kanji was cut? Japaneseswordindex.com has 2 Kaneyoshi. Here's one with a similar yoshi: I'm totally uneducated, so forgive the question, but could this be a case, like the multitudinous variations of how "kane" is cut? But to add to the mei question, I'm seeing black same' (rayskin) and the ito (handle wrap) is of the late-war & post-war souvenir color. So still waiting to see the whole rig, with more details. But maybe this was a very late war sword and mei cutting was done by inexperienced workers.

Folks usually post an overall of the whole rig and a closeup of the tsuba/seppa set. Others if something stands out, like writing on the wooden end of the tsuka (handle) or stamped numbers on the fittings.

I have 5 of these fakes on file, all with the same number "46127" and design.

Can you post a picture of the saya (scabbard), also?

This is a good example of what we were talking about on another conversation, how many people come directly to one forum and either don’t know about the other forums, or are not interested in browsing through the other forms.

Yes, I've tried the cropping idea and it works. Even just a small crop seems to do the trick.

Gonna' need some photos, Lennon. Welcome to NMB!

Ah yes! I remember the conversation, and it included a whistle. So, pre-WWII, U.S. military. I'll pass that along.

That might be it, John, although the tip of the 'knot' looks different.

It would be from an officer sword, not NCO. Do you have the fittings, or just a blade? More photos would be appreciated. Also, any small stamps elsewhere on the nakago (tang)?

Exactly!!! Not because people are doing hobby sword stuff at work (good use of dead time, if you ask me!) but because my addiction gets a little edgy on the weekends with not enough happening on the site.

Excellent Paul, thanks! Yes a 七 on the right side. Maybe some of our translators can recognize the katakana at the top of the number? @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN @SteveM As to the reason for a welded nakago - your speculation is as good as mine. Tenshozan got a contract for 8,000+ blades in post-war Japan. I would imagine they did all sorts of stuff to make that happen.

Thanks Shawn, beautiful fittings too!

Leather Tassel Question - I know I've seen this discussed but cannot find the reference - What appears, at first glance, to be an NCO leather tassel, but the cord is a braided, round leather cord. Seems like these were something else. Anyone know?

Thanks Paul! Any chance there is a photo of the end of the tsuka with the fuchi removed. My latest obsession is tracking the kanji and numbers on the wood to see if the 80 or so "series of 100s" can be tracked. I can't say I've seen a double ana either, though I seem to forget more than I'll ever know about this stuff lately. As to the possible weld - I have found that photos can create illusions quite easily, so while it's a possibility, I'd leave it at that until better intel can be acquired. Edit: Just realized I have this one on file from a Poulin Auction. It came with an all brown tassel. Their photos weren't as detailed as these, to thanks for the additional shots. Are you in contact with the new owner? If so, can you ask for a shot of the wooden tsuka end?

Thanks Thomas! I had that one in the charts, but mislabeled as a 1944. Here's the corrected chart for '41: 1941, Jul Munetoshi 106 Bottom RS 1941, Aug Tsugukiyo 232 Bottom RS 1941, Sep Munetoshi 308 Bottom RS in T98 1941, Oct Munetoshi 392 Top RS 1941, Oct Munetoshi 394 Top RS 1941, Nov Tomomaro 470 Bottom RS 1941, Dec Akihisa 566 Bottom RS 1941, Dec Tomomaro 535 Bottom RS 1941, Dec Tomomaro 621 Bottom RS

Certainly does, thanks George!

Sorry, it was just 'squishy' last night!

Piers my friend, I have had too many tonight, but please excuse me, I'm looking at your kanji order and I see: Ok, I'm going to bed now.....

I wish the Tenshozan smiths had added their names to their work.

Thanks guys! The seller thought it said "worn by" but couldn't make out the name. I normally post the link, but forgot it. Here it is on a Holycraft0329 ebay sale. It confused me because I thought the "kore" at the end meant "made by."

Thomas! I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a [photo or link to this one] today! (anyone know who that quote I mis-used came from?!) I don't have that one in the charts!

After looking at the chart, again, you have bragging rights for owning one of the earliest WWII numbered blades. Not THE earliest, but it's up there: ND Unknown 10 3 Civil, Murata-to 1941, Jul Munetoshi (pre-RJT) – Niigata 106 Slough, RS 1941 Akihisa (pre-RJT) – Niigata 188 “1” on fittings Michael67, NMB, T98RS 1941, Aug Tsugukiyo (pre-RJT) – Kagawa 232 Bangbangsan, RS 1941, Sep Akihisa (pre-RJT) – Niigata 249 Trotter Survey, no pics 1941, Sep Munetoshi (pre-RJT) – Niigata 308 Trotter Survey, no pics 1941, Oct Munetoshi (pre-RJT) – Niigata 392 Leen, NMB, RS 1941, Nov Tomomaro (pre-RJT) – Nagano 470 Kotachi, NMB, RS 1941, Dec Akihisa (pre-RJT) – Niigata 566 Windy, NMB, RS 1941, Dec Tomomaro (pre-RJT) – Nagano 535 Tsuba, RS 1941, Dec Tomomaro (pre-RJT) – Nagano 621 Ray Singer website RS

Dang, Leen, now I can see you were right from the beginning. It is one of those exceptions to the rule, and we have seen a small few exceptions pop up. I checked a couple other "2"s on other blades and they were shaped this way. The top curve is struck so lightly, it is barely visible, but it's there: Here's another blade with a 2 for comparison. It comes from a 1943 blade, and is oriented the 'standard' way for that year.