Bruce Pennington

Thanks guys (Steve!). I would have guessed "masa" for that 3rd one, but no way I was going to get close on the rest.

Didn't know what that was. After a google search, now I understand why my wife's sister brought us one from her visit to Japan years ago. Not at home, but when I get a chance, I'll post a pic.

So to summarize the top 5 (not that these are always present, or the best signs) 1. Overall look - As in the photo above, the bohi stands out as not being shaped right, starting too far down and ending too early 2. A closer look at the bohi, most fakes go for Tokyo blades & stamps. If so, then the start and end of the bohi should be shaped not tapered. Nagoya blades, though, have tapered bohi. This example was actually shaped (with a small blip of an error). 3. Numbers - some guys are good at spotting proper font, I'm not, but it is clear when an attempted Tokyo blade has the numbers with the cutting edge up. Only Nagoya blades are stamped that way. Tokyo blades are read with cutting edge down. Also, the fakers have a really hard time with the "TO" stamp by the serial numbers. 4. Stamps on the fuchi. Usually they are horrid. The Polish fakes are getting quite good, but if you can get a clear shot of their Ijima stamp, the detail is usually not as crisp. 5. Any writing on the blade? Fake. I have a very vague recollection of a 95 with a school graduation notation on the blade, but anytime you see stuff on a 95 blade, LOUD alarm bells should be going off.

I know! Sometimes I just shake my head. Doctors, here, are notorious for intentionally poor handwriting. Seems some of these smiths went to the same school as our docs. Thanks Steve! It's an undated, large Seki-stamped blade in 98 fittings on fleabay.

Normally I can at least make out 1 kanji!!!

That's the one! Only Nagoya blades stamp the numbers with the cutting edge up.

Reference the tan saya color of @TimJs post. Here's on officer saya the same color. Just unusual to see it on a 95.

Really good, John. Missed a Biggie on items 2 & 3 photo.

4. And 5 (which is not present on this sword, but often seen) Now you guys tell me what's wrong.

Ok Matthew and all other rookies - Have a go at this one. Tell me what's wrong. BTW, it's for sale HERE. 1. 2 & 3. 4.

The blade is still being held in place with the barrel screw at the end of the tsuka (where the sarute is), so it's not a safety issue. They are not impossible to find, and if you want one made Don Schlickman does a great job. Send me a PM if you want his contact info.

Nice one Shawn! The maker is officially a mystery, but we're pretty sure the "Ichi in Sakura" stamp is of the Kobe factory for the Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal. The stacked cannon balls are the supervising Kokura Army Arsenal and tells us the sword was made prior to 1942. Current fleabay prices are ranging from $875 - 1,400 USD. Couple of dealers putting them at $2,000 +. Anywhere from $900 to $1,200 should be fair, depending upon what he is asking.

The sakura pattern seems to be popping up lately. Found this on a 1942 Kaneuji blade for sale HERE. The Kaneuji bears his kokuin, too.

Wow, Thomas! What a memory/attention to detail!!!

Here's a real rough, last stage navy rinji. For sale HERE. One of the Inaba blades

Or both - have a new saya made, but keep the original. As to "worth" - that is a personal question that only you can answer. I restored my dad's mantetsu to original condition, and it was worth every penny. But along with David's line of thought, if you are selling you have to start adding up your costs compared to what the going market rate is for such a sword. You could quickly have more into the sword than you can sell it for.

A naganita turned into a waki with military tsuka. Posted by @chgruener here:

Lots of shrapnel damage on this one:

Ok, good points.

But that's how almost all of them look when civil swords are re-fitted for the war. I've seen literally every combination of mixed parts.

If it is splitting to accommodate the fat blade tip, it’s probably not the original one. The Takayama blades have a very fat tip so a saya and the liners would have to be shaped to fit it.

Here's a sakura pattern Gunzoku tsuba on a civil/military gunto. Blade is a 1943 Seki-stamped Toshimasa. Found on this Antiques-atlas sale page.

Quite interesting, Marsel! Could be a mon, right? The 3:5:3 pattern is found on official swords, though. How about the rest of the fittings? Are they civil, military, or a mix?

Posting photos.

Call to arms for ogre-maiming sword generates huge response “We want to use metals from ‘urban mines’ (stockpiles of rare metals) recovered from discarded computers and smartphones to make koshirae,” said Teppei Eguchi of Kogei Next who is tasked with producing the mountings. “It will be an effort to blend the past and the present to make something that will be remembered by history.” Interesting idea, just don't know how I feel about that. Mixed feelings. Cool blade, though.