Bruce Pennington

Good points Bryce. Some smiths kao definitely changed over time. If I ever get to that point in the development of the Stamps doc, that would be a good section to expand. For now, all I'm trying to do is post fair representations of each.

Putting this one - the small star - in the "Unknown" category of the stamps files.

I'm no expert on these at all, and Uwe could be right. There are many artsy shapes that make it into habaki. So a sakura, or cherry flower, which was highly valued imagery, could simply be all it is. My very meager search attempts did come up with a sakura mon that is similar, but not the same: Yamazakura mon.jpg500 × 500; 15 KB

Thanks for checking! It's a civil sword, but the brown tassel, assuming it came with the sword and not added since then (the age & wear make it look original to the war), likely means it was carried in the war by an official in the civil forces attached to the military - Gunzoku. They wore uniforms quite similar to the military and served in various jobs throughout the war. Some reference material call the all-brown tassel a "late war" tassel. But our recent source, Nick Komiya, uncovered a uniform regulation stating the Gunzoku would use the all brown tassel. Gunzoku top 2 ranks (working from memory) were allowed to carry standard officer swords, too. But there were many civil swords that made it into service during the war.

Quite an interesting thought, Chris! Kristian's kaigunto, number 78, poses a problem, as does the number 33 Toyosuke in Type 98 fittings. I'm compiling a chart on all the souvenir blades. Will update when finished.

While we wait for the New Englanders to pipe up, can you show us a good shot of the saya (scabbard)? Also, can you look around on that tassel to see if there is some faded blue or red, or if it's uniformly brown? The emblem on the habaki (brass collar on the blade) is a kamon, or family crest. If someone on this thread doesn't give it's meaning, try posting it on the Help Identify our Mons thread. And finally, if you can post a measurement of the back edge of the cutting blade, called the nagasa, we can tell you what 'kind' of blade this is - i.e. tanto, wakizashi, etc.

Additionally, my expertise is only in military swords. So if we want to add nihonto to the document we will need contributing photos from guys with good examples of fakes in that arena. I have seen them out there, but I usually don’t click on those at the auction sites as I am always looking for blades with stamps.

Here's a classic example of a faked Type 98: RARE AUTHENTIC WW2 Japanese MILITARY SWORD SIGNED | Live and Online Auctions on HiBid.com I had begun collecting photos for such an article a while back, but got sidetracked by the Three-month-cough + pneumonia. Recovering now. @John C - If you feel like writing it, I can forward my current photos and send others as I gather them. Just an idea, what do you think? I was going to go through the 'Types', starting with the Type 19s, and move through them sequentially. But if you're wanting to write, the layout is up to you.

Thanks Bryce! I see what you mean, and I've made the correction.

Ha! I needed a thumbs up & a laugh emoji for that. One of my claims to fame is that I can sing the whole Mr. Ed song from start to finish! I also know the Green Acres song. Maybe I watched too much TV as a kid!

A bad fake up for auction HERE.

I think I have this right, but seeking verification before I publish it in the Stamps doc. Is this accurate? mei from center one

Ok, thanks for the clarification, Chris. It's still a good representative of the civil service tsuba, though. I'd like to use this thread to catalog all the examples we find.

Dang, I see what happened. You opened your post with the word "Tanto" and I rushed off from there. Sorry!!!

A silver-plated one, posted by @vajo HERE.

Chris, So that's just tarnishing that makes it black, not paint right?

Just eye-balling the blade to fittings, isn't this at least a waki?

Sesko has 2 Showa Takayoshi, but not with that 'yoshi' kanji. Interesting possibility is one from the Genroku era (1688-1704): TADAYOSHI (忠善・忠義), Genroku (元禄, 1688-1704), Owari – “Wakasa no Kami Fujiwara Tadayoshi Bishū ni oite kore o saku” (若狭守藤原忠善於尾州作之, “made by Wakasa no Kami Fujiwara Tadayoshi in Owari province”), he came originally from Mino but studied later under Wakasa no Kami Ujiyoshi (若狭守氏善) in Owari, he signed his name also with the characters (忠義)

From Sesko's book: KANEMASA (兼正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanemasa” (兼正), real name Kuriki Shōichi (栗木正一), he is also listed with the family name Kurimoto (栗本), born Februar 15th 1918, he studied under Kojima Kanemichi (小島兼道) and worked as a rikugun-jumei-tōshō, ryōkō no jōi (Akihide), Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)" The large Seki stamp was seen from 1940 - 45, but most dated blades are in the '41-'43 years, and the massive majority of of them are in 1942. Gives you an estimate.

A fairly scarce item, Michael! Very rare to see a WWII era tanto.

Thanks Adam. John and Ian - I partially agree. It's the kabutogane and tsuba that look original with old paint and appropriate wear. The rest does look new, and pieced together.

Thanks Steve! Now I have the mystery as to why there are two different kao for Minamoto Moritaka!

Resurrecting an old thread. Needing some clarification @SteveM. From reading the links, Moritaka Yasuhiro is the same guy who also signed as Minamoto Moritaka? I have koa, originally listed as "Moritaka", and the mei is Minamoto Moritaka, but the koa is the same as this one of the OP. Which adds up if they are the same guy. But today, @francois2605 posted a Minamoto Moritaka that had a different kao. Francois' Moritaka: These seem to both be Minamoto Moritaka, but different kao.

And this one posted by @DaBears HERE 金剛兵衛盛高靖博 Kongo Byoe Moritaka Yasuhiro "於興亜聖戦陣頭 Oite Kōa seisen jintō From the front line of the Asian holy war of unification. 高原登喜夫佩之 Takahara Tokio kore wo haisuru This sword worn by Tokio Takahara." translation by @SteveM

@francois2605 just posted this one on the Gendaito thread: "Here's a special order blade by Minamoto Moritaka (rated 2 million yen, high to superior gendaito according to Slough). Signed in tachi mei: "Koteki Mu Kotsu Minamoto Moritaka + Kao" / "Oujyu Mitsuda Jirou Shi Saku" / "Kigen Ni Sen Roppyaku Ni Nen Ju Ichi Gatsu" "Our enemy has no backbone" / "Made at the request of Mr. Mitsuda Jirou" / November 1942"