Bruce Pennington

I never took the time to track him down, as to where he worked. As to the jiri, it's a mystery. In 1943, production, as far as I know, was normal. I could see in the last year of the war, when we were pounding their productions sites, somebody doing a rush job to crank out blades, under demands for increased numbers! But that wasn't the case in '43. And I don't personally see the purpose of cutting off a hotstamp. I have no record of Yoshishige using one either. I could have been something as simple as human error. Large pile of blades needing finish work, and one gets overlooked. Or maybe that day when this blades was made, Yoshishige was behind his quota, or the forge was behind the quota and blades simply didn't get full finish work to speed up the process. That would be my quess. Sorry I couldn't offer more help!

That’s my suspicion too, Hamish. There is no way someone put an “old samurai blade“ in these fittings. Just trying to be nice until the guy produces more evidence.

Just came across this one, John. Justin, @Mortis posted with this explanation, HERE. "Here’s one. All of the other fitting numbers match, so I can’t imagine the tassel isn’t original as well. This sword was found wrapped in a blanket in the rafters of a barn in Pennsylvania. Those that I obtained it from weren’t collectors. With that in mind, I highly doubt it was added at a later time."

Sorry about resurrecting an old thread, but hoping @Mortis might see this and give us some pics of the blade/nakago. He hasn't been on the site since 2020, so odds are against it, unless he gets an email from the mention.

At best, a sword by in occupied lands, not made by Japanese; At worst - Chinese fake. Like Ray said, photos of the nakago (tang) are important. He claims it carries an "old samurai blade." Photos will tell.

Posting some of the photos available for discussion His description: Original/Reproduction: Original Region of Origin: Japan ww2 Japanese officers sword. With old samurai blade 40 1/8 in scabbard 25 5/8 blade

Boy, Rob, China has saturated AU ebay, haven't they!? I think I only saw 2 (including this one) real WWII gunto. The rest were fakes.

Good one, Rob! Tried looking up the swords with provenance, but I didn't keep a screenshot of the post. I'd have to re-search each of the 30 on file to find the stories.

Jean gave the answer I was looking for. It was done in the past, so your etiquette question is partially answered. I think most of the push-back you're getting is because the majority of us at NMB collect to preserve history. Making a change to a blade, today, is sort-of heretical, Ha! I've done some refurbishing to a couple of my WWII gunto, but I will never sell them. I intend (note to self, I should do this soon) to make note cards to the refurb'ed gunto so that when my wife or daughter sells them after my death, the new owner will have full disclosure.

John, Dawson covers these extensively on pages 90, 98, and 99. He's actually got this exact one in his collection! I could see adding this example with a description on how to decipher them to the Stamps doc (have to figure out a good spot for it). Dawson has 10 examples on those 3 pages. I wouldn't see the point in having more than 1 for our purposes. He says the small stamps at the bottom are inspector stamps. I've shied away from most pre-WWII stamps simply because there are many and we have no documentation to identify them by. As to bayonets, it's an area I have no interest in. I'm vaguely aware that there are reference books on them from discussions on Gunboards and other forums. If you would like to draw up a page that covers the bayonet stamps and send it to me, PM or email, we could consider it.

I see it now (after you point out the right kanji!) Next time I'm going to say to myself "WWRSD" (what would Ray Singer do?). I might be able to get some See Like Ray Singer reading glasses at Amazon. Ha! Thanks Brother!

I'm leaning to kanetomo, what do you say? It's on a Feb '43, Type 98.

A good discussion with examples and leads to other discussions here:

14 NMB pages with his name discussed Short version - He says he sells on consignment, and has suppliers in Japan who sell through him.

Dang! Thanks Steve! I got over focused on "宣" as nobu, and missed the 正延 (Masanobu) on the JSI page. I still cannot snatch that pebble from Master's hand!!! Someday.

Offset machi, common Chinese style. Only seen on Type 95 NCO blades in WWII Japan.

No, good point, and one that has bugged me too, ..... until this moment, when I remembered that my own kaigunto, a 1943 Yoshishige, has an unfinished jiri!!! Can't believe I've forgotten about it for so long:

Sorry Brian, but I really tried! I don't think it's 'tsugu' but it's the closest I could find. Got the January 1943 side. Thanks in advance!!!

I have felt that the signed blades with finished nakago jiri were likely surplus, and the mumei blades with unfinished jiri were post-war manufactured. Just a theory. Why would a smith go to the trouble of signing and finishing a souvenir for their vanquishers, right?

Not at home with my computer right now, but I believe I have two with solid providence. I will update when able, probably tomorrow morning.

See, Magic! Thanks Ray!

Mantetsu was putting that many out per month. I'm sure they had a pretty big operation, though.

Not a good photo, but I have confidence in you Magicians! It's on a Feb '45 Gifu stamped Rinji

Thanks Rob! Really nice gunto.

Dang John! How do you do that!?!?! Even if I remember something from way back, I rarely can find it! So, looks like Ed passed it along to Swordbuyer. Nice to know the trail of it.