Bruce Pennington

Thanks Moriyama-san! What an interesting thing to have inscribed on a blade. It's in Type 98 fittings, company grade tassel. Hamon isn't very visable, but doesn't seem all that impressive to my non-nihonto eyes.

From the hotstamp, I'd say this is a Kanezane blade (could be wrong!), but what is this on the other side?

Somebody from Seki is all I can read! Thanks guys!

Tony, any idea what the item on the other end of the sakura is? Almost looks like a kabuto or a bell?

I just checked Slough and Sesko, and neither have a WWII Yasutada listed. There is one posted in the oshigata page of JSI, same kao (that's a good term.) http://japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/yasutada.jpg

You are more likely to get some help over on the Nihanto forum. Some of the nihonto experts watch the military forum, but you will get more of those kind of guys over there.

In my military days of old, the guy that asked the question often got assigned the task! Ha! A daunting task. Such an article could be as simple a one paragraph or one page summary. For a more expansive article, my mind would like to have some facts like - Which country's swords were copied (I think Germany? Solengen comes to mind); I'm wondering if the re-fitted family blades in kyugunto came in early, or did everyone first try the mass-produced kyu and after being dissatisfied, started re-fitting samurai swords. It would come to gathering and summarizing what has already been said in the current reference books - Ohmura, Fuller, Dawson, and others; with representative pics thrown in. Do-able; but to find the time!!!

How unusual! Never seen anything like it, nor have I seen a tassel tied that way. Looks like the shot was taken at 11:02 am though!

Just spotted a new one. HBO's new "House of the Dragon". Toward the end of Episode 1, the king cuts his finger on one of the swords that make up the Iron Throne. When they pan down to it, it is a Japanese sword!!! Ha! This picture is distorted, but in the full motion scene, you can see it has a proper kissaki and yakote.

And grenades:

Thanks Piers! I'm going with Yokusan Sonendan then.

Interesting idea, Dave. The ito shows real use (hand oils soaked into the ito). The souvenirs never (oops, shouldn't use that word!) show any wear and tear.

It is a post war souvenir made by the Tenshozan factory. Most of these that I see on sale run US$450. If you take the handle off, it’s probably got a navy anchor stamp on the tang. This one is unusual because the metal parts do not have the gold gilding on them. If it wasn’t for the black fabric in the handle, I would say it is a late war army sword. I suppose it is still a late war army sword, that simply just has black fabric on the handle. But that would be very unusual. you can read about these here:

Thanks Piers! Looks to be the emblem on the right is of the IRCC, but the one on the left, a seller says "昭和15年に「一国一党」運動として誕生した大政翼賛会の下部組織、大日本翼賛壮年団のバッジです。 状態は良好ですが経年の感じはあります。 大きさは21×13.5mm程です。 コレクションや" A sub-organization of the IRCC? Could that be the Yokusan Sonendan that Moriyama referenced?

@Nobody & @Bugyotsuji The overall emblem seems to fit the IRAA logo, but missing the eagle or kite head. I don't find an image in the discussion of the youth organization Yokusan Sonedan, but they do mention the issue of weapons, whereas the IRAA is a political party. So, safe to assume the emblem is for the youth program? Moriyama-san - Do you have a source with pictures? I'd like to lock in the youth program, but I'd also LOVE to see any photos of the group that may show uniforms and weapons. Reason being, there are multiple discussion of black-painted gunto, helmets, and rifles. With this particular gunto being painted black, I'm beginning to wonder if the black-painted equipment might be tied to the youth group?!?!

An interesting thread on Wehrmacht-awards - Black-painted Combat Helmets. Seems they believe them to be period painted as well, some painted over the factory paint. One painted over a white original paint! So now we have helmets, rifles, and swords painted black.

Now for the gunto. The primo example that got me going is this one: I have more photos, but this gunto deserves a thread of it's own, so I'll set that up later. Posted by @lambo35 HERE. Posted by @ribendao HERE. Posted by Erich Jr (link and avatar name needed) I know the instant replies will be "Obvious Bubba jobs!!!". One thing that stands out to me, though, is that they all have the common theme of red & black. So, how is it that multiple Bubbas all over the country (world maybe?) coordinated their paint jobs? I don't buy it. After seeing the first Type 95 in hand, taking it apart, and examining it. I feel very strongly it was wartime paint. If anyone has links to the missing ones above, I'd appreciate updates on them. More examples are welcome!

Here's a tanto posted by @Dana1 HERE. A yari by @Lindus (linked needed) By @SAS (link needed) By Carl Giuseppe (link and avatar name needed)

Urushi is found swords, yari, and other edge weapons of centuries past, and the topic is discussed on several NMB threads. I'd like to link them together for future searches and discuss the practice of whether WWII soldiers (or shops) adorned gunto with it. Until recently, not knowing much about the practice of old, when I saw it on gunto my first reaction was "Bubba job!". But after getting the privilege of seeing a Type 95, in hand, with a full urushi treatment, I'm convinced that this one, at least, and possibly others we've seen are wartime done. Here are the older ones I've found in my search: Posted by Adam, @waljamada HERE. Posted by Kirill, @Rivkin, HERE. (reference link needed) IBB.Co By @Jock HERE.

Chris, I don't hardly anything about the Java operation. But this was a WWII era sword. Their blades don't seem to have a hamon, that I've noticed. Don't know if they were even hardened, I assume they were. Do a Search on WWII PETA and you'll get a little history on the Collaborating forces, but honestly, I don't know if the sword forge was tied to them or to the Japanese forces.

I like them too, my comment was just out of frustration on their lack of Lot photos. Like I said, they've always provided more when I ask.

@Rennz Zach, found this one on this Wehrmacht-Awards thread. Just the tsuka is covered, and it's the fabric you're talking about. Any idea if it's wool?

Yes, fabulous collection! Over 260 swords. It was his 1945 Mantetsu that revealed the “Konan Essei “ slogan that had been unknown before. Since then, @k morita has discovered more listed in a book, but his is the only one currently known in collectors hands.

Sorry for a side question, but does anyone know why the color reverses at the kissaki? And it’s not just this blade, it’s very common on many blades.

I think it's all late-war stuff. All the parts look legit, just lower-end workmanship, including the blade.