Bruce Pennington

Tom, Your question of "authenticity" - it is an authentically made Japanese sword, not a fake. If you'll check out the article in Thomas' link, you'll see how and when these were made. But the short version is that Tenshzan factory made over 8,000 of these immediately after the war, on contract with the 8th Army PX store. They sold some, also, through the local store Japanese Sword Shop (if I have that name right). I like these swords, own one myself, as they were the last swords Japan made due to WWII.

Icky! I think you're right on this one.

Nice one John! The blade tip doesn't look like a standard zoheito. Maybe a Muratato? Can anyone make out the date? I see Meiji (1868) [?] 4 year, 8 month. It's that one kanji I don't recognize: The fittings are really well made, too bad about that wire wrap. Also numbered "4 59"

I know we discussed this one, John, but cannot find where we held that discussion. I vaguely remember it being proposed as a Kobe related stamp, but don't recall getting a consensus from @Kiipu or @BANGBANGSAN on that. The style and location on the nakago strike me as a forge or company logo. Religious symbols are found down there, too. Personal kao are usually located closer to the end of the mei. At best, I would speak of it as "possibly a company logo, like Kobe steel works, but unconfirmed." Piers, @Bugyotsuji, thanks for the link! That's the first Showa stamped Kazunori I've seen.

I'm speaking way out of place, as I'm not a nihonto guy, but the longer nakago with second ana says to me that this blade was made for a Rinji seishiki (type 3). It has since been re-fitted with civil mounts. Also, and forgive me guys if I'm off base, but it's my understanding that smiths often made their swords in styles they like from ancient schools, or old famous smiths. The blade could still be oil quenched. For example, the SMR blades were in the style of some school or smith, but they were totally showato.

Sorry, my friend! I meant a clear shot of the Kiku.

Nice! Had me for a second, as I was trying to zoom in on the sword. Ha! Can you get a clear, closer shot of one of those?

Looks fake to me. But I don’t study these. My gut feel was that the swords made for the different territories, like Manchuria, were made by the Japanese. If that is true, then this is obviously a fake. If the swords were made in the other territories, Manchuria, Taiwan, etc., then this could possibly be just a poorly made Manchurian Sword. But I clearly don’t know enough about these to judge. Just looks fake to me though.

Bad lighting can do funny things to colors. I see the section that looks black, but to my eye, and on my phone that is probably just a dark brown. Blade still has the cosmoline from the war! Maybe he will share the rest of the sword with us!

Noah, My lack of search-engine skills is legendary! I made an effort to find the guy or 2 who mentioned that they made their own leather seppa, with no luck. I'm posting a photo of one in place, if you care to have a go at it. The hole in the seppa would have to be smaller than the size of the habaki to create the snug fit you want. I have no idea how the other guys did that and got it into place without removing the handle. Maybe soaking the seppa and installing it while wet, then letting it shrink into shape?

Happy ThanksMas to you, too, Brian! Very kind idea and post. You deserve over 6,000 thank-yous (number of members!). If I may, I'd like to thank all the guys on your list, plus some other guys I've learned much from: Research - already listed George Trotter, Mal Cox, @Kiipu, @BANGBANGSAN, @vajo, @andreYesand, still missing him - @16k! Double-down on thanks to @Rich S (and you Brian) for the Japanese Sword Index that I refer to almost every day. Thanks don't do justice to two guys that the World owes a debt of gratitude in Type 95 world - @Stegel and @Shamsy. Can't thank the Translation guys enough, guys you've listed, plus @uwe, there are others, though. For Type 8/19 and kyugunto, where would we be without @lonely panet, and koshirae - @PNSSHOGUN! I want to recognize @robinalexander for his rapidly growing expertise in Type 95s, and @John C for adding his passion for research. And finally, to @kissakai for his regular reminders of the beauty and awe of this world we live in, on his Izakaya posts; @Stephen and @Wayben for the endless stream of Laugh 'O the Day memes. And a special thanks to @IJASWORDS and @roger dundas and @Beater - you are wonderful souls who bring a civility, peace, and kindness to our sometimes rough and tumble crowd.

Hey, come on, those pierced tsuba are always on expensive custom jobs! Ha!

I don’t think this one is fake. But $600 is too high. They sell for around 450.

Agree that the first one looks fake. Hard to say about the second based on that single photo.

Thanks Erwin! A nice Gifu stamp! They began showing up in '42 (only 2 on file) when the Nagoya Army Arsenal started using the small Seki stamp. The large Seki was one of the stamps used by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Assoc. I believe, though I don't have proof, the Association started using the Gifu when the arsenal hijacked their logo for the army. We see the Gifu mostly in '44 - '45, in parallel with the army's small Seki.

I have to say, after cleaning, the kao's bottom stroke appears. I've updated the collage showing the before and after cleaning, with the known mei I have on file. You can see where a kanji was omitted (though, not knowing what the kanji is, this may be normal as smith mei can vary considerably in how many characters they use), but you can see where a vertical stroke is missing on his name, which seems unlikely to happen for a legit mei. I know errors do happen, though.

When you do, be sure to add them to the Kyu Corner thread! Happy hunting!

He is a member of NMB and is a trustworthy seller. As always judge the blade though! That would be true of any seller.

Richard Fuller has a page discussing the practice, too. He notes the difficulty in distinguishing them from the legitimate late war gunto, but his points highlight art and details that were never part of legitimate gunto. I agree that some of the odd-ball ones we come across could be from these guys.

I wish we could!

5 to 7 weeks! Feels like we're back to the Covid days. I am having the same problem with a sword I attempted to ship to Australia. It went from L.A. to Frankfurt, no problem (why Germany???). But tracking claims it left Frankfurt 13 days ago. If you've seen it take that many weeks, I guess I'll wait that long before filing claims.

Hamish and Dan have hit all the main points. As long as the fit is good, I would assume the fittings are original to the sword. Or I should say, they are the original wartime refit for the sword, which was an older family sword originally. The leather cover, which would have been on it has gone missing, which is quite often the case with these kinds of scabbards.

I know I've seen one or two really bad imitations, but I've been unable to find them in the search. Like Hamish said, the 19s don't command the higher prices like the other swords, so they aren't as tempting a target for the fakers.

You can often tell by looking at the mark on the face of the handguard. If there originally was a seppa there will be a silhouette of the outline. I believe I see the outline on yours. Many of these came with a leather seppa that deteriorated over time and went missing. There have been a couple of NMB members lately that have made replacement leather seppa for their 19s.

That's as good a label as any other. Assuming it's not a fake, which is still possible, but I feel it's not a fake, then we don't know much about the swords made in occupied territories. We don't know a timeline. Many Japanese units were sent into vast areas and told to live off the land, with no hope of re-supply. So, were swords like these made throughout the war? Or were they just made in the last year when production was moved off the mainland? It is a common term, recognized by all, so fair enough calling that. Sorry for getting vague, but there is little we know about these.