Bruce Pennington

Most info covered already. Type 94/98 - Army Officer swords Type 95 - Army NCO sword Type 97 - Navy Officer sword Great website with tons of excellent pictures, descriptions, and history: http://ohmura-study.net/900.html Great article describing the military's need for swords and their efforts to get family swords donated and/or to buy them for the war effort: Effort to acquire Family Swords by Military. NNB forum for discussing fittings like your tsuba (Handguard) Tosogu

After seeing Stegel's numbers, I'd lean toward a "19". The hole cut over the number, if a "5" would have left the topmost horizontal stroke. I've simulated ana over the 9 and 5 of Erns' number:

Those are the "Ki" of the 2nd Factory of Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal, and the "To" of Tokyo 1st.

Added the Akitaka 1098, which is one of those mystery ones out of sequence. I see what you mean on the third number. Hard to picture what number it would be with such a curve in the upper left hand corner of the number. Maybe a "9". But I've filed it a "86?", too.

Sesko lists 2 Katsumasa: KATSUMASA (勝正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Katsumasa” (勝正), real name Kojima Shichi´emon (小島七右衛門), born October 20th 1892, he studied under Kaneyoshi (兼吉), worked as a guntō smith and died September 22nd 1947 KATSUMASA (勝正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Tottori – “Hōki Kanaya Katsumasa saku” (伯耆金谷勝正作), “Hōki-jū Kanaya Katsumasa kore o saku” (伯耆住金谷勝正作之), family name Kanaya (金谷), he also engraved a single coin crest onto his tangs, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀 展覧会, 1941) Slough lists Kojima as "Low-medium grade showato". Hoki Kanaya is listed as a Minatogawa smith and used a longer mei. So, I'd lean toward Kojima on this one.

No way to pin a date down beyond 1938-1945. By the offset chuso button, it's not likely earlier than '38.

I think it is, John. I went from one to the other looking for variations in the mei, but couldn't find any.

Welcome Svein! The Gifu and Kokura stamps looks correct. Haven't seen the fakers imitate the Gifu correctly, yet. The Na on the blade is shaped correctly, but haven't seen one that deep and clear before on a blade. To my eye, the tsuba seems fat. Overall, I'd say legit, but word from @Shamsy and @Stegel would clear up my concerns.

Thanks Trystan! I'd say it's original. The line of rust above it runs down into the grooves of the star and the stamp style looks correct. I have 7 other star-stamped blades on file with "Na" stamps. 3 of them are on the side and 4 on the mune. So that's not unusual either.

11

No, they are identical is size and shape. That's what I suspected. So the re-work of the nakago must have shortened it, causing the clip to extend farther through the throat. The added seppa tightened the tsuka/tsuba/seppa set to the habaki, but once tight, no more could be added to make the clip fit properly. And no documents about the re-work. Wish they all came with prominence record sheets! Edit: I just realized the reason for the clip extending too far could be that the clip itself is a replacement and slightly longer.

Not to hijack this thread, but I did some recon on my copper and it's got some oddities in this respect. #2643 but the saya throat is un-numbered, so I assumed from the beginning it was a factory repair/re-fit. After taking it apart, I could see that it had been repaired and re-fitted. The nakago was pretty gnarly and there was an extra large seppa on the front (hadn't noticed that previously!) It all fits together well, though the tsuka is tight coming on and off. No wiggle in the tsuka/tsuba/seppa fit. There is a good space from the latch clip to the saya throat, but I don't know if that is normal. @Stegel or @Shamsy might know. And for anyone tracking such things, it's marked with the TO inspector stamp:

Quite unusual markings, too. The decimal after the “F” seems to indicate the letter is the first of a shop name, maybe.

Thanks guys! The Type 98 fittings are mostly standard, just has a slightly upgraded habaki. So, the soldier must have been trying to get his sword for a cheap price.

It's a bit of a mess, but seems right. You'll find some clear examples on Ohmura's page of Army Officers Kyu Gunto

2 posts back: Here.

Guys, A friend of mine has a WWII gunto with this blade in it. Mumei. Looks older that WWII to me. What do you think? Can we give him a rough guess on an age? The nagasa is 25 18/32" Thanks, in advance!

Wow.

Didn't want to start a new thread just for this, but sad to see a very accurate fake of the Wakase Shop's patented drag sayajiri: Being sold on ebay. Fortunately, the China seller calls it a replica. But it's a testament to how good the imitators are getting.

One for @Stegel & @Shamsy Probably not unusual to you guys, but a guy I know has this Suya Shoten 95 with an additional TO stamp on the back side of the fuchi. I think I've seen that done before, but found it interesting.

Grev, The civil branch of the military were called Gunzoku. They wore military styled uniforms and had their own rank structure. The chokunin rank was equivalent to General officer. I don't know enough about them to say that they worked navy, but this is a navy dress sword. Dress swords weren't fighting blades and were simply one-piece steel with faked hamon. Only the real fighting blades used the mekugi. You can read a bit more on Nick Komiya's post Here. I believe there is a better, more complete discussion elsewhere, but that one should help. Maybe someone who knows the pre-WWII sword knots, like @PNSSHOGUN, can comment on the tassel.

Thanks Rick! Spring 1944 #173 W

Thank you Shad. Turned out to be no pattern-work. I like that habaki, though. Was it blackened? If so, that, in itself, is a bit rare.

Peter, I use Slough, Sesko, and Japanese Sword Index and I STILL come across smiths, even RJT smiths, that aren't on any lists. So, it isn't uncommon. You've got an eagle-eye spotting that faint stamp! Large Seki stamps are usually found on pretty nice blades. Trytan, I understood the RJT program to begin in late '41-early '42. What are you telling us?

Sweet! Trystan, does the paper mention the stamp? I don't doubt it, but have a hard time seeing it. In support, all the "TA" stamped blades from Niigata, so far, are star-stamped. Great find!! @John C chart updated Guys might as well welcome John to the research team! We have many who conscientiously whach out for us in our survey efforts, and I'm honestly honored. John is jumping in with both feet.