Bruce Pennington

And the article states he registered RJT a Wakabayashi Shigetsugu, so it would seem logical (don't know how strictly it would have been followed) to think his star-stamped blades would be under that name, not Shigefusa.

A butterfly. Posted by Helmetbuyers at this Wehrmacht-Awards thread.

@Okan Thanks for the explanation, I appreciate the clarity. No offense taken good man. Steve, I think most of your posts would be better spent on the military forum, as most of these are military gunto. There aren’t as many nihonto guys over there, but there are enough to help you for the occasional gunto that has one in it.

@SteveM @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN Could I get a translation of the green painted kanji above the "515" on this blade? A bit unusual for text on these painted numbers.

Don't know current wait times, but I waited 18 months before my Mantetsu got in. And considering Brian's post concerning Current Spate of Mail Thefts of swords coming back/to the USA from Japan, I'd think twice about sending to them and go for a US polisher.

I quite agree. I've run into the same issue with some of my posts. People are free to read or not read whatever they like. So, if someone doesn't like the content .... move along folks! I'm glad you posted it, as it has the dots, or punch marks at the end of the nakago that I am tracking. And in my opinion (I know, opinions are like butt holes, everyone has one and they all stink! Ha!) there is no such thing as a 's..t sword' especially if it a gunto. History, people. Lives lost, families destroyed. Millions of people globally affected. Honor, loyalty, bravery, comradeship, and on I could go. These pieces represent a lot more than what simply meets the eye. Ok, I got my rant in for the day!

Lee, That's a cheap price for a contingency model officer sword, especially one with that very rare anchor mon. This gunto has been up for sale on 3 different occasions over the years, that we know of on NMB. It's been discussed on a thread HERE. I'm posting a couple of photos for when the sale link goes dead.

Thanks Trystan! The only RJT Shigefusa I find reference to is Kojima. Wakabayashi is discussed in Slough & Sesko without mention of RJT work. So, I say this was from Kojima Shigefusa. Boy that zodiacal dating, without having the Showa written first, throws me every time!

O M G! That is one gorgeous rig!

That nakago sure seems long! Is the gunto extra long, too?

Could be 13, 16, or 18, but I'm going to go with 13.

Steve, what concerns you about it? They were so popular, it is said they had a wait-list of officers wanting them. As to traditional, there was nothing traditional about them - Manchurian steel, rod-in-tube construction - unknown quenching. Did you read the SMR Mantetsu Article? I honestly don't believe more can be said about them that's not already in it. With full respect to Mr Slough, none of them were made in Japan. There were 4,500 "unfinished" blades sent to Tokyo 1st for finishing to help them meet their yearly quota, but the blades were made by the Japanese mego-company South Manchurian Railway, or Mantetsu. Is that gunto up for sale online? If, so, could you PM me a link so I can ask the seller for the serial number (unless you care to check into that for us!).

can anyone translate the green kanji with '515' at the end? Quite unusual.

Got that one, thanks! I have Yoshiharu 27 & 71 dated Autumn '43, so I'd say this is a '43 blade, too. Edit: 26, 27, 35, & 71. In '44 - 103, 200, & 250

That’s fascinating to see it laid out that way, Thomas! Thanks for the post!

They were most definitely part of the Pacific war and Japan’s war effort.

Found this one on a Wehrmact-awards post HERE.

thanks guys! I've added the item to the next Stamps Doc.

Except for the Type 95 NCO, all blades were made individually. That's why many outer fittings aren't interchangeable.

Starting with the saya, rest assured it's normal fare doe WWII. Thanks for adding the pics. Bryce's concerns were understandable given the original set. But with the close-ups, I have personally seen plenty with this style fittings. The ito looks to have gotten loose and sagged a bit, too. As to the blade, maybe Trystan or Thomas can comment. I haven't really studied the zoheito.

Another nice one, John, on a post from @Michaelr here: HERE:

this one has some pretty good detail. On a post by @Michaelr HERE:

Another Manchukuo Rail sword found by @tbonesullivan on this thread:

I noticed one of the North China rail Swords in the thread Ed referenced has the same read under coating on the saya.

I’m silently screaming inside, as I am away from home and don’t have my books!. Hamish is right. I just don’t recall which railroad.