Bruce Pennington

Thanks Malcolm! Enjoyed following your detective work. 1944 is the year. Someone else will help with the smith's name.

Your third one, with the pierced tsuba is a March 1943, Kanekiyo 兼清 (Kanekiyo), but I'm often wrong on the smiths! Small "Na" inspector stamp, at top, of the Nagoya Army Arsenal. Hard to know which Kanekiyo. Sesko's book has 3 wartime smiths operating under that name: KANEKIYO (兼清), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanekiyo” (兼清), real name Nasu Kiyohide (那須清秀), born January 19th 1924, he came originally from Wakayama Prefecture and studied under Watanabe Kanenaga (渡辺兼永), later he worked as a kaigun-jumei-tōshō and fell in World War II, he is also listed under the name Hidekiyo (秀清), other sources list first name Kiyohide as Hidekiyo (秀清) KANEKIYO (兼清), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanekiyo” (兼清), real name Nagamura Kiyosaburō (長村清三郎), born Mai 7th 1894, he worked as a guntō smith and died November 4th 1965, Fourth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941) KANEKIYO (兼清), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gunma – “Kanekiyo” (兼清), family name Kubota (久保田), he worked as guntō smith, Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

That's a nice kaigunto, David, with rayskin saya. I have seen a few Toyokawa Navy Arsenal stamps on Takayama-to. I own one myself. Mine also has black canvas for same', but is unsigned. Could I get a translation for the flies, guys?

Nice selections for a nice collection!

Another one posted by @Eds HERE on a kaigunto:

Technical points: @Alienasa - please edit your personal profile to add a real first name. I doubt your first name is "B." But I could be wrong!!! @Brian - can you split this post off to make a new thread, as it is not a Type 95 NCO sword? What you are looking at is a Japanese officer sword, commonly called a 'Type 3' or 'Rinji seishiki' or 'contingency model' . It's legit. You might ask for photos of the signature on the tang, it could tell you more about the blade. Welcome to NMB, and sorry for the technical corrections! We like to talk to real people here!

An interesting one on a kaigunto, posted by @Eds HERE.

Most excellent kaigunto, Ed! The large Seki stamp has been found on blades from 1940-1945, but the massive majority of them are from 1942. I sure wish this one had been dated, as the canvas same' under the wrap is often found in later war gunto. The says is likely covered in rayskin, lacquered over. The dimples seem pretty small and round, whereas shark tends to be more diamond shaped. Still a sign of a custom, more expense purchase on the officer's part.

Thanks Ed! Shadows in dimples and such.

Thanks George! I think I ask you that once or twice a year! I'll have to make a note in the survey data to that effect.

Yes, a Java sword. So, only an "OMG" moment if you like collecting other WWII stuff made in occupied territories.

Ed, Is that a small "W" stamp at the top of the nakago?

Looks like a perfectly normal WWII smith name.

You got me thinking now (that's always a mistake! Ha!). We could use a "version" system, like Steve and Ernie have on the "type 95's": Japanese Army officer swords Version 1 - the old Type 94 Version 2 - Type 98 Version 3 - Light-weight 94/98 Version 4 - Contingency model 98 The versions could then break down to saya types Version 1.1 - 94 metal saya Version 1.2 - 94 wooden saya, textured Version 2.1 - 98 metal saya Version 2.2 - 99 wooden saya, textured {don't think there are any variations of Version 3} Version 4.1 - RS metal saya, standard version Version 4.2 - RS metal saya, upgraded 2 release buttons Version 4.3 - RS wooden saya, textured, 2 buttons Of course Navy needs the same system, but it would be simpler. Just a proposal. Accepting any/all modifications.

Well, how do you like that! then the whole hullabaloo is just a bunch of hot air that we have been arguing about. Wonder who started the whole “type” designation in the first place?

Chris I understand your aversion to the term. But it simply means “contingency model”. Not meant to be derogatory at all.

I am now out of my depth of expertise, but aren’t the “type“ designations official terms? To use the word “type“ for the type 98 contingency model would be similar to using a “type“ designation for the different variations of the NCO sword. We might as well start calling the aluminum handle NCO a “type 98 NCO”, and the wooden handle NCO a “type 43 NCO” sword.

That's funny, Chris! Ha! Because "Type 3" is also a fantasy name! There was never an Imperial edict, for a 'type' designation. This was a contingency modification of the Type 98, using the Type 98 edict and orders. Even the "3" is erroneous as the model was designed in 1938, publicly released in 1940. It had been in production 3 years before 1943, which is the year it should have come out if it is to be called Type 3.

Thanks Trystan! Agree with Thomas, this is "394." It flies in the face of the stamping pattern Thomas discovered. @george trotter - forgive me if I've already asked, but do you have photos of the Sep '41 Akihisa #249 and the Sep '41 Munetoshi #308?

David, I assume there is no date on the other side? How about small stamps and/or numbers, even on the back edge?

Oh yes! I remember that now. Sorry, I forget a lot of things, chasing too many rabbits!

Stamps of the Japanese Sword ver 8.7 now available. Thanks @Brian! Changes: - A few more hotstamps and kao - A interesting engraved image of Daikokuten, a god, found by @robinalexander, posted HERE - Corrected the definition of the circled "Ni" stamp to mean "made with non-spec materials" - Corrected the kana + numbers map - Biggest change was the addition of cut tester kao from @Markus' fine book "Tameshigiri, The HIstory and Development of Japanese Sword Testing". Thanks Markus!!! - 5 shop stamps from kyugunto, seppa, and a blade added to the "Unknown" category

Ohmura doesn't explain what he means by that. Wikipedia talks of gunsui being an honorary, highest rank for generals and admirals, and says " They were also entitled to wear a special samurai sword (katana) of a modern design on ceremonial occasions. " So, is he saying Tsugunobu made swords for these highest officers to wear? Or is this a honorary title to his swordmaking skills?

Ok, so that at least opens the possibility this was traditionally made. If you want to pursue that track, the guys will need some good, clear close-ups of a few sections of the blade showing skin/hamon details.

Nice find Trystan! As you know, I don't read smith names other than "Kane", and Google translate says this means "extension work". After browsing SFIndex, I'm saying - Tsugunobu??? If so, I only have one other on file, so great find!