Bruce Pennington

Here’s one with a Mantetsu in it:

Chris, Any chance of getting a link to the original post? There is a mark near the top of the nakago that I'd like to get a better view of.

Mine is the 2002 edition. Didn't know he did a new one (2013). Rats, I just bought mine a couple years ago, too. No wonder it was pretty cheap.

No, I would, for now, assume it came from the earlier Shigemitsu, made for civil fittings, then re-drilled for the military fittings. But still looking for more photos.

This has been a great read!!! Francesco - I think the original complaint from your discussion with another guy has been covered pretty well. But it is a complaint of artificial construction. Sure, if someone had just said to him "there are no better swords than a Japanese nihonto" he might have some grounds to argue. I wasn't there, so I don't know what or who he was arguing with. But like mentioned above (I think), I don't think anyone who values Japanese swords would make such a claim. We simply value them for what they are. They were a tremendous improvement over the Chinese swords of the 8th and 9th centuries. They got so good, that when Japan tried to switch to Western styled swords and Western sword manufacturing, and realized how poorly these 'new' tech swords performed in battle (cold Chinese weather), soldiers BEGGED for the old samurai type swords. Ohmura made a concerted effort to argue that SMR Mantetsu blades were just the latest evolution of the ancient art (which I agree with), but in the testing results you can see that they were just equal, not better than, the good ancient blades. But even this says the ancient nihonto were equal to the best 'modern' (1930s-1940s) technology could produce. Long story to say - nihonto didn't come into existence to be better than swords made on the other side of the earth. But, by and large, they are pretty darn great!

Eric - love the research! We all profit from efforts like this, and as you are learning, the deep-diving makes you much more knowledgeable, personally, and greatly valuable to the community. Concerning the mon, I have not researched this one, but from my other digs, I can say that these items are hand carved. Even Kao have variation, as do kikusui. In your case, I would look at all the examples and gather the ones that fit the predominant characteristics of one or two that are confirmed examples. Anything that is too divergent (and I see a couple in your examples) are likely imitations. Can't speak to mei, but they can vary in a known smith's work, but you must narrow the focus to a particular man. They mei well vary and change from generation to generation.

I'll probably be corrected on this - @PNSSHOGUN - Type 98 tsuka ... should I say 'never'??? - don't have 2 mekugi. So, I'd be tempted to say this is an older blade that already had the double ana at near the end of the nakago (not counting the third ana, near the lower one, as this was probably due to a re-fit earlier in it's life), and the second, higher, mekugi was installed simply because the second ana was already there, so ... what the heck, might as well use it!

Trystan, When I send this to google translate, it says "Metropolitan Police Department" if it's Chinese. When I click on Japanese, it says "Superintendent". Thoughts?

The mark is too undefined to say for sure. I do have one other mark on a habaki, an anchor - styled mark, but don't know what to say about either yours of this other one.

That'll go in the Stamps Doc for sure! Thanks!

Chris, Can you show the full nakago? It helps guessing the age. Plus, this one seems to be using 2 mekugi.

Doing a web search on this "shi", I found a Wiki translation that said "ancestor veneration". Maybe this is similar to the other religious symbols we see on swords. It would make sense. I've never seen a shop logo on a blade, but I've seen plenty of religious symbology, including horimono on them. This makes 3 of these on file, all police swords. And thanks for the Metropolitan Police Department markings!

Rob, FWIW - I have these dated from 1939-1943. Yours is only the second 1940 blade I have on file, and only 1 1939, so in our online world, a fairly rare item!

Interesting! I own another 1943 Yoshishige kaigunto! Large Seki stamp. We have no definitive proof of the purpose of the large Seki stamp. The 2 major sources are: Ohmura, who states that the stamp was used to mark approved showato, and that traditionally made blades were not stamped. He also states the stamp was absconded by the Army, so they stopped using it; and the Seki City website history section states that due to poor quality showato hurting the market during the early years of the war, the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association began inspecting and stamping (type of stamp not stated) blades for quality. So there is strong evidence that the Large Seki stamp was used by the Assoc. on good quality showato. You'll find small seki stamps on Nagoya Arsenal blades, mostly in 1943, as it was used by their arsenal inspectors. I am not aware of any traditionally made blades put forth with either large or small seki stamp. But am open to any efforts to do so.

Here's one gone the other way around - An "Imperial Gift" to an officer! On Ohmura's site - Type 94 Royal Gift "Yasuhiro". He doesn't say who it's gifted to, but it has a Company Grade tassel, so it's probably an officer.

Came across this one on Ohmura's site - Type 94 Royal Gift "Yasuhiro".

Here it is John. Might be just scratches and due to out-of-focus, looks like a 'W'

Well THAT's a new one! Now if 'CURLY' and 'JOE' show up, we've got a set!!! Ha!

Quite an interesting piece. Leather ito. Can you tell what the mekugi is made of? The remains of the leather cover over a civil saya says, to me, at least the saya was original to the war period. I have seen a few showa stamped blades in civil fittings, then refitted for the war effort. No idea how or why the blade went civil first. But it's not unheard of. I'm impressed by how deeply that Showa stamp was imprinted! Maybe the nakago was still hot when struck? This is the first Kunishige blade I've seen with a stamp of any kind.

The top sword is a Type 19 Cavalry sword, not a parade sword. That is a fighting blade not a dress blade.

Yes, the fittings are Type 98. Can't see the tassel clearly enough to know for sure, but looks like a blue/brown of a company grade officer. If you pick it up, please post better pics. Looks like a large "W" stamped on the nakago?

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN - anybody got a meaning of that stamp?

Sorry for the double posts, but it should be noted on both these threads. I have updated the Mantetsu -- South Manchurian Railway article to include a better description and photos of the unique MRS fittings. It's a small change, but the original section was woefully understated.

I have updated the Mantetsu -- South Manchurian Railway article to include a better description and photos of this unique set of fittings. It's a small change, but the original section was woefully understated.

Keith, how about a good photo of that habaki for the habaki thread?!