Bruce Pennington

Normally I can get the date side, but this one's got me stumped! Thanks in advance!

Thanks guys! Tony, no, just hunting for stamped gunto for the files!

Agreed

Kenny, Could I get a full-length nakago shot of the date side too?

@Stegel @Shamsy First variation of the wooden handled Type 95. Likely made around 1944, but Stegel and Shamsy could narrow that down more accurately. Small Seki inspector stamp by the number of the Nagoya Army Arsenal. Nice one.

A 1942 star-stamped blade. Can I get a translation please?

Thanks for the stamp @Jason b, that's a new unknown shop logo. @lonely panet will be your best source as to authenticity.

Dang, you're right! Thought it looked familiar! Just haven't seen one this clearly before. Fuller says the literal translation is "to forge" or "forged" and is a scarce stamp. I recall reading somewhere that it came out before the Showa/Seki stamps and is an indication of a quality, traditional blade. Thanks Steve!

@george trotter - found another Munetoshi with a "TA" number, but I can't make out that last number. TA 124? I have a 1943 Akimitsu with TA 1246. I WANT to say the last digit is a Japanese 7 "七". What do you think?

Thanks Mal! I don't see enough of these to recognize the mei. Appreciate it!

On a stainless Feb '40 kaigunto:

Who's good at Seal Script? Mei not readable due to really poor photos on auction sight.

A unique variation on the rain-pattern. At an auction, so not listing (link will go dead sometime from now).

I've found 3 of the sakura pattern tsuba with Kanezane blades in them. I wonder if he had a direct contract with a shop that was selling these to Gunzoko. Also note the Company grade tassel. Too much water under the bridge..... don't remember if Nick Komiya stated the Gunzoku could use Army rank tassel, or if they were supposed to be using exclusively the all-brown. Either way, this shows a Civil service, Gunzoku, sword with an Army tassel. Seeing the personalization of gunto, that I have over the past couple years, it would not surprise me at all that a Company-grade equivalent Civil guy would put an Army tassel on his sword. Of course this could be post-war, too.

Perpetuating the myth, at an auction, listed as a "tank commanders' sword". No provenance given.

One from an auction:

Well this is an interesting turn of events, indeed! They were definitely doing something in 1940 with the kana choices. As long as the 2 are pronounced the same, as you say, then I think it explains it completely. I looked to see where I logged that "オ 111", but I don't have it in the files. I think I got distracted by the copy of Morita-sans chart in that Chinese book. Currently, the chart looks like this: How do you think I should correct that line? The Iroha series calls for a ヲ "WO". If I change it to オ "O", it could get confusing. I COULD change it to オ "O" with a Footnote, explaining the substitution. I don't know. Tell me your thoughts on it.

Right, didn't check my own charts! Should be a Ren.

Definitely a better photo. For me, it's all about the stamps!

Here's a kaigunto with both traditional saya (you can see the black lacquer and semegane under the leather) covered in leather, and the not-so-common chuso latch.

He is listed in the RJT list, but yours is the first Naganori blade I've actually seen and recorded. Bragging rights!

Ok, great. Just doing some filing and needed to clarify that.

Paz, you also have to keep in mind that the RJT system didn't really get started until 1942. So a smith could have been making both showato and gendaito before the program, then, once the program was going, got registered. Even after being registered, I have seen blades by RJT smiths without the star, meaning it could have been showato, or it could have simply been sold on the private market.

I love the sarute on this! Looks personally made out of canvas or something similar. Is that oshigata of your blade, or just an example of the mei/smith?

Thanks Peter! Got the Pros looking into possible shops with that kanji in their name, but we probably won't narrow it down. It's surprising, to me, the large number of shops that were making this stuff during the war, many located in the same city/area and many with similarities in names.