Bruce Pennington

Thanks Trystan! Any chance of getting shots of the fittings? I've got 9 now: U 20-S U 70-S U 99-S U 255-S U 357-S U 414-S U 481-S U 593-S U 1593-S

Adding a photo of Thomas' referenced sword: Here's the sword referenced in the SFI post, verifying the "Prussian" origin of the maker: Quite an interesting subject! Thanks Thomas and Erns for the info!!!

It's a difficult subject to be involved with, and yet the difficulty makes it all the more appealing for those of us who like the detective challenge! It's important, like Steve said, to constantly remind ourselves about the facts, and use cautious language when hypothesizing. I'm quite guilty of full-blown speculation all the time. Yet, even our speculation, business models like to call it brain-storming, can push others to challenge or confirm the ideas and dig for more facts. So, keep it going boys! Ernie's ideas about the similarities of some of these greys and blues to naval colors is interesting. The observation is simply a factual observation, and opens up a new direction for investigation. I've had the blue one in hand, and can say that it has all the look and feel of a war-period paint job. Having seen this, it really supports the nihonto guys' constant warnings that there is no better way to analyze a blade than having it in hand! The age was clear in every aspect, down to grit and built-up grime in every crack and crevasse. It also struck me as incomprehensible that someone would take the time and effort to "spruce up" an old gunto with nickel plating and a saya re-paint, and then .. what? .... beat it up, scrape it up, throw it around, etc, to make all the wear and tear marks this one has. Sure, if a guy was intending to do a re-paint, but wanted it to look used in the war, he could go to those efforts. But this one doesn't look that way. The paint is old, the wear and tear look old, the grit and grime look old - it looks like something out of WWII. Observation is part of the evidential pile that we build in examining a question. Yes, it is opinion, but that's what we bring our old nihonto to the experts for - their observational opinion. Not proof, but weighted evidence to be added to the scale.

Looking for a good thread to post this picture. A sergeant with a copper handled Type 95, found on a Gunboards post - HERE

It has an interesting mon, too! Unusual for a kaigunto. To your question on the haikan, I've seen both single and double, I have a single one myself. It's undated, but I believe it to be late-war, with the single haikan and canvas ito. Personally, there's no way to know whether this was a piece-together item or a late-war kaigunto. My gut says piece-togther, with the army fuchi, bright finish to the naval fittings, and mixed tsuba/seppa parts.

Thanks Thomas! The mei is a bit sloppier than the other Kaneyoshi mei I have on these, too. Might have been a rush-job?

That's quite an interesting piece, Thomas. The serial number makes the blade originally a copper-handled 95, but it appears to have been re-fitted with aluminum handle and corresponding saya. To the paint, there is the grey undercoat, but in the first pic you see a red bean or brown original coat, then the black over-paint. All, including the grey tsuka paint looks old, war-period.

Wow Tony! Does the book give the old family names they came from or is it just a description of what the image is, like "5 stars", etc?

I like your summary, Steve. I re-checked my black-saya and it clearly has that grey undercoat that guys are mentioning.

The painted numbers are "900". Do you have the scabbard and fittings? If so, how about some photos? Also could I get a clear shot of the small marks above the writing on both sides? Looks like there might be some inspector stamps there.

Some kaigunto were fitted with latches, but most do not use them. We recently learned there were 1,000-1,200 active sword shops - both sword shops and antique stores - so as you can imagine, there was a bit of variation in fittings and styles. The indentions are an unknown as well. I've never seen them done this way. Normally they will be a chisled line or hash mark. It could be anything from a smith tracking his quota, to a fitting shop mark, to a polisher's mark. Completely unknown though. Sometimes the fittings have numbers that match the hash marks, but like yours, with a painted number, the reason doesn't seem to have a fitting shop purpose.

Is that German? I don't speak German! Ha!

Right - “Nu xxx”. Tell him I’ll give him a value estimate range with a clear picture of that serial number!

Welcome Sean! While we wait for the translators, could we all get some pics of the whole blade, without any fittings; plus a shot of the tsuba (handguard) laying flat? I assume no writing on the other side? Posting an righted photo for easier reading:

Quite a high quality job on that mon on the kabutogane, too! Gorgeous

These are completely new to me, I haven't come across any like this. Obviously, @Stegel, @Shamsy, and @BANGBANGSAN are the best guys to comment.

Thanks Stephen, but it's just too blurry. Any chance of getting a clear shot, plus the rest of the nakago mei? As a 1943 "Me" it could have a Nan stamp, or it could be a Koa Isshin. More pics would really be nice.

Well, I wouldn't say "really good"! After 7 years of seeing these on the forum, I'm starting to recognize some of them, at least enough to find them on Japaneseswordindex!

Yes, the kaigunto seem to have a slight majority of their blades with Toyokawa, but there are quite a few with blades from everywhere else. We recently discovered one with a Mantetsu blade in it!

Hi Richard! The painted kanji are numbers "96" which often matched stamped numbers on the metal fittings. They were used to keep all the custom fitted parts together during polish and assembly. Someone will help with the smith's name. I've righted the photo to make it easier to read. My guess is 俊治 (Toshiharu) http://japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/toshharu.jpg

If you have the time, I'd love to see some pics.

Interesting idea, for sure. It would make more logical sense than a guy simply "blinging" out his sword, and would fit better considering the increasing numbers we're seeing of them. That black-tipped one sure matches the ones I've posted. @george trotter - thanks for the info, it certainly adds weight to the whole idea of them being war-period painted.

I just have to post the whole nakago of this Shigemitsu @Stephen posted on the thread you linked. It is a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" to badly misuse a Churchill quote. All on one blade, the only known non-circled Toyokawa anchor, a moustache (or 2 birds kissing), a "Kai?", and a kokuin. A Stamp Guy's wet dream! Wish I had a complete nakago on it. I pieced this together from the linked thread.