Bruce Pennington

So, is that this part of the bonji:? If so, what is the circled inscription saying?

Okaaaaaay. They called it a "Type 98". Here's the Google translate of the header. Can someone tell me the real translation? "Former Japanese Army Type 98 Gunto sword sword scabbard Army general sword with sword "[Seki] Kobayashi National Highway" Showa's famous sword that survived the war [31269qtp]"

Well, I agree with you on that, but most of these started as fakes and only the last couple or so have turned out to be legitimate. I could add the legitimate ones over on that thread, certainly.

Ah, and after taking a second look, I can see that the bonji of both blades seem to be shortened and longer versions of the same thing. Would still enjoy hearing what they are all saying. Thanks in advance to you fine fellows that do this work for us!!!

@BIG posted this one HERE, but I had one earlier from someplace else. Just out of curiosity, and like, what else is going on!, could someone break down and translate the 3 sections on these. There is a curious circled marking on both that is the same, but the other inscriptions are different on the 2 blades. First one: And the one Peter posted:

That was my feeling too, on both points.

Others posted by Newrem: Is that a registration paper??? which of course can be faked, and this is another one using a kabutogane for a sayajiri.

The plot thickens, with a signed (Katsumasa?) blade and saya that looks legit. Posted by Newrem at Guns.ru HERE.

Stephen, as I understand them, only the removable ones unscrew. None of my Type 98 single haikan unscrew.

These two Kinmichi support my theory that the undated blades are often made before 1942/3. The large Seki stamps were mostly replaced in 1943 with the Na stamp, and the dating of blades increased from 1942 onward.

Thanks Chris! I assume no date on the other side?

You can usually find more replicas on fleabay than real ones. Prices are cheap.

Looks to me like "Seki Kanemune" but I'm quite often wrong on smith names! http://japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/kanemun2.jpg The small stamp at the top is the "Showa" stamp. You find these on blades predominantly made in 1940-41, although the stamp has been found throughout the span of WWII. The painted numbers "69" are normallyfrom the fittings shops and match numbers on the fittings, but these fittings are civil with a wooden saya made with a leather cover (which often goes missing over the years), so you might not see other numbers on these fittings.

Never seen it before. John, @PNSSHOGUN is the real koshirae guy to ask, though.

Not common, but seen all that. You'll find some guys on this military forum that can help with dating, but most of them hang out on the Nihonto forum. If you are asking about whether we've seen civil/older blades in kaigunto fittings, yes, again not as common. I own one myself. If you are asking about the leather covered saya on a kai, yes that is seen too. Yours appears to have the plain, wooden saya built to be covered with leather. Those TEND to be late-war, but it could have been done any year of the war as there were a considerable number of naval forces serving land-duty on several islands and the "combat" saya is a logical fitting for "grunt work."

John, this one just posted by @Bencld HERE.

He's the only one I know of (although I'm not knowledgeable on smiths in the least). Do I have pics of yours?

You can search this forum, though, for some good tips on how to get that old cosmoline off. Just search "remove cosmoline" or click HERE.

That's perfect Logan, thanks! It's the "Na" stamp of the Nagoya Army Arsenal. For bragging rights, you have 1 of the 2 last blades I have recorded with the Na stamp. The arsenal went to Gifu and small Seki stamps that year and in '45. STAMP SURVEY Stamp 1935 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 No Date Showa 1 1 1 4 20 14 1 1 134 Seki, large 5mm 1** 3 9 45 3 3 112 Na 3 4 43 7 1 Seki, small, 3mm 8 14 7 Gifu Total 2 15 33 2 1944, Jan Kanemune Sergey2010,Guns.ru 1944, Jan Kanenori NGF collection, RS fittings 1944, Jan Katsumasa Petercollector, NMB 1944, Jan Masayuki Kasper, Warrelics 1944, Jan Sukenobu, Star, Na Cox/Toki, F & G 1944, Feb Kinmichi Fatruff3, NMB 1944, Feb Mitsunobu, Star, Na Hastur, NMB

I just love how powerfully this strikes you!!! Ha! I laughed in delight and still am smiling as I write this! It is the joy of our collecting that makes it all so fun. Go for it man!

Thanks for checking Graeme. Non-dated blades are common, both in ancient times and during WWII. Of the 176 Seki-stamped blades recorded in my survey, only 64 are dated. There was a large increase in the dating of blades after the Army assumed control of sword production in 1942, so I would LIKE to say undated blades are likely made before 1942, but it's not safe to make that claim. Might be safer to say the odds a bit higher the blade was made before '42, but it's just not known.

I posted my thanks on the download page, but to reiterate - I really appreciate your article post. We spend a lot of time on the mechanics of our collecting, but what I love is when we get the smallest of glimpses into the real people and lives that these blades came from. This article has several stories (real and legendary) of the people involved around these blades, each one worthy of a book and/or movie in everything human - pain, dedication, loss, sacrifice, honor... the list goes on. I love these peeks into the history these blades came from!

Oh, and BTW -- You got a STEAL at that price! It will cost a little to re-fit the gunto if you want to finish it out, but a Type 98 gunto, intact, is going for over $1,400 USD. I do have a good tsuba (handle), laying about. If you want it, give me a PM and we can work out getting it to you for minimal cost. You'll still need to find the tsuba/seppa set (handguard and spacers).

金道 (Kinmichi) - Feb 1944 Type 98 Japanese officer sword (gunto). I don't see anything on him in the Nihontoindex, but he's listed on the Japaneseswordindex.com. A Seki area smith. Can I get a clear photo of that small mark above the date (the side with the most kanji characters)? It's likely the small Seki Stamp of the Nagoya Army Arsenal Inspectors. Also, there is a mark near the end of the nakago (tang). If it's a number or kanji, I'd love to see a clear shot of that too!

I second that request. I've checked all 5 of the Akihisa in my files and the numbers are at the end of the nakago (tang) on the dated side.