Bruce Pennington

Thomas, The link provided was mostly discussing the Showa/Seki stamps. Are you referencing Nick's linked documents on Navy Acceptance Marking Regulations? This is significant information. Are you able to share the "Japanese sources" that describe it as comparable to the Seki stamp?

Update on Leo's Akimitsu with different numbers painted on the nakago than the stamped numbers. The fittings are stamped "51" matching the painted numbers. The first "6" was erased, leaving "51". So I quite convinced the stamped numbers are NOT fittings shop numbers, but rather Army numbers, probably something to do with the RJT program. Thomas, we didin't discuss the mune. I will ask about that and follow up on it.

What stamp are we talking about guys? This one? If so, that is the Toyokawa Navy Arsenal stamp. Why is that in doubt? If not, which stamp?

Thanks Ed!

Barry, do you have the serial number on that Mantetsu?

I haven't done any research into which smith this is, but the "Na" stamp of the Nagoya Army Arsenal is a strong sign that this is a showato. Evidence indicates that blades marked with arsenal inspector stamps were not made traditionally. That is not the case in star-stamped blades with additional inspector stamps, but the blade in question is likely showata as it doesn't have star. Also, since the blade was handed over to the Nagoya arsenal, there's a good chance that the smith was working in the Seki area.

Waiting for Stegel & Shamsy on this. In the meantime, I have seen poorly struck numbers and stamps. This 212xxx is a normal serial number range for a late-war 95. I think the last number was so lightly struck that it has sort of disappeared over time. The saya number is really strange, though.

Now I have 2 on record! Thanks Thomas.

This is starting to drift out of my tech abilities, but if you are worried about the 9mb limit on uploads, that only means you can only upload 9 on each post. I probably have 3000mb of photos I've posted over the years. And for your server link, Brian can correct me if wrong, but these photos we upload are just here at NMB. Your server can die or be turned off and we can all still see the photos. Oh, after re-reading your post, are you saying you, as a member, only have 25mb total that you can post, like a lifetime limit?

It is estimated that over 300 smiths in Seki alone, so maybe 450+ smiths in the country were working during the war, and over 2 million swords were made. Lots of room for variation in that! To the point of variations from mil specs, as much as some hardliners would like to say it couldn't happen, we've seen enough proof that private shops and individual soldiers both tended to stray in their efforts for a personal touch. Same for the smiths.

Thanks to a tip from @Stephen, got another Matsu stamped blade. It's made by Kiyokuni (RJT), dated Feb 1943, stamped Matsu 16. Kiyokuni worked in Nagano, so the 2nd blade, now, from nagano: Matsu 1941, July Niigata Munetoshi (RJT) 106 (RS ana) Trotter Survey 1941, Sep Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 249 Type 98 Trotter Survey 1941, Sep Niigata Munetoshi (RJT) 308 Type 98 Trotter Collection 1941, Dec Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 566 RS Model Windy NMB ? Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 松 61 RS Trotter Survey ? Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 松 97 NMB 1942, Feb Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 松 542 RS star Trotter Survey 1942, Apr Niigata Munetoshi 松 11 RS Trotter Survey 1942, Nov Niigata Munetoshi 松 422 ? star Trotter Survey 1942, Nov Niigata Munetoshi 松 433 RS star Trotter Survey 1942, Oct Niigata Munetoshi 松 451 RS Davidequis NMB 1942, Dec Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 松 577 RS star MacTheWhopperNMB 1943, Jan Niigata Munetoshi 松 508 Type 98 star Trotter Survey 1943, Feb Nagano Kiyokuni (RJT) 松 16 Ray Singer, NMB 1943, Feb Nagano Chikafusa (RJT) 松 20 Bangbangsan,NMB 1943, Mar Niigata Akihisa 松 618 RS star Schmucker Collection 1943, Mar Niigata Akihisa 松 819 RS star Vajo, Trotter Survey 1943, May Niigata Munetoshi (RJT) 松 1080 RS star Trotter Collection, イ403 on fittings 1943, May Niigata Munetoshi (RJT) 松 1082 RS star baldi1942 NMB 1943, Oct Niigata Akihisa (RJT) 松 1377 RS star Trotter Survey 1943, Nov Niigata Munetoshi (RJT) 松 443 RS star ? NMB 1944, Feb Tsugaru/Aomori Kunishiro (RJT) オ 154, star Trotter Survey 1944, Mar Niigata Munetoshi (RJT) タ2353 Type 98 star Trotter Survey 1942-1945 (ND) Niigata Masakazu (RJT) フ 37 RS star IJASWORDS

Can we get photos of the nakago?

The gunto appears to be late-war. I have seen other examples of that style kabutogane. The fuchi is navy, but looks like it was original to the sword, adding to my view that this was assembled late in the war.

Fascinating account in an interview of a Japanese soldier who made his own sword from an automobile spring: Warrelics thread on leaf spring sword Video Interview (in Japaese)

You could do a quick survey of WWII swords sold on ebay and get an idea. I personally think that would be a reasonable price, but it will depend on the market as to what it goes for.

It's the logo of the Nakano Shoten sword and fittings shop. This can be found on The Japaneseswordindex.com/logo/logo.htm:

From my reading, it seems that ashi was the original one used on civil swords before the westernization of gunto. Once the modern army created the "gunto" and had regulations for terms and equipment, they came up with the "haikan" term. So ashi is a civil term and haikan is a military term.

"WE" over at "the Military Sword section" definitely would be interested to hear the story.

I just re-read Ohmura's page on Murata-to and he mentions an "ancient script" 2-stamp on a sword of Murata's making. He also said: "In addition, the Mei of "Kanemasa" or "Murata Tsuneyoshi " was cut by the sword which Tsuneyoshi Murata forge himself." So appearantly, Murata was using the name Kanemasa on his swords.

John, I'm totally out of my league on this topic, so I don't know what I mean! Did Tsuneyoshi go by Masamune when he made swords? On another note, I didn't realize Murata's last name was Tsuneyoshi. This may be the answer to the 2 names on @DTM72 thread with the seal script stamps. I just re-read Ohmura's page on Murata-to and he mentions an "ancient script" 2-stamp on a sword of Murata's making. He also said: "In addition, the Mei of "Kanemasa" or "Murata Tsuneyoshi " was cut by the sword which Tsuneyoshi Murata forge himself." So appearantly, Murata was using the name Kanemasa on his swords.

I've never seen a number stamped on dirk seppa. But then I haven't seen that many dirk sepp either! We have someone at NMB that has quite a collection (don't remember who that is), maybe he could comment. The numbers on swords are to keep all the custom fitted pieces together as the blade goes through the production process. But if there are no other pieces on the dirk with that number, I don't see the purpose.

Here's a picture of several of mine that I made for the Warrelics discussion:

I bounced the idea off Nick Komiya at Warrelics of a Ko-in Gunzuko wearing a Type 95 and here is his answer: "Why specifically a Ko-in? Type 95s were worn by NCOs and officers alike by the end of the war, due to officer sword shortages, so a Gunzoku Hanninkan or Ko-in, both requiring all brown tassels could have worn Type 95s, too. Higher grade Gunzoku also could wear Type 95s, but with tassels with colored backsides."

Neil, forgive me if I've forgotten, but I don't remember this. Have we discussed this before? Seems new to me.