Bruce Pennington

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.

You might be onto something Thomas. The fuchi looks legit and the kabutogane is well made, by the same shop by the looks of the style. Yet only the fuchi is military. As we have observed over the years, civil swords re-fitted for the war effort come in widely varied combinations. It would not surprise me if this were a Chinese made sword, bought by an NCO, like you propose, and the military fuchi put on. Interesting idea. In the past, these type swords were always labeled as fakes. And in truth, they very well may be. But I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle, where some are fakes, but some are Chinese made during the war; along with all the island-made swords, and POW made swords.

Thanks for that, Tom. Any chance of photos?

That first one is another exception to the rule of 94 chuso being centered in the fuchi.

Geoff, you've probably heard of Mantetsu and Koa Isshin blades? Mantetsu is a contraction of the SMR name.

My only 2 cents on the topic is that Kanemasa was a smith making zoheito in the 1890s.

These characters are usually a dragon or spirit of significance to the Japanese at the time.

Hopefully the nihonto guys can give an opinion of the blade. Someone put a lot of effort into this, even if it turns out to be a showato. The fittings are good-to-high quality from what I see. Type 98 as you said. The tassel, is brown and blue (a bit faded but that means it was in the field, not in an office). That would mean it was carried by a Company grade officer. Theirs were the same as ours, Lt through Captain.

Brian, I just noticed in the Dimension Dark theme, there are no post numbers. Could we get them back?

I see what you mean, good observation!