Bruce Pennington

John, @PNSSHOGUN, would be the guy to ask. Personally, I think it would depend on your climate. I live in Colorado, pretty dry, so I’ll leave mine on the swords. I would think the same threat the swords face would be the same threat the tassels face – humidity.

Another Rain on Boards, @Mark S. On a Ray Singer waki HERE

Steve, It would be nice to see a photo or 2 of the blade showing the temper pattern in a close clear shot, and blade tip. Sometimes guys can give you an idea if the blade was made in the traditional manner or was a factory, mass-produced blade. It can affect the market value to know that. The painted numbers were put there, most likely (it's not a proven fact, but widely accepted in Sword World) by the fittings shop. They will often match the numbers on the metal parts. The idea is to keep these custom fitted pieces together as the blade goes through the completion process. Yours, 388, is different from the "1 2 1 3" on the fittings. So, it's possible this blade was re-fitted from it's original set into this one. I don't see any small stamps. If you know of any, it can help date the blade. They are usually up high, above the signature. Otherwise, I don't see anything that would point to 1943 in particular. I checked my files and have Kanetaka blades from 1935-1943.

Thanks Les, just ordered it!

Michael, Do you mean to delete them from this NMB thread? If so, please reconsider. In researching various smiths and gunto types, I have come across a number of threads where this was done and it's quite frustrating. Sometimes the deleted image was something I specifically needed for the issue at hand, but it's now gone forever. New guys also learn much from these discussions, but without the images, the discussions become almost worthless. They are your property, so I respect your right to do so, and maybe there's a good reason. Sure would hate to loose them though.

My path took an unexpected turn. Like Neil, I only wanted a fair representative of the official Types. I got there, and wondered "Now what?" As time went by I developed an interest in the stamps on blades and got into collecting stamps! Ha! That's mostly complete (though never will end) and my thirst for detective work has chased other paths like RJT numbering. Just didn't see that coming, early on.

Pictures added for posterity

By removing the tsuka, you run a 50/50 chance, like Rob mentioned, that the tusba/seppa will be a bit loose after re-assembly. Don't know why, but it's a well known issue for the 95s.

You simply unscrew the two screws that go through the handle. Then the whole handle comes off along with the handguard and spacers. At the most you might see an arsenal inspector stamp on the tang after you get it off. I take mine off to oil and clean them, but there’s no signatures or anything else in there to see.

@Brandon_Lane - Nick Komiya, at Warrelics - has requested a really clear close-up of the seal script stamp. Any chance? Oops, I put that question to the wrong guy! Sorry Brandon! @DTM72 any chance of an improved photo of that seal script?

This one is the second oldest date compared to that chart. @Brandon_Lane - no numbers stamped anywhere on the nakago?

Thanks Brandon! Definitely a "Na" stamp. The army assumed control of all sword production in late '41-early '42. By '43 the Showa and large Seki stamps faded away and the arsenals and prefectures started stamping blades. This one is from the Nagoya Army Arsenal.

I have heard of owners dying and the family is totally not interested in their WWII ancestors, so the sword gets sold at auction.

Wonder why the stamps would be for Tsuneyoshi, but the smith name is something else?

That's a new one on me. But I can see why they would have mounted that way to honor the relative's service. Wonder why someone would go to all that trouble to make something honorific for the family and then it winds up on the open market?

Sheesh! How many ways do they need to spell "20"?! Thanks Steve! So August 1888

Yes, it was definitely made for a kyugunto. Have you deciphered the date? I don't know what that 3rd kanji is "Meiji ? 1 year August month"

So, to summarize, both the Showa and large Seki stamp can be found on blades from several areas, not just Seki/Gifu. Showa: 76% are from Gifu; Seki: 85% from Gifu; 14% from other prefectures 15% from other prefectures Other: Other: Aomori Aichi Chiba Chiba Fukuoka Fukuoka Fukushima Gunma Gunma Osaka Nagano Saga Omi or Shiga Tokyo Tottori Tottori Yamanashi There were 25 smiths whose blades were found marked by both the Showa and Seki stamps (not on the same blade), and one that had both plus a blade with the Toyokawa arsenal anchor. Amahide Hidetoshi Jumyo Kanefusa Kaneharu Kanehiro Kanekado Kanemasa Kanemichi Kanemune Kanenao (Sho, Se, & Toyokawa) Kanenori Kaneshige Kanetada Kanetsugu Kaneyoshi Kanezane Masanobu Masatsune (Chiba) Masayuki (Yamanashi) Ujifusa Yasutsuna Yoshiaki Yoshinao Yoshikane (Tottori) Yamanashi So, this does not support or disprove the polisher's claim that the Army was using the Showa stamp. It is still possible. Just speculating, but maybe smiths outside Gifu were selling swords to shops in Gifu, or to one of the Guilds, which put their blades under the scrutiny of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Assoc. and thereby receiving the Seki stamp. Interesting investigation, but unfortunately it only added to the mystery rather than clearing anything up.

Also, can I get a photo of the date, please?

Dan, Quite interesting! The kanji on top are in Tensho script. If you don't get a translation of either that or the mei soon, post it in the Translation Assistance forum. I'll put it in the Warrelics forum too. Nick Komiya is good at these Tensho items.

Edward, does this blade have a Seki stamp either on the side, top, or on the mune?

Take some time to read through (mostly pictures!) Ohmura's site. It's a free education and after seeing the real thing for 65 pages you'll spot imitations a mile away. HERE: http://ohmura-study.net/900.html

Fabulous, thanks Peter! Yes, I compared the mei I have on file with Yoshiharu and it matches. I must have done a typo when I labeled the file. Looks like I need to get Marcus' book.

All I can say is that it's not Japanese military. Seems to have a substantial bend in the blade, too.

Well, now we know who to go to when someone shows up with a navy kyu! We'll be sending them your way. Nice digging.