Bruce Pennington

Thanks for the added pics Michael.

“Saku” simply means “made this” in loose translation. Your fittings are of the standard type. Guys could pay more for upgraded fittings.

It looks cut to me

Your blade is now the 3rd May 1945 blade on record. Only one dated blade older, a Jun 1945 owned by @Ryubiken. Thanks for posting. If you haven't already found the articles by Nick Komiya on this model, a Contingency Model, or in Japanese Rinji seishiki (we're starting call them "Rinji" or "RS" for shorthand), check them out: Rebutting the "Type 3" term True Significane of the Contingency Model Unveiling the Rinjiseishiki sword in 1940

As yes, the pistol! I forgot about that one! When you consider that SMR was essentially a moderate sized government it's no surprise they had all sorts of items with the logo on it.

A couple of screenshots:

OMG, those are just too cool, Trystan!!! I've started a file for your foraged items! I have the fork & spoon, and the manhole cover, but I can't find the pocket watch. Do you have the post # where you showed it?

That's a super photo Alban, thank you! I've got a Nakano and I've got a Toyokawa, but this is the first I've seen with both. Excellent! On the <N> .... it's a shame we still don't know the name of the company, especially in light of your observation of the quality of their work.

Interesting to see this, because it does not have the Kikusui as we were discussing it on another thread.

Bingo! Thanks Bojan! Akita prefecture.

I enjoyed the analysis of the variation in quality. Have you seen enough of each to say whether this was true of all the work of each shop, or could the quality difference come from the amount of money a buyer was willing to pay? In other words. The lower quality Suya gunto may have been "standard", but a buyer with some money to spend might have been able to get upgrades and better quality work. Just curious. Also, I would LOVE to get photos of that Nakano stamp!

@george trotter or anyone who knows - I can't find a province for Kunitake. Anyone know?

Thanks Steve. I realize some of this is "tomAYto vs toMAHto", but just wanting to get the mei variations down as closely as possible. I appreciate it, and all you do for us here!

Ha! No chance! Dad said guys broke into his locker and stole stuff "thinking there were jewels to be had."

Mmmm.... love those straighter blades with bohi!!!!!! If I ever bought a nihonto, it would be something like this.

Thanks, got that one!

Thanks for the added photos Stephen. The blade is made better than all fakes, and better than the majority of island swords, I personally think this is Indonesian made. The ones we've seen in the past made for PETA and such don't try to closely emulate Japanese fittings like this, and to be honest, I've unusually leaned toward "fake" when they do. But this one looks, to me, to have real age and intent, so maybe it was made for a Japanese, late in the war, "over there." But I'm WAY off into speculation-land and will recommend the readings and searches mentioned above. No one will ever be able to answer the question, so just enjoy it! I would.

@SteveM, the dust got stirred a little over at Warrelics. When asked about this, Nick Komiya came up with: 興亜一心　満鐵作之 = Kōa isshin Mantetsu kore wo tsukuru. 興亜一心　満鉄謹作 = Kōa isshin Mantetsu Kinsaku 興亜一心　満鐵作 = Kōa isshin Mantetsu-Saku 満鐵鍛造之 = Mantetsu kore wo Tanzoh-su. Which to my untrained eye is a mix of the 2 versions discussed above. What are your thoughts? I'd like to revise my SMR Mantetsu Sword article with however this plays out. Thanks!

That was after 2 years of re-fitting missing parts and a $2,200 polish! Here's some before shots:

The whole thing has been poisoned by the saturation of the market by fake profiteers. We know for a fact that there were swords made for PETA forces. We know for a fact that there were Java swords. We even know for a fact that at least 1 POW was making swords for the Japanese in a remote location. The problem is compounded by the fact that we have no documentation (if there ever was any) stating any mil specs for these occupation forces swords...... Sooo, we are left with speculation. Each one is left to the opinion of the owner. So Stephen, you have to weigh the evidence and make your own call on it. If you search NMB for "Java" or "occupied lands" or "island sword" you will find many such discussion with lots of examples to compare.

I'm like George. My collection goal was to get good representatives of the primary Types and variants of WWII gunto (ok, I have some pre-WWII's too). And I have that now, and don't plan to ever part with any of them, else the collection would again be incomplete. But I've learned to "never say never", so in answer to the question it would definitely by my dad's '41 Mantetsu Koa Isshin.

Tsuba looks "island made", to use a phrase. But the whole thing is better quality than most of these we see. I'd say the craftsmen that made this were more skilled than the average Indonesian sword shop.

That's super, Trystan, thanks! You know, these blades made by RJT smiths directly for the Tokyo 1st Arsenal remind me of something Chris Bowen said, quoting one of the smiths - that blades made at the factory didn't get the star. It was blades made elsewhere and brought to the arsenal that were inspected and stamped with the star. Hmmmmm, maybe he was right. If so, these blades are likely gendaito.

By "Indonesian copy" Stephen was referring to the practice in occupied lands to make swords for both Japanese officers as well as their own collaboration forces. They aren't "fakes" as we are always on the lookout for.

Stephen, I agree, quite interesting! Could we see clear pics of the metal fittings? Also the whole nakago, clear shot, and the blade tip?