Bruce Pennington

I'm sure it was a terrible time. In the year-long bombing campaign we were damaging their factories to the extent that they started farming out their production more and more to the Jensen Arsenal and China-based operations.

Looks like that was done on this one, then patched. George, I don't study the fittings/leather work as much as some other guys. The darker brown & black was predominantly reserved for navy gunto. But the end of the war saw many variations produced in practically every aspect of the gunto. And to be honest, I've never seen any military document specifying/requiring certain colors for leather. I personally have a late-war navy gunto with the lighter brown leather. So, you may be onto the issue - late-war work.

That’s quite a unique saya cover!

I don't know why the Japanese to English gives Ahiya. Thomas, what's your take on this name?

Chris, I've just never heard "Ashiya" used for the Suya Shoten Co. Is that your translation of the Japanese name? Maybe you are being more correct? The english translation of Ohmura's page, as well as Nick Komiya at warrelics, The Untold Story of Suya Shoten, just calls it Suya Shoten.

Chris, Here's my list below. Couple of questions about your terms: "Ashiya" is that the Suya Shoten Co? I've never seen the name Ashiya.; The "Kobe" blades - are they the "K" in sakura? What are you going to call the "-" in sakura? Maybe "Ichi"? My list: Some steel fuchi have discernible stamps of the Seki Shoten Co. I've noted that, when able. The others, I just put "Steel" where there was no stamping visible. 13411 - Must be a typo. I think its the 134112 missing the "2". 2643 - Suya I $1,400 2016 BP USA 10506 - Gifu Sword Coop IV $900 2018 BP USA 92605 - Iijima II $600 2015 BP USA 44592 - Iijima II $? 2016 BP USA 113661 - Steel III $700 2015 BP USA 134112 - Steel IV $700 2017 BP USA 159557 - Iijima II $600 2019 BP USA 202446 - Seki Shoten Co V $700 2014 BP USA 204034 - Seki Shoten Co V Online

Chris, You should transcribe the data in Fuller's charts. You can list "F &G" in the owner column with a citation at the bottom of the chart listing the book. Tomorrow I'll get the rest of my gunto data for you.

Thanks guys! WooHoo! First time I got a tough one (for me anyway) right!

Drum roll....... did I get this one right? I need the translation for my Stamps Survey, do I'd appreciate some help. Thanks guys!

Just to clarify Grev's post - the stamp is the Seki stamp seen on blades made in the Seki prefecture. The smiths of the Seki area made 70% of the blades of the war.

Thanks Peter! I just saw Geraint said the same thing on the Translation thread.

Thanks Geraint!

Found a 1935 Showa-stamped blade (still awaiting mei translation) fitted a canvas covered wooden saya, at a site, for sale. Located HERE Significant as it is the first 1935 I have seen. Mal Cox sited one, Feb 1935, in his survey. This one has no month, so it's a second verification of the earliest known Showa stamp. It is before the oft-mentioned 1938 dated of the govt law requiring stamps. As of yet, we have not seen documentation of the law, so we don't know for a fact that 1938 was the year it was instituted. These 2 blades may indicate the real year was 1935 for the law. The other point of interest is the canvas cover. This could mean the use of canvas began quite early. Not prove, as the gunto's owner could have refitted the blade later in the war. The whole thing is a little puzzling with the 2 mekugi ana and civil tsuba/tsuka.

Another update on the Gunzuko tasseled sword with name tag: 小谷軍曹 Ōtani So-chō From Guy at Warrelics. But Nick Komiya is adamant that it is wrong either way - A Gunsuko NCO equivalent wouldn't use IJA rank in his name; nor would an IJA MSgt carry a sword with a Gunzuko tassel. They think, due to the mixed writing on the tag, that it's a fake tag, added to increase value. I wrote to the seller and got a full photo of the tag.

Mine are in my Dad's gun cabinet. Nothing classy.

Gents, Could use some help with this one! It's in a 1935 Showa-stamped blade and is the earliest date, so far known of the Showa stamp. So I'd really appreciate getting the smith name for my Stamp Survey. Thanks for all you do! The gunto is a bit odd with civilian tsuka and tsuba, mounted in a canvas covered saya. Two holes in the nakago, one punched the other might be drilled.

Brian, the guys at the Nihonto thread would likely be able to help Mifune and would likely enjoy seeing this! Mifune, Many Officers and NCOs carried old, family blades during the war. Usually, the scabbard (saya) is covered with a leather cover, but these are quite often missing as the leather takes a hit over 80 years. Now, of course, this one may have never been fitted for the war at all, but it might have at least had the saya fitted.

Dated July 1943 with a faintly struck, double struck, Nagoya stamp. So, non-traditionally made.

Great, thanks! So a "Showa" stamp. The smith may have made blades for the RJT program, but like many smiths, they weren't all for the program. This one would not be traditionally made, evidenced by the stamp. Most of the dated blades with the Showa stamp were made in 1940, but we have examples from 1935 - 1945 (none in '43 and '44). So, odds are this was a 1940 make.

Phil, Is there a star stamp above the mei? How about small stamps elsewhere, including along the back edge of the nakago (mune)? What type of fittings is it in? Love to see the rest of the photos, too. Might want to roll this one over to the Military thread?

It would be interesting if one of our Japanese speakers would use his contact link to ask him his source for that. I recall reading a discussion where the cold testing was done on blades, even showing pictures of bent blades, but there was no mention of stamping those that passed. I'm sure the Army Sword division had testing requirements that could possibly have cold temp standards, but I doubt the stamp was specific to that characteristic. I also don't believe that ALL swords were impact tested. As I understand it, a smith was required to submit 1 or 2 blades for testing. If passed, then all of his work was accepted. It doesn't sound like he understands the history of the stamping requirement very well.

Wow! It looks like tree bark! A lot of work went into that one!

Barry, what do you have there?! Is that an old blade/tsuka re-fitted as a navy dirk? I've seen old blades re-fitted before as dirks but never with the original tsuka/tsuba.

A slight correction to the rank on the cloth strip on the top sword. Guy, Warrelics said: "曹長 Sōchō. Master Sergeant / Sergeant Major."

I agree George. I just don't know how I'd pull it off. Too many days spent babysitting granddaughter while daughter works. Anyway, it would have to be a collaborative effort with pieces coming from various guys here at NMB. I'd need a koshirae chapter from Neil, a Type 95 chapter from Shamsy and/or Stegel, I could do a chapter on Mantetsu and one on stamps, RJT from you/Vajo/others, we'd need a chapter from Hamish on Kyu, I know there are a couple of guys that could do a chapter on Kaigunto, DaveR - chapter on island swords and repair teams; John on tassels; ....... I'm sure I'm missing someone ........ oh mons - Malcolm; I'm sure there's more, and more guys I've missed! And that's JUST SHOWATO!!!