Bruce Pennington

Updated Stamps of the Japanese Sword, version 8.0 available. I've had a few requests for a book version of this, so I've been revamping and rewriting. We've learned enough of the history to start writing our own version of the facts as known today, so the "History" portion is greatly re-done. I'm temped to revamp the "Star" discussion, but @mecox's translation of Ohmura's discussion has some interesting facts that we've still been unable to track down, so I've left that as-is to prompt future investigation. An "Intro" is added to include a minimal "Thanks". I wanted to add that but hate the fact that I'll miss a multitude of people that have contributed photos and discussion. So, if you see that I've missed you, please send me a PM and I'll add you to the next version. Other updates: I added a page with the interesting discussion we had on the "5 Measures" stamp. Added various newly discovered kao, and other small edits. I'll try a trial print at a local shop to see what it looks like in hand. I'm worried that some of the photos might come out too small, in book form, to be usable, which is why I like the digital format. You can zoom/enlarge the digital version. But I'll take a look and see how it comes out. Enjoy!

Thanks for the reference Gilles! I've forgotten more than I remember these days! Maybe that's where I had seen it before. Richard's errata sheet for this book corrected the reading to what Hamish posted above - "Wakasei of Tokyo which is the name of the manufacturing company."

Chris, I have seen that once before. I've searched my files, thought I had saved it, but can't find it now. I also THINK it was presented to Nick Komiya at Warrelics and no one knew what it was. But I've been chasing so many rabbits lately my memory is doing somersaults and other tricks. I would recommend posting it on the Warrelics Japanese Militaria forum. I can do it if you like, and update when I get some word. Let me know.

Thomas, I lean in the same direction about the arsenal overseeing officer blade production, as you propose. That same production chart from 1944 would support the idea. I have very little photo evidence to back it, but what I have is 3 Kokura (stacked cannonballs) stamped officer blades and 1 copper-handled NCO: 2 Masayasu (provided by the Malcolm Cox Survey, citing Fuller & Gregory) and 1 from Ohmura's site (unknown mei) This one is on the nakago of the Type 95 Copper (provided by @Stegel) The "KO" shows up (again very limited data) both in 1935 and in 1943: And the "HO" is spread throughout my charts. I haven't made a consolidated chart just for them. Roughly speaking they are seen with other arsenal stamps in 1935, 1941, 1942. Then they are seen by themselves (usually "Ho Ho", double stamped) in 1943, 1944. So I think this all backs your idea in rough terms.

Oy vey! Missed that, you’re right!

The date is March 3, 1943.

Neil, I don't see Yasunori on the RJT list. Are the blades star-stamped? It is a good example, though, that certain smiths may have had a particular shop fitting their blades. Thanks Thomas! How cool - blades 94 and 95 Edit: After searching the files for the "95", I don't seem to have any record of it. Searching the NMB pages I see the 94 was noted on this Tread about Marks on Fittings. I may have miss-typed the 94, into 95 on the chart.

Steve, Hopefully someone can expound on your ware question! But yes, it's a beauty! I paid 2400 years ago for a near pristine kai and it only had a showato blade in it, so you did quite well. Kaigunto are always more expensive than army gunto (assuming matching qualities). The market has definitely recovered from the COVID slump.

Wow, this is cool! Bamboo fences, found on a @paulb post HERE.

Very interesting topic John, thanks for bringing the stories! I agree with John (PNSSHOGUN), that we might be talking about 2 things - "issued swords" were only Type 95s to NCOs. These short swords were "presented" or we might say gifted in honor of their upcoming mission.

You're right George! I've made the corrections to my files. Thanks!

On a Kanetsugu, found HERE

And I should at least link that one in the Arsenal Stamps thread, with the rocking star stamp, here too:

Another odd development No katakan, just the numbers on the nakago. Blade marked "34" was made one month later than the blade marked "95". Not sure what to think about that.

Alright! Got a hit searching Yamagata prefecture RJT smiths - a Dec 1943 Naohisa, star, "Ma" 664: That gives us 2 "MA", both from Yamagata: マ 431 Star Munemitsu No date マ 664 Star Naohisa Dec 1943

Ha! See what I did?! If I remember @Brian's discussion about this, he didn't mind quoting text, it was just quotes that included large pictures that he didn't want. By quoting, the other guy gets a notice that he's been quoted and it draws him back to the discussion, just in case he thought he was done and didn't plan on coming back. That's the only reason I use the quote. Edit: after thinking about it, I guess I could accomplish the same thing by using the "@xxxxx" method. I'll do that next time!

Here's your "a" Rob, top left corner:

Thanks Mal, The letter we have about the souvenir swords covers a meeting with Tenzoshan reps and the US Army, so we know that shop was involved with making them. But the stamp on many of the blades is the Toyokawa stamp, so I bet they had other shops working the project along with Tenzoshan. They had 8,000 swords to make, so they likely used this "Rocking Star" shop as well. Maybe someone with a book of sword shops, like @IJASWORDS, might make a scan of it for the logo?

Finished searching for RJT smiths of Gumma - no luck on numbered blades. Haven't tried the web yet.

Navy rayskin is normally lacquered black; From Ohmura's site. This is one of mine. You can see where the lacquer has worn off, yet still see the remnants of it:

Kind of maybe links the mark to the Toyokawa Arsenal in some fashion. Does anyone know if they made, or oversaw, bayonet productions?

Excellent Bryce! I saw that on another thread but didn't post it here because I thought I had already posted it. But after a look-see, I mis-remembered. I had mixed it up with @roger dundas habaki in post #86. It has the maze on the upper and diagonal lines on the lower half. Gorgeous.

John, The all-white same' is interesting. I've seen plenty where the black lacquer is greatly worn off, but you could always see remnants of the lacquer. This one doesn't seem to show any black at all. If original, it could be an example of the few photos we have of navy officers in a group of army officers and their tsuka seems to have white same'.

Yup, that's it! Do we know who or what that is? Do I need to ask on one of those GB threads?

Can't wait for the real translators! Maybe Akinobu is our guy, but the mei is poorly cut.