Bruce Pennington

Thanks Matt! I compared it to some others posted on NMB and I see it now! Appreciate it!

Blade seems unremarkable, likely oil-quenched.

HI guys! Could I get a translation on this mei, please? It's on a kaigunto. Looks like it was re-mounted once.

It was done quite a bit, by all the Allies. These are from Fuller & Gregory:

You're learning fast! Ha! That notch is the mune machi (mune meaning back edge). "machi" is the notch; one on either side. "Ha-machi is on the cutting edge side. And yes, likely torii sori. To the eye, it looks koshi sori, but that is an illusion due to the blade tip being narrow and the end near the machi being wider. But now, I'm speaking WAY out of my area of experience!

Steve, Good start on the measurements. A biggie is "sori". Check this site on how to measure it: http://japaneseswordindex.com/measure.htm You'll eventually need to remove the habaki. Rust can make that more difficult to do. I use a hard plastic, like the edge of a spatula or something similar, against the front edges of the habaki, then tap it with a hammer. It will break the rust-lock without scratching the blade or damaging the habaki.

Adam, Quite a beautiful blade! I have had the same translator experience on the Ohmura website, where it gives dates that are decades off. I agree this blade was likely made in 1940. Any chance you could get the seller to give us a good clear pic of the WHOLE nakago, in case that stamp is at the end?

Yes, thanks Adam and Ed! A circle with "BS" inside. Slough says it's a light bulb, so maybe the end with the screw threads goes off to the right. Can't quite see that part.

JP, I don't see a stamp in his oshigata enlargement at all, do you?

Yes, I see it now! I have seen a couple that color, but they are the exception. Ohmura shows one that color, and his site sort of specializes in showing high-class examples of gunto. Nice to see yours was actually in use, as there is tell-tale hand oils imbedded in the underside of the tsuka. Shows that the gunto didn't just sit in a dorm room corner.

Looks celluloid to me. but you're the one with it in hand. Tap on it. Does it ring like metal or is it flat like plastic? Either way, you've got a mighty rare dirk their buddy boy!

And Showa 18 means 1943. (Showa era 1926 + 18 -1 = 1943. You always subtract 1 with each of these dates). Maybe you can give a close-up of the ito? It looks brown in the picture you posted. Hopefully one of the guys who research smiths can give you the page you're looking for.

Which is why I feel like this is original, but with a rookie doing the mei cutting. With sword shortages, possibly they just pushed it through. The blade was good, screwed up writing would be covered by the tsuka - let it pass!

Fuller mentions the late war use of celluloid for same'. He even said the crossguard and pommel could be made of celluloid gilded, even a celluloid scabbard! (pages 147-148 of his 1996 edition). The only metal (is yours metal, or could it be gilded celluloid?) saya he shows is a custom dirk of unknown purpose, likely a gift or presentation. But, it isn't official navy style - no sakura or leaves. By the looks of yours, I wouldn't be surprised to find out the saya is celluloid too! In any case, it's the only one I've ever seen like it!

Never! Is that saya all metal? Is it Trystan that has the massive dirk collection, or is it you? Someone around here is quite experienced with dirks.

Yes, fat and course.

Welcome back George! Good to see you!

Matt, I assume there's no date on the other side of the nakago (tang)? If not, the Showa stamp puts your blade in the 1935-1942 range with the greater odds at 1940 as a manufacture date. That's quite a unique style of writing the "hiro"! He was adding a little artistic flair on that one!

To get to the original post: As rough and pitted as it is, I"m not sure applying oil is a good idea, as you'll never completely be able to wipe it clean. I'd just do my best to keep it clean and dry. If you are in a humid climate, and have central A/C and heat, the room that gets the most conditioning would tend to be the driest. Lots of guys use 90% alcohol on blades. Don't know what effect it would have on this one, though.

Here's a comparison. It's the "kuni" kanji that is the worst. I don't know how many Kanekuni smiths were working WWII. There could be 3 different ones. I've seen that before.

Thanks Adam! That's Tadahiro's hot-stamp. I've never heard if the image has a specific meaning. It's always reminded me of a sword, but the "handle" looks like leaves. Maybe someone will let us know!

Good point on both Rob! One normally see that kind of tsuba on a family blade re-fitted for the war. The hot-stamp (kakihan) is normal for this smith. All his look that perfect.

Well said, Steve! You put into words the very feelings that were bugging me about this! I've browsed their website occasionally and give him credit for trying, but he looks like a generalist militaria seller and knows only little about swords. Then there's THIS (hope everyone is sitting down!!!): I sent them an email about it. It's SO BAD it had to have been a mistake. It's like he had an overlay and grabbed the wrong photo to put it on.

Yes, but that's not how they wrote thirteen. It should be "showa 10 3 Year" I've attached comparisons. Also, there seems to be a single stroke, where the kanji for "year" should have been started. Honestly, I think the (what's the word for guys that did mei for the smiths?) got to the word "year" when he realized he messed the whole thing up and simply stopped!! I've made posters for my daughters school projects, and realized halfway through, that I had spelled something wrong. I think this is what happened here! The mei is so sloppy, I think we're seeing the work of a rookie mei cutter!

Came across this oddball on Military Items dot com. Claims to be a 1938 Kanekuni, but the date kanji are incomplete, maybe? And why the sellers decided it was "1938" is beyond me. "Showa Ishi San" is not a legit way to write a date. The mei looks pretty horrid too. Sarute is fake or post-war. I would call this a fake, but it's got a showa stamp, is isn't normally faked, and the blade & koshirae look good. It sold for almost $2,000! (don't know when, though) Found here: http://militaryitems.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4166 Thoughts?