Bruce Pennington

No, that last option isn't "toshi". Time to bring this over to the "Translation Assistance" forum and get some more eyes on it.

I know this is mentioned in some scattered threads, but I came across another habaki with stamped numbers on a legit Type 98, found in the Cox/Toki article on Seki Toki Swordsmiths.

Not very often we get to see one with the tsuka off. This one - NCO shin gunto fake? - shows the ignorance of the fakers. All that trouble to get a better copy of a Type 95 and they put junk kanji on the nakago! I noticed the "TO" inspector marks reminded me of one of the examples earlier in this thread, so I compared them. Very similar. The Kokura cannon balls are different, but similar Suya and TO.

Ha ha! Do you have now gone through all three choices that I was considering too!

I thought about that, but the Japanese sword index.com spells it with 敏光 (Toshimitsu) So it didn’t look right.

Hopefully a someone will get this for you, but I'm leaning toward 敏光 (Toshimitsu) The mei style is different, but seems to be the same name. During the war, there were often more than one guy using the same name.

Many things wrong with this. The Ko and Suya stamps are getting scary good, but the TO inspector stamps are crap, both on the tsuka and the blade. Copper handles never go above the 6XXX serial range. The drag on the saya is too fat. Just to name a few. I've compared it to a legit for some points:

James, Updating this thread and would love to see a picture of the second Showa stamp above the smith's name. The stamp on the nakago mune is the "Gifu".

Came across this looking for something else. Update: 山 Yama Matsuyama Branch Officer of Kokura Army Arsenal 小 Ko Kokura Army Arsenal Supervisory Section Don't know what the "1" is for.

Here’s the cord. Maybe from a Swords bag?

Good point, Brian. I decided to simply mention their existence on blades, with a couple of examples, like I did with bonji.

HA! Sorry Chris! Was in a hurry and had a "senior moment."

Here's the full picture of the sword. Mark, I was actually asking about he cord/tassel. Have pictures of that?

Then it's quite possible your blade is something old. Have you had the guys look it over?

These are the first run of the Type 95 NCO gunto. They made less than 7,000 of the copper handled, officer-style saya Type 95s. So ours were made in the first third of the nearly 1 year production (going by memory here, but roughly mid-1937 to early 1938ish). I use a standard Japanese cleaning kit that comes with uchiko ball and choji oil. I've tried 99% alcohol and it does put a bit of a shine to the blade, but it doesn't remove the permanent stains.

Nice one Jesse! Close on the assembly line to mine! If you haven't already read these, start with Ohmura:http://ohmura-study.net/957.html Stu W at Warrelics: https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/ija-type-95-nco-sword-info-228172/ Trystan's thread: And Steve, Shamsy, has an excellent history, which I'm not finding right now, if someone could post a link?

This page says 2004, second printing

Thanks Marco! Looks like I'm going to add a Family crest section to the Stamps Doc. I've got 2 of them now.

What do you think - Tokugawa, but stylized? Found HERE

Another rain-pattern, but it's nicely done. I like it!

OK, no fair teasing! If you can't post pics of it, PM me and I'll give you my email. I'll post them. Well said!

I've noticed gunto prices have recovered from the COVID slump. In fact, they seem to be higher now than before the virus hit.

Edgar, Can we see pics of the nakago (tang)? Do you know if it is signed?

Trytan, Is that the swordsmith's name? If so, I don't see it on the Seki tosho list.

Seconding Brandon! I've read many arguments on both sides, but personally lean toward "late-war officer". In light of Nick Komiya's revelation of the military orders that great loosened the mil specs on swords and guns in the last months of the war, this gunto is like the Japanese version of the Chinese-made Emergency Late War Gunto. The IJA had already allowed officers to rent/buy Type 95s early in the war. Not it's late in the war, suppliers being bombed, etc, why not go back to the 95 makers and have them crank out some more officer gunto. But that's still just speculation on my part.