Bruce Pennington

That guy must have been getting paid by the hour!

Here's a unique one! I'm even wondering if it's not a kamon, but a unit crest or something else. It's on a police Lieutenant sword, here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/32587-translation-assistance-with-kyo-gunto/

So “Koshi-yujo”! Thanks Geraint! Now we have a name. The left or right handedness might explain the direction.

Thanks Mark! Your second 2 fit the pattern, but that first one is opposite direction from the group, though, even it carries the same direction as it wraps around.

Brian, Do you think moving this thread to the "Tosogu" forum would get some input from the fittings experts?

Thanks Dave! I have never seen the first one you show, which definitely looks like the big-cat scratches we see on Snoopy's WWI airplane when he's fighting the big cat next door! Each of your examples fit the left-to-right pattern, as well (blade tip down). After seeing 4 examples of the rain-pattern, I now can see the "cloud" and the streams of rain falling from the cloud. There has to be a reason. Artistically, if I were making them, I'd want the patterns to look the same, while in hand, rather than flipped. So maybe the reason is mechanical, like John and Tom are suggesting.

John, any thoughts as to why the kanji would be flipped like that? I have a seppa with a mirrored kanji on it and would love to find out the purpose of the practice.

Gorgeous, Neil! I think the pattern pre-dates WWII, so wonder if any of the Nihonto guys have some history or insights on this pattern.

I just noticed that the rain pattern on this cat-scratch habaki is falling left to right, on both sides. With the sword in-hand, looking down at the habaki, the rain on the left side is falling down, but on the right side, it's falling up. Wonder why they would have designed it that way? Also, I vaguely remember this is called something like a rain-pattern, as opposed to the "cat-scratch" name? Anyone know?

That's a good point, Jp.

Ah, that makes sense, and pretty much answers the reason for my post. An english version might be nice to have in hand, but I'll pass, then, on the Japanese one since I can get a passable english version online.

I have a feeling the specs for design and production were faily narrow, therefore standardizing the majority of blades. Nick Komiya posted these original specs on the Type 97. He doesn't address, or translate, the instructions of blade dimensions, but they may be here:

Interesting item! I wish we had a view of the backstrap. It is the most defining characteristic used to determine it's purpose. Dawson has one that resembles it, and called it a "Type 19 for Warrant Officers" (attchd) that has a similar drag, not exact, but similar. I'm sure if they're out there, they have caused confusion, like you say!

Hi Ray! Don't know you, and I have no "skin-in-the-game" on the topic, but to be fair to all other newbies that get called out for lack of names, NMB rules require that you go to your settings a fix at least a first name that appears on each post (honestly don't know where to find that). Saying your name on this thread doesn't make it appear on other ones.

Came across this REALLY good video on the White Russian unit formed in Manchuria by the Japanese. It's full of tremendous history of the area. Plenty of glimses of swords, too. Manchukuo leader, Pu Yi, had a double-handed kyu that I would love to get my hands on! Enjoy:

Here is a forestry dirk Discussed here: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/second-pattern-senior-forestry-officials-model-1903-a-646442-5/

What kind of wrap is on the tsuka? leather?

So, maybe not useful to have for a non-speaker like me then?

Just curious if anyone has read Ohmura's new book yet. I know it's in Japanese, so it will have to be someone who can read Japanese. I'd post the title and link, but my searching skills are so poor, I can't find it. It was actually mentioned on NMB when it came out.

Got lucky with my two, from an auction.

I agree, unless more clear pictures reveal a fighting blade, it's a Type 19, dress sword (sometimes called a parade sword). Very interesting mon on the end of the handle! Looks like a "Yin/Yang" inside a chrysanthemum?

Yes, your last post is from the Ohmura site.

It does help, doesn't it Neil. The total lack of them is a bit of a puzzle to me. Assembly numbering could be anothe area to study! There was such a variety - painted, stamped, painted & stamped, English, Japanese, English & Japanese, modified Roman numerals, off the top of my head. It bugs me that my '39 Mantetsu in combat saya has no numbering of the fittings. Only 2 peices have a rough "11" or "2" (kanji) scratched on them. At least it says the seppa and fuchi started life together.

Dan, Don't know either, but it's one of the signature signs of the fakers. They often do that.

Honestly Raphael, I don't know of anyone that knows. If you can find out, there are a lot of us who would love to hear about it. I watched a "Forged in Fire" episode where the guy replicated a Mantetsu by freezing the soft-steel rod to machine press it into the hard-steel pipe. But we have no knowledge of how the Mantetsu operation did it.