Bruce Pennington

You nailed it Trystan!

It will take me a while to go through my Seki files. I have 19 dated blades and 50 with no date. So far I've completed a look at the dated ones: Seki 1941Jan Kanemichi Slough Large Seki 1942 Kanemichi Large Seki 1942 Kanemichi NGFcollection Large Seki 1942 Kiyonobu (unknown) Seki 1942 Masayuki Gunzuko Large Seki 1942 Toshimasa Large Seki 1942 Yoshishige Fuller Large Seki 1943 Tadayuki Large Seki 1943 Yoshishige Star Pennington Large Seki 1944 Aug Kanehide Star RSnihontocraft Small Seki 1944 KanehisaSeSe Fuller Large & Small Seki 1944 May Kunitoshi Star Slough Small Seki 1944 May Kunitoshi Star Slough Small Seki 1944 Oct Nobumitsu RS Small Seki 1944 Sep Nobumitsu JamesrNMB Small Seki 1945 Kanenori Na (unknown) Seki 1945 Kaneyoshi Fuller Small Seki 1945 Katsunori (unknown) Seki 1945 Yoshitada Small So far, Looks like the Large Seki ran through 1943 and the small Seki ran in '44 and '45. When I get a chance, I'll look over the undated blades to see if anything stands out. Update: Went through the first 20 of 50 undated, and all are Large Seki, so far.

How interesting! I didn’t know that was a practice, to indicate that they are second generation. But that would certainly clear up any confusion if both father and son were making swords at the same time and using the same name.

Another potential one, though munei and no stamps

Possibly a Murata-to? Posting some pics before the site goes extinct:

Ha! And I'm no Stephen!!! .... but yes, legit. @Shamsy or @Stegel are the experts on these, though. Interesting one in that the Kokura stamp and Suya stamp are switched from their normal positions. I have heard that this happened occasionally. I see also, one of those green handled Chinese Type 32s for sale too, @BANGBANGSAN!

Wow, over 2,200 swords. Hard to comprehend.

Thomas, John @PNSSHOGUN just found a beauty that I think might be a zoheito. Uniquely has the Suya Shoten stamp on the nakago by the number "14" Is this Yoshichika? And what is the single kanji at the top of the mei, cut by the ana? Update: After talking it over with John, the Suya stamp likely indicates this blade had been previously fitted by the Suya Shoten Co. and the blade is likely traditionally made. found HERE.

Looks like same shop. Different numbers, same Tosho script, same Type94 fittings.

Plus, I have to click on this thread periodically simply because the title cracks me up! Ha! Has to be the best Thread title I've ever seen!!!

They're getting the kissaki right finally, sadly. The Type 94s are almost always pretty high quaility, yet this one has a poorly made habaki (with hallmark Chinese numbering), painted kabutogane, poor quality seppa and fit, and poor detail on the fuchi. I've seen a couple recently with this Tosho script stamp, but not aware of anyone using such a stamp in the Japanese sword making world (other that one shop making early Type 19s)

"Whoa Nelly!" Got a whole 'nuther ball game now. The mon experts haven't come up with anything on this, so my inclination is to think it's a shop logo. Hope we can find more. I'm posting the one @george trotter posted and @Kiipu posted the link to:

Another mon on habaki. @Toryu2020 informs it is 真田六文銭 Rokumonsen - Six mon coins, usually associated with the Sanada family. On a gimei Muramasa tanto

Thanks Thomas!

Anyone know that mon on the habaki?

John, While they work on that name, your blade is likely made in 1942. Seki stamps showed up in 1941 and are seen through the end of the war, so the whole '41-'45 range is possible, but the lion's share of Seki stamped blades with dates are in the 1942 year group.

It’s a modified Roman numeral system using “/“ as “5”. so you have 15 1 2 somtimes they match stamped numbers in other fittings or painted numbers on the nakago, but not always.

Thanks for the wonderful article Mal! I enjoyed reading more about the Naval sword operation. Army gets the lion's share of the attention, so little is known about the navy side. This adds considerably to our understanding. Looking forward to your next endevour.

Paul, A few come up in a search of the forum: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/search/?&q=White same’ kaigunto&search_and_or=and no I do not know if they have the army munuki.

Just came across this Kaneami blade with 5 punch marks in Mal Cox' Part 2 of the Navy Tosho article Page 34, here.

Type 95s in general are common, but not the side-latches. There were something over 6,000 copper-handled 95s made but only 4,000ish of the side-latches.

Good find Thomas! Adding a couple of pics for easy viewing.

Jonathan, Seems the Field grade kyu on page 79 is yours.

Trystan, Forgive me if I've seen this before, but I don't recall if I did - what are these stamps and numbers on? Looks like some "occupied lands" swords?

Hamish, you lazy boy! Downloads tab: