Bruce Pennington

Thanks guys! My first thought was "2 2" i.e. "4" also, but that would make this blade made in 1929. While that is certainly possible, I think it unlikely. That was a very low time in the era of sword making, except for the western style blades. While Murata had instituted oil quenching, I doubt it was being used for the old-style blades like this. Admittedly, I'm weak at my ability to distinguish between oil and water quenched hamon, I think this one was oil quenched. (pictures added). Additionally, almost all blades in Rinji fittings are from the '42-44 years. Exceptions are out there, but the odds of this Rinji housing a '29 blade are slim. What I think we are seeing is a very weakly struck "10". I've enlarged and noted the lines of it. I can see a very faint vertical line and a very faded bottom strike of the line. I suppose, it will have to be called a "probably 1945" on the date, with a "possible 1929" noted.

Josh, Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/501-Japanese-Samurai-Edo-Antique-Short-wakizashi-sword-nice-koshirae/383433638624?hash=item59466d02e0:g:S18AAOSwZgheUmah&redirect=mobile No guarantee it will fit properly, but some guys have had some success.

I forgot about that Dave, but you are right about that!

A weakly struck mei on a Rinji Seishiki (Type 3). I tried really hard to break this one myslef, but no luck. The date is April 1945, if I have that right. Can someone translate this one for me, please? (my guess is "Kunihiro", but I'm usually wrong!)

I also wondered about the very white, imitation same'. The ones I've seen on gunto are more yellowish, and not so white - so mabye a brand-new, rebuilt tsuka? And a minor edit - stamp is Toyokawa. Kenny, Did you get a translation on the smith name?

Mark, Over the past 2 years, in the military market, officer gunto have fallen a bit and NCO gunot rose rapidly. That seems to have stabilized lately, though. When I got into this 5 years ago, and officer gunto went for $1,200-1,400 while NCO gunto were $650-750. Today, officer gunto range from $600-1,200 and NCO gunto are $900-1,400.

Showa22 has an Emura for sale. Like Dwain said, the nakago on his blades always look like they've been cleaned:

Stamp is of the Toyokawa Navy Arsenal. Someone will help on the mei.

That one I saw in Narita had the bigger mei: 長運斎江村作 - Chounsai Emura saku http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/29741-help-with-mei-please/

Well said Paul and JP! In this, I say: I collect........ therefore I am.

You can read a good deal about them here: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/deflating-another-myth-type-3-army-officer-s-sword-expanded-version-584796/ And about RJT blades: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23887-informations-about-the-rjt/?hl=star

The second chuso (scabbard locking clip) is missing, but originally, this was a double-chuso set of fittings, which we have come to exptect on star-stamped gendaito in Rinji Seishiki (Contingency) mounts. Kenny, For the record: Japanese Officer gunto (gunto - "Army sword"), Contingency model of the Type 98 officer sword. Sometimes called a "late-war" model, or "Type 3", but they were originally ordered up by the Army in 1938. Yet, they are almost always seen with blades made in the '40s. Yours was made in December of 1942. The blade is what we call a gendaito, or nihonto, which means traditionally made. The star stamp attests that the smith made it in accordance with strict Army regulations/specifications, with Japanese steel (tamahagane), and using tradional methods. The "matsu" stamp and serial number on the tang (nakago) are often seen on Akihisa blades. It's not really known the reason, whether a tracking system for the smith or for army contract.

David, I put this on the Translation Assistance forum. Raymond Singer says the kanji are: "I believe it is 飯島 - Iijima" Makes sense, as they made lots of Type 95s and their koshirae.

Iijima would makes sense. They were a big maker of Type 95s and their koshirae.

I'm not trying to be dense, here, but you're saying the maker's shop name is: 東京尚兵館 Tōkyō Shōhei-kan Tokyo "Refined Soldier Hall" Refined Soldier Hall???

Appriciate some help with two kanji on the kabutogane of a gunto with a Kiyumitsu blade. Thanks! Comes from a fleabay sale, shipping from Japan. Here are some of the blade pics.

some pics. I'd also like to know what is written on the kabutogane.

Sorry Thomas, I don't see it on that page you've linked.

Thomas, Does the company name translate to anything usable in English?

That's a beauty Brandon! I have one in the Stamps Doc, but yours is in better shape. I'm putting yours there, if you don't mind. "Shoheikan Gunso Kabushiki Gaisha" (don't know what that means, but it's the koshirae shop emblem)

Ray, who is the person depicted on the blade in post #39?

I've seen some Chinese items, mostly NCO leather tassels, advertised as reproductions. I want to say I've even seen gunto sold as reproductions. They usually start with "hand-made". It's the guys in the States that have gotten them and are re-selling as legit that are really causing most of the problems.

Brian, by "owner" do you mean the one in 1941 or 1995? This stuff drives me nuts when the work is so good, you don't know if it was period or post-war. It's like the gold-painted gunto and the green-blotchy saya. My gut feel is that it's just all post-war. If this guy (1995) was good enough to remove and replace the ito and curve the badges just right, then it could all be post-war mod. There are some really crafty guys out and about. But then, John's idea of a commemorative gift within a unit has always teased my mind. Modern day military do such things. I would love to find out if WWII military did so as well. Another mystery. But pretty garish, so I'd lean toward all of it being the 1995 guy. At any rate - it's a number I didn't have! Thanks Stephen for an interesting gunto discussion!

I’d say price is normal too. I don’t follow the smiths so can’t help there.

Got a new one George (thanks to Stephen): Nobumitsu