Bruce Pennington

One from Michael's post on the translation forum:

Thanks Marc. Yoshiharu is one of the known smiths that had the stamp, though we don't know why there is a small group of names - Kaneoto (with Seki stamp); Haruhisa; Kokima Kanenori; Tenshin; Takehisa; Yoshiharu; and Yoshitani. Your blades doesn't have a serial number on the nakago mune, does it?

I agree! Many of the great reference books were written before the internet age, or before it grew into what it is today. We have been able to get access to records and resources, now, that weren't easily found when the books were written. I won't go so far as to say Ohmura-san was wrong on his "cadet" designation, but it is quite possible.

Bas, During WWII, the massive number of blades required forced the industry to find ways to make more blades than ever were possible using traditional methods. But even with the diviations from tradition, there were many smiths still making quite beautiful blades. Maybe yours simply used non-Japanese steel, maybe it was oil-quenched rather than water-quenched. Here is a list of 9 different ways blades were made during the war.

I really do smell my blades each time I have them out!!!

And Nick's pictures (post #, match those of Ohmura. What I'm trying to determine, now, is how to distinquish between the senior foresters dirk and the cadet dirk. They seem very slight.

Dawson's book, pg 310, has your sword - a 16 ray lieutenant level police sword.

Well, after some digging, Ohmura's site is the only source I can find that addresses the cadet dirk, and I can't tell any difference from it and the senior Foresters dirk, and the "possible second (1903) pattern Forestry dirks listed in Fuller's book. I'm going to post the question over on Warrelics and see if Nick Komiya comes up with anything. I'll update here if I get clarification.

Very cool, keep it coming! The Type 8 & 19, which these are styled after, varied greatly, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the same with the training models.

Thanks Mark! I could see how the one's with the "hail" would increase the friction in the saya.

Here's your crest! Sawarei: (thanks to Piers!)

Thanks Piers, you nailed it!

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!