Bruce Pennington

Now here’s an example of how yours might have looked with leather cover:

As to the saya - it's possible this was covered with leather during the war, but I still don't think it was original because of the chuso (locking button). Leather clad saya were normally held by a leather strap that ran through the tsuba (handguard). Now, of course, with WWII gunto, there were always exceptions to the rule!

I notice the thread marks, too, but thought that was odd as the 95 uses a barrel screw, doesn't it? That wouldn't need, or leave threaded marks.

Aaron, (good job on the added real name. The post name is normal. Lots/most guys use a forum name at the top) Rest assured it's not a fake. All are WWII era parts. The mystery is how they all got together! And my belief is that this was done for an officer, due to the shortage of gunto. You can read some of the discussion starting post #5 on this thread: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/deflating-another-myth-type-3-army-officera-s-sword-expanded-version-584796/ There are other discussions about it.

Derz, if that isn’t your actual name, please go to your settings and put at least a first name (forum rules, plus we really just like to get to know each other!) Assuming your great day NCO’s was the only owner since Saipan, I’m with Dave. There was a big program in n the war that let officers rent and buy NCO blades due to shortages Discussed here: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/short-development-history-type-95-gunto-676112-7/ . If the provenance is solid, then I feel like we have a solid piece of evidence that officers we’re having these blades decked out in officer koshirae rather than simply wearing an NCO gunto (which after saying that out loud seems obvious that no self respecting officer would hang a Type 95 on his side!). The all brown tassel is mostly known as “late-war” but there is a bit of evidence that they were used by the Gunzoku, civilian forces of the army. Discussed here: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/what-were-regulations-army-civilian-employees-carry-swords-701783/ Update, as you posted the new pics as I was typing: Dang! That nakago (tang) is not a normal Type 95 nakago! This would imply the blade was made special for an officer rig, yet I don’t see why they would do the serial number, unless maybe they expected to get it back, like a rental.

I don't see any machi on the third blade?

And that link is found right at the top of the NMB page:

Adam, Made in 1944, it's a standard WWII "showato" (meaning non-traditionally made) blade. Hard to say what that is under the wrap with those pics. The rayskin may just be dirty. There was canvas used in late-war navy tsuka, but I don't recall seeing it in army rigs. Someone will no doubt correct me, as I'm usually wrong about the smiths, but my stab is: 兼丈 (Kanetake), a smith in the Seki area. Like you suspected, the saya was either a G.I. grab from a pile to cover his bare blade, or a post-war piece-together on a bare blade. Still looks to be legit Japanese, but doubt it originated that way.

You can see the clear difference in quality and accuracy between the two:

Haven't used him before, but a lot of guys recommend Fred Lohman for the tsuka re-wrap: http://www.Japanese-swords.com/

Thanks for the better pics Jason! I wish I had kept a picture of the serial number on the previous Inaba Kaneyoshi. This seems to be his way of marking his blades. I see the saya is black after all. The first pics gave it a brown look. The material under the wrap seems to be a textured lacquer. Haven't seen that before! Type 97 Kaigunto tend to run more than army Type 98s as they are no as plentiful. There is one posted on fleabay now for $2,700, and a couple of aucitons starting at $900 (they won't end that low). I'd say $1,800-2,400 depending upon condition and smith.

Here is a page breaking down the sword eras: http://japaneseswordindex.com/period.htm Shinto is late 1500s to late 1700s; Mino is a city.

We have discussed mune markings before, but in the context of WWII blades. This one is a puzzle. I don’t know of a reference book on the subject either. The first kanji looks like a “Ko”, which on a WWII blade would be a Kokura arsenal inspector mark. I can’t tell if the other marks are intended to be 4 horizontal lines or another faded kanji.

JP, looks like a useful picture for your future efforts too!

Grev,14.2mm from outer edge of tsuka to outer edge .5mm diameter of nakago ana Picture from Dawson's book:

Thanks Manuel! Both are now added to the Stamps Document!

Very interesting, thanks Manuel. Do you know the smith on the other side of your example? I don't have that kao either!

Guys I don't think the tip is broken, it's just tucked into the mat it's laying on. I've taken pictueres that gave that appearance, myself, and the tip was just stuck into the blanket I used. It's a pretty blade, and I like the 8-seppa set. Don't know what you paid, or if you plan to keep or re-sell, but this piece might be worth having the tsuka re-wrapped. Just depends on your plans for it.

Bingo Trystan! I knew I'd seen that stamp before! It's the "伊" of Inaba. This is the second one of his I've seen lately. The previous one had a Toyokawa Navy Arsenal stamp above it, as this one appears to have as well (need better pics!).

Jaspar - do us all a favor and go to your settings and put a name (like "BruceP" only with your name), so we have a name to talk to (website rules BTW), thanks! Looks interesting! We could REALLY use some better pictures, though! Clear close-ups of the stamp at the top of the nakago (tang); better lit closeup of the tsuka (handle) to see the material under the wrap. Would like a well-lit closeup of the saya (scabbard) to see the material/finish. And finally, a well-lit closeup of the metal fittings around the handguard. There were late-war kaigunto with black canvas under the wrap instead of the rayskin. I'm thinking that's what is there, but the pictures are too blurry and dark.

So was this tester also the smith who made the blade? If not, is the kakihan (Kao) that of the tester?

In case the weblinks go inactive in the future here are pics from the two sites:

Mine is much further apart, but I thought it was too close to be a G.I. grab from a post-war pile at 10,000ish apart.

I remember that feeling! I spent (and still do!) a lot of time learning here: http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm

You guys are the Zen Masters of finding stuff (Hamish - what a memory!!!) That is quite an interesting piece. He said is was a custom order. I love the barrel screw! Wish I had one for this kyu. Dawson's didn't have a habaki, which mine does, and I'm skeptical that the dust seppa alone would fill the over 1/4" space between the face of the guard and the back of the habaki. My first thought was that the habaki was a replacement and too short, but it does fit perfectly into the saya. So, I'm wondering if maybe this rig had both a thick leather seppa and metal seppa.