Bruce Pennington

This one popped up over on gunboards and I just noticed the original slot for the officer style latch in the koiguchi has been filled with a new wood piece, obviously newer than the liner!

Interesting. I didn’t even know there were more than one color!

Just a slight technical correction: Seki stamps were from a craftsman’s guild working under Kokura Arsenal administration until Kokura’s authority was split up and then they fell under the Nagoya Arsenal.

Hamfish, I just realized what you meant by the interesting koiguchi! You’re right it appears to be made for this 95, which supports my first impression that this was a gunto purchased by an officer during the gunto shortage with a custom built saya.

Thanks Stephen. I added it to the Stamps document. Latest version 1.5 attached if anyone wants a copy.stamps.docx

Hockeydad nailed it, and what Vajo said is correct- all of these have that same number. Yours is a nice example. Do you already have the smith name and date translated? If so, I’d like to know the smith name to go with that kokuin stamp.

Ok, sure. I just thought George was implying that all the similarities, including the mon, indicated that a common shop was fitting them out.

What do you guys think of the habaki? Post-war? Did they make habaki like this?

George, interesting idea. I wonder, though, why the military or a contractor buying these blades would go to the trouble of placing mon on them?

I’ve been wanting one with a real war blade too. Guess I’m not a “serious collector!” Ha!

Yes, classic example of the era when officers were renting and buying NCO gunto due to shortages. (Or of course just a lucky grab off the post-war pile of blades and saya)

A bad fake. Good on ya for checking it out first.

Dave, I've seen this with IJA gunto, but have never owned a Kai with the fabric sarute. Are they anchored inside the same way? If so, I agree with all the above comments. This long one is knotted. I doubt the factory assembly would have knotted a sarute like that.

Steve, These normally sell in the $250-400 USD range. Yours being on the rare side could be at the higher end, or a tad more, so I don't see that an appraisal would be worth the money. Some of these can have family blades in them, and IF the blade is by a famous smith, then the ante goes up. But you'd have to dissasemble it to find that out, assuming the look of the blade makes you think it's a crafted blade as opposed to a factory blade.

Dawson adds that after 1934, when Manchukuo was proclaimed the Empire of Manchukuo, the created a Natioinal Army. Swords with the crossed flags were swords of the Manchukua Imperial Army.

I see "spring"! and I think "1940 (2600).

Thanks guys! I'm voting "so" also. My biggest doubt was the thickness of the stroke. It almost looked like it was a "Ku" with the parallel lines too close together.

Can't tell if this is "N" or "So" or "Ku". Anybody make it out?

Thanks Steve. That actually DID help!

Oye vey! It's getting worse! Ha! You just mentioned "Zou", which the Mantetsu collectors have been calling "Tanzo". Showa 14 (1939) to Showa 16 (1941) : 興亜一心 (Koa-Isshin) 満鉄作之 (Mantetsu Saku Kore) Showa 17 (1942) : 興亜一心 (Koa-Isshin) 満鉄謹作 (Mantetsu Kin-Saku) Showa 17 (1942) to Showa 18 (1943) : 興亜一心 (Koa-Isshin) 満鉄作 (Mantetsu Saku) Showa 18 (1943) to Showa 19 (1944) : 満鉄鍛造之 (Mantetsu Tanzo Kore) Maybe I should have stuck with "Ignorance is bliss"!!!

That's a fabulous job Chris! I keep most of mine in original condition, but I've had to strip a couple (gold and black "Bubba" paint) and repaint one. Very rewarding feeling to restore one.

Thanks Malcolm! Seems most guys use Saku, so I’ll just go with that. But at least now I’ll understand if I see someone using Tsukuru.

All, While reading about Mantetsu-to, some people call this - 作 Tsukuru, while others call it Saku. Is one or the other correct? Thanks!

John, This is why I like to ask for opinions. I have almost NO background on nihonto/gendaito. I have recently seen 2 Mantetsu, though, with wavy hamon, and read discussion where it is strongly suggested that Mantetsu were water quenched. After seeing a couple custom order Mantetsu's, I just have to wonder if a blade like this one could have come out of their factory. But if you say it's impossible, I would defer to your expertise. I've done some side-by-side colages of the mei, and see some tiny differences here and there, but no more than from other legit blades. What bothers me most is simply the seller's claim that the number is "233" when it's the worst job spelling the "33" I've ever seen! On another note - why would the seller ruin such a beautiful blade by faking a Mantetsu mei? Is it because a mumei blade is only going for $1,200 where he can get twice that price for a Mantetsu? From the comments I'm seeing about this guy, I suppose it's exactly what he'd do. For now, I'm filing both this one and the Showa22 blade in a "Possible Fake" file.

Interesting topic, never heard these talked about. Following.