Bruce Pennington

Brad, I use a tool with to points at the end, pic attached:

Brad, Nice pair! I've had a Ko for some time and am finally getting around to bidding on an Otsu, hope I get it! Mine as the leather finger loop. I initially didin't want it because the blade has lots of corrosion, but the loops get so fragile that they break off, and this one was intact, so I got it. I'm a little puzzled by the fact that both yours and mine have the same really bad sharpening marks (I assumed some bozo in the US used a grinder on min). After seeing yours, it seems too coincidental that they are the same marks. SPECULATION ALERT: I wonder if this might indicate poor sharpening attempts in the field??? or it just means there were more than 1 US Bozo after the war with grinders?!

Dang! Highest quality Type 3 fittings I've ever seen! What a great find! Hope your seller didn't know what he had!

Well, Greg, ALL gunto have value!!! With a Seki stamp, it going to be non-traditionally made, so the value will depend upon condition of blade and fittings; then of course, who's buying. Going USA price for a nice one is $1,200 + or -.

Yes, 1944, easy mistake! The tiny stamp above the date is the "Na" of the Nagoya Arsenal. The star stamp "normally" represents a traditionally made blade, but MUCH debate on that. The addition of the arsenal stamp "could" indicate that it is not Japanese tamahagane steel, therefore not traditionally classed. The kanji writing style is high quality, so it would be nice to see pics of the rest of the blade and blade tip.

I haven't talked with the Proxibid folks yet on the phone, but I do know that they are just the auction house for other businesses that have large estates they are selling. I suspect that Proxibid just uses the descriptions provided by the sellers. I'll call them next week and ask about that.

I'm in!

Another "Buyer Beware" item! Proxibid offering this as a Japanese Samurai Sword. I sent them a notice about it. We'll see if they respond.

The painted kanji on the wood are 3 8? Thousand, or probably 128,000

Franco, Just a minor adjustment on that date - it's 1943, not'44, easy mistake to make. The little stamp at the top of the nakago is the "Na" of the Nagoya arsenal. Rather unique, as I've only seen 1 other blade from Nagoya made for army officers. They made lots of NCO gunto, though. I have a Type 3 (or Type 44 as some call it) Officer gunto with the plastic same' and seen a few others. Not common, but not rare. Nice Type 98!

Here is both the Kokura "Ho" and Kokura First Arsenal "Ko." on a nakago mune. 小 　Army Arsenal Kokura Factory - Kokura Army Arsenal inspection mark: "Ko". 　"Ko" stamp is not discovered except for the following example. It seems that the inspection mark 　used the "To" commonly since most Tokyo Factories relocated to Kokura Factory. ホ 　Army Arsenal Kokura First Factory inspection mark: "Ho" The Ko is above the Ho, and fainter.

Interesting Kokura Arsenal stamps on a mune, both the Kokura "Ho" and Kokura First Arsenal "Ko." 小 　Army Arsenal Kokura Factory - Kokura Army Arsenal inspection mark: "Ko". 　"Ko" stamp is not discovered except for the following example. It seems that the inspection mark 　used the "To" commonly since most Tokyo Factories relocated to Kokura Factory. ホ 　Army Arsenal Kokura First Factory inspection mark: "Ho" Sorry, the Ko is above the Ho and fainter. Not a good view of it in this pic.

Brad, Thanks for sharing your collection and giving us something to talk about! The full same' wrap, as it was explained to me, is a more expensive upgrade. Thanks, also for the view of the W stamp and the unusual one on the seppa. Does anyone recognize the seppa stamp?

Neil, I use Paypal for a charity that I run and I get an email from them showing the donor's name and email.

Also here: http://ohmura-study.net/913.html I don't know the top kanji, but the bottom 3 are "479". It is not known why Mantetsu numbered their blades. Some have speculated that they relate to a contract or batch numbers. I have found an interesting thread, though, on other things written on nakago mune: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21519-name-on-nakago-mune/

Yes, I noticed the pins in Julian's example above. Never noticed that before! Cool!

Charlie, I don't understand what you mean by the term "general mounts."? The 2 belt hanger ashi make this a Type 94. 94's had a removable ashi and a permanent one. All the other fittings are standard shingunto. Is that what you mean, or is it simply the general officer's tassel that is generating the term?

Peter, That is definitely a unique piece! It's possible it might be from another country, like China. You might try it on some other forums that specialize in swords from other lands. I can't remember which forum he's on, but there is a guy named Chen on one of the following that knows Chinese stuff. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=53 http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/ http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?52-Firearms-Of-The-Rising-Sun Also, these guys look at a LOT of foriegn swords: http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?11-Antique-amp-Military-Sword-Forum

It will help to see good pics of the hand guard basket as well.

Trystan, Remove the screw that holds the saya throat and that end piece comes off. Then simply turn the saya upside down and shake or lightly tap and the liner will slide out.

Allan, that one really has me stumped! I'm thinking it is part of a stamp that was incompletely applied, but I haven't found one that fits this.

I'm joking, but your pictures are close enough (grey hair & beards) to get you two confused!

Dave & Grey, I'm glad to see you both in the same place at the same time! I was wondering if you were the same guy, posting under 2 names!!! Now I can see the difference! HA!

Here are pics of my Dad's Mantetsu. Seems identical. In hand, I can see a ridge where the yakote is, but if it was every polished, it looks like it has long since rubbed off. And that's a steal for a Mantetsu!

Gert, I just re-read your original post - waki in full sized mounts! Can you give us the cutting edge length? It does look short.