Bruce Pennington

@Markus might be able to help. I went through his list of Honami kao for sayagaki HERE, but it's hard to go from the hand-drawn kao to this nakago style. Here are some that are close:

Dee, thanks for the post! I had Volker's on file but these 2 make a great set of 3 now. @Volker62 - thanks for the clarification of the Wish Jewel. I erroneously had it in the Stamps doc as a flaming jewel. Is anyone able to translate that odd date on the second tanto?

You'll find several examples this this style Here: Though, I cannot tell you the history of it. I believe it goes way back in time. The bird is a pheasant, I think.

Ah, I see from looking back at Ian's post, there were some legit hangers with that sculpted design. So, that is not a red flag.

Hi Laird! I've enhanced the photo of the tsuka. The wrapping is Chinese style - all the folds go in the same direction. Japanese wrap alternate directions The sword was likely made in China. Now whether during war, for Japanese use, or collaborators, or a replica/fake impossible to know. To be honest, most like this are labeled as replica/fakes. Are you certain the gold is inlaid brass vs painted? If inlaid, you can use all the normal blade cleaning techniques, like chogi power, pure alcohol, and oil. You can safely remove the mekugi (peg) by gently moving, or get underneath, the wrap that covers one end while you tap it out.

It's interesting, too, that #2 & 6 have sculpted shape to the end piece (sorry don't know terms), while the others are all square/retangular.

FWIW, I have a few Kanetaka on file and none use the 2 kanji mei like this, nor that style "Kane". I'm not saying it's gimei or fake, as I've never seen a faker try to imitate the Showa stamp. Just unusual.

I hope one of our guys gets it. I don't have the hobby cash, or I'd go for it, even if it is overpriced. Yes, this is now the second of these with sale papers from the 8th Army PX.

Good discussion held by Austin Adachi on this thread - Album - The Life of a Shanghai SNLF Officer; Wehrmacht-awards. Discussing their use of Army swords, he said: " I've been looking at IJN documents a bit to try and figure out their sword situation more. The IJN purchased some 300 swords in 1932 which appear to be army sabers. Later in the mid 1930's the Shanghai SNLF kept a supply of 33 "Gunto Model A" (軍刀甲) to issue to warrant officers and above. We can see in photos it's often line commissioned officers carrying Type 94 swords and non-line and warrant/special duty officers carrying Army sabers (Type 19s?) unless they have their own they brought with them. I'm hoping to find navy purchase records for Type 94 swords in the future." Front row left to right: Supply Chief, Chief of Staff, Commander, Medical Chief, Engineering Chief You can see that they were even using Army tassels:

Not to get your thread off track, Peter, but I did find the thread about papered Mantetsu. Here: In the four pages you'll see 2 Koa Isshin that recieved Hozon papers, both Spring 1941 blades; one KA 89, the other RE 476. I believe there are a couple other examples of non-stamped WWII blades with papers, too. You can go directly to them with these links: Koa Isshin RE 476 Papered - Japanese-sword-katana.jp Koa Isshin KA 89 Papered - Japanese-sword-katana.jp

Dang, that's really messed up! It's not normal to see a stamp right in the mei, but I have seen it before. The prefecture isn't even readable due to the effort to obliterate the stamp.

I could see the obliterated Showa stamp on the Ichinori. Couldn't make one out on that first one, though. Thanks for the links, Dee!

Peter, I'll have to do some rooting around on Ohmura's site, but he has a page where he strongly agues that WWII swords, showato, were simply the latest evolution of the Japanese sword and deserve respect from the sword community as the latest version of Nihon (Japan) To (sword). Now, whether he has made a dent in Japan or not, I cannot say. Guys that live there, and guys that live among the NTHK & NBTHK worlds would have more of a feel for that. I would echo Robert's point about the slowly growing number of war swords that are getting papered. A crack has opened in the nihonto dam and trickles of WWII swords are slowly leaking through. I'm flattered that you mention my work, but seriously there are many of us who are pressing hard into this part of Sword World. I do have an appreciation for all those who work hard to uphold traditions of any kind, whether that be swords, or hand made cakes, or ballroom dancing. But I can vouch for the fact that many commercially made cakes i have eaten were pretty darn good; and the majority of people prefer dancing of almost everything else but ballroom. Maybe time and public attention will turn the tide on recognition for the merits of WWII swords.

We've seen some 'hail in rain' designs before, but I thought I'd post this one, found on a late-war T98 on ebay

Textbook fake with all the red flags. For sale on ebay, not even going to post the link. Don't even have to enlarge on each section of the sword. I could see from the expanded shot that the haikan was mounted too far down the saya, for starters:

Ok, then not necessary. Only do it if it's something you want to pursue.

It strikes me as an effort by collaboration sword makers to make an NCO sword. Collaborators had NCO ranks, too. It's just something we've never seen discussed. Nor do we know enough about, nor have enough wartime photos of, to base real decisions on. We all know what the nakago will likely look like, but you ought to pop the tsuka off on the chance there is a Java mei. If so, it locks it in. Without it, we are back to speculation.

The reality is that guys are doing this all over the world, every day. Only a fraction of a fraction of 1% ever come to NMB and talk about it. This discussion is good, as it will make some guys think about it in ways they might not have considered before. We are educating new guys. As to Dan's example above. In both the before and after states, the blade can still be professionally polished. It's better that the rust is gone.

Hi Mark! Safe to assume you've taken a look at the lacing to see if it can be unlaced? If the leather isn't shrink fitted, in other words, if it has a little play, you might be able to remove the sarute (you actually have to pry/bend it to get it out of the holes), then unscrew the barrel screw that the sarute sits in, and see if the kabutogane will come off, allowing you to slide the leather cover up and off. Never tried something like that, though.

Good points, Mark. I suppose if I were the one wanting to try my hand at it, I'd take the blade to the Nihonto Forum and ask - Is this salvageable or trash? THEN, move from there, depending upon opinions given. The guys, like you say, that argue with the experts cannot be helped. We do see that often, unfortunately. Makes you wonder why they even ask, if they aren't prepared to accept what they hear.

I always get into trouble when I join conversations like this, but I see Joe's point, a bit. A guy buys a trashed blade and brings it to NMB and everyone says "Junk! Ruined! Zero Value! etc, etc, etc" But if the guy brought that same blade and said "Hey, I'm going to polish this myself" .... everyone flips out. Now, I understand the fear is that the rookie may have a blade that actually IS recoverable, and is incorrectly assuming it is ruined, so therefore his amateur polish WILL ruin a blade that could have been saved. But, my original point seems to be what I don't get.

Alex, Rob said "sue Koto" so: Sword Eras SUE KOTO The end of the era of old swords is generally considered to be the Oei Period(1394). Swords produced after this era are referred to as SUE KOTO or late old swords. With the onset of the Oei period, Japan suffered through a series of civil wars. During this period, the quality of sword making fell off due to the great demand for weapons. Many mass produced blades from the era survive due to the great numbers produced. Private order blades were of finer quality. However, blades from this era seldom rivaled the quality of earlier work. The end of civil war brought an era of peace to Japan. The unification came under the rule of the Tokugawa Shoguns, who moved the center of politics from Kyoto to their home city of Edo, which is today modern day Tokyo. The end of the era of Koto is generally established to coincide with the rise of the Tokugawa in the Keicho era, which began in 1596. (From: Warrelics - A Brief Introduction to Sword Making Eras)

Glen, Your hamon (temper pattern) is called Hitatsura, and is not that common, but I find it striking. I'm not expert on that stuff, but it would look amazing with a professional polish. Japanese Sword Blade Terminology

William and I chatted a little via PM. For the price, I would buy it just for the blade! It's a legit Okimitsu, star-stamped gendaito. A guy could put it in shirasaya and have a great item. But that's just me.

Waiting for John - @PNSSHOGUN