Bruce Pennington

Thanks John! I log them anyway. It could be true for any number of them, or they could all be original.

"JUN" ? or "Wilson" shop logo?

Here's a Mantetsu, Ra 858, 1942 Koa Isshin. Thanks @BANGBANGSAN! On this eBay sale:

Well that throws it all in a tailspin. I only have 1 Kunyoshi on file and he didn't use that "yoshi": The JSI list has 2 Kuniyoshi on file, and I don't see either in Sesko's list: Ono Kuniyoshi Haga Kuniyoshi

Date side:

Thanks for the update, Brian. Great to hear you are making progress on healing. As to our behavior - You've trained us well!!! You get all the credit.

Thanks John! Wow, that Russian site has quite a collection! Here's another kaigunto with mon on THIS PAGE.

Adding photo and @Nobody's translation "The red kanji on the tsuka are 海軍省 (Kaigun-sho - the Naval Department)."

Rats. Thanks for checking!

Yes, the Japanese only offset the machi in Type 95 NCO blades. Offset machi in officer blades is seen only in Chinese blades. Sure would still like to see close-ups of the fittings.

The backstrap is of a police superintendant. I don't see the pattern sword you have in the reference books, though. Dawson said there was a tremendous amount of variation in swords of that early era, so yours doesn't surprise me. Looks custom. From Dawson:

Dawson (working from memory) mentioned that there was another one of these out there. I've found it on this Russian Origami-token.ru site. Same anchor on the backstrap, no leather cover, and no anchor on the drag. Blade is slightly different, in the shape of the nakago jiri, and the start point of the bohi. Oh, and the rayskin is black on this one vs the white on the one I have. Mine:

Here's another, Neil, and it comes with the Iiada latch, too. Found on this Russian Origami-token.ru site.

Here's a nice one on this Origami-token.ru site (russian)

John, what shop? How do you identify it? I don't see any logo.

Wow, they didn't even acid etch a hamon: Well, at least we're documenting the celluloid dirks!

Hoanh, I don't think I have your star stamped blade in my files. Any chance of getting photos?

Chris, Is your Hisakuni star stamped? I don't have any of his on file. If it is, could you post photos for me?

Sweet! You guys pinned it down - and Thomas, that province explains a lot! So, this one is Arai Akiyuki, from Musahi province. Done!

It would still be good to close shots of the fittings.

@mecox Mal, any insights?

This January 1944 star-stamped Akiyuki was found on this Japanesesword.com page. He's listed it as saying "Musashi Kuni Akiyuki". The JSI site lists 2 RJT Akiyuki - Kurihara and Arai. Is "Musashi" a good translation? If so, does anyone know if he is Kurihara or Arai? Markus only lists Kurihara. No obvious link to "Musashi Kuni". Thanks Guys!

Daniel, Is this blade star stamped? If so, could you post photos of both side of the nakago, please? Edit: found it on this post, and it's not star-stamped, unless I just don't see it. Akitomo is listed as RJT, so just looking for more stamped blades.

You had it right at the beginning - it's a seal of approval, so to speak, that the smith is approved by the Shogunate.

Photo turned right-side up: Hi James! Welcome to NMB. It would help to see a photo of the whole nakago (tang), both sides, and some close shots of the handle (tsuka) and handguard (tsuba) to say whether this is a legit WWII Type 98 officer sword. Others will check the translation and address the stains. The one time I had a blade polished, I did learn that there are levels of polish that are cheaper than a full polish that probably would clean your blade up. Don't try to sand or buff the blade as it will really mess it up.