Bruce Pennington

Marilyn, Thank you for sharing a bit of your father‘s story and the story of the sword. Many of us don’t just collect swords, it matters to us the people they served and the stories behind them when those can be told. These things to me, represent real people in real lives. Thank you for sharing some of yours again. You’re welcome to hang around here as often as you like and read the various conversations that go on.

Buy “asymmetrical“ are you talking about the fact that one is lower on the handle on one side and higher on the handle on the other? If you are, that is how they are all made. That is perfectly normal.

Hope I'm not duplicating efforts, but this is the latest of his newsletters, JULY, 1971 Volume IV, No. 7. Something I found interesting: "Leon says " On page 9 below the section showing the family tree for the Awataguchi Tadatsuna school, there is a comment saying that a famous sword by Ikkanshi Tadatsuna was used to assassinate the corrupt official Tanuma. Abert says that Tanuma forced the Honami appraisers to write false appraisals or orikami for swords. I had read about the Tanuma corruption before, but had never heard about false or worthless orikami by the Honami."" Albert Yamanaka Swordsmith Article.pdf

Sure, John, certainly possible.

Is it Yoshi 義?

Thanks again, Ray! Another good one.

@Kotetsu1959 Thanks Roy! That is only the 4th "HO" series blade I have seen. I appreciate that. Is this yours? If so, could we get a shot or two of the overall blade and fittings?

It's a fabulous document, Sam. Thank you for doing this. I've already had the need to reference it, in a discussion about a guy's 95 on another forum! It's right in there with my Fuller and Dawson references.

Linking Rob's post here:

wow. Above and beyond for the faker world! He must have won First Seat in the 2025 World Sword Faker Exhibition.

I don't follow the modern smiths, but maybe it's a marketing effort? Might not be getting much business, so put the blade out there to catch the eye of the WWII crowd?

Good one, Nazar! Stamped 272 was likely a wartime stamp. The painted "21" is the souvenir number with matching 21 stamped on fittings. I noticed the kabutogane is army finish rather than gold gilded, so likely left-over war parts.

OOOPS! Ha!

Not sure what you mean, can you explain?

Wow, a 1,000 year old sword in Army mounts!

Yes, that one is one of the mixed souvenirs with actual Army tsuba/seppa. But it's got the stereo-typical icky color ito and black cloth for same'; plus the Navy stamped stainless blade with the 2-digit painted number. I think it was of the first-run production souvenirs using some left over wartime parts.

@Lawrence_Lee requested the latest version of the Mantetsu Survey chart. All are welcome to it. Over 445 blades now! See attached. kiipu-mantetsu serial numbers (rev1).docx

Excellent information gentlemen thank you. I have to apologize, in all of the information flowing. I totally missed this part of the biography of Masamori!!! I completely understand now! Thanks for working that out with me. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I thought we had some single and double digit coppers observed. Or, are you saying the earliest observed set of aligned machi were on 857?

Mal must be busy, or has nothing on these guys. Oh MAL, where ARE you *sing-song sounding*? @mecox

Just curious, Thomas, have you seen a blade with this one?

Thanks @oli. I just like to understand things. I wish I had recorded the source of the one Masamori kokuin I have on file. I've been unsuccessful in finding it again. So, I don't know if it was on an 1800s blade or a WWII blade. Either way, it seems quite unexpected to see two smiths, who happen to have Hosokawa in their real names, just coincidentally creating a kokuin based of the same name. In the world of kokuin use, it wasn't a common practice in the first place. So to have 2 guys living in different parts of the country by chance creating the same kokuin is just wild. But, it is what it is. Thanks for putting up with my questions, guys! Enjoying it all.

Jaco, There were 3 kinds of swords during WWII that used that shape tsuba - Army contingency model (Type 3), Navy kaigunto (Type 97), and the post war souvenir made by the Tenshozan factory. Army NCO Type 95 had one, too, but it would have side hole for the locking latch. Left to right: Kaigunto, Souvenir, Army Type 95 NCO (didn't think to add the Type 3 when I made this photo) If you would like to find out is to measure the thickness. Souvenir tsuba are noticeably thinner at 3.64mm compared to 5.3 for kaigunto. Yours could be either, but finding 1 small seppa with it starts leaning toward the souvenir as they came with only 1 seppa. Could be simple coincidence, though, if your tsuba is thicker. It's peculiar to see the assembly number stamped so close to the edge. They are usually closer to the center to be hidden by the seppa. This may point more to the navy kaigunto, as they had a dai-seppa that was quite large and might have covered that number. Cool find!

Hi Gerry, Yes, it is a good example of a type 95 NCO sword.

Here's a new one to me - Seppa made with loop for leather retention strap. Found on this Wehrmacht-awards thread. That's the only shot of it, but you can see it here.