BANGBANGSAN

Bruce Thanks for the link. It is possible that the “特” mark without a circle on the sword does not signify “failure to pass the ordinary inspection but was nonetheless accepted for special reasons.” In the case of RJT swords, a blade that failed inspection would not have received the star stamp. It should also be noted that this type of gunto was not government-issued to officers, unlike the Type 95 and certain other weapons; rather, officers were required to purchase them at their own expense. Could the “特” mark indicate“特别訂單” (special order), perhaps connected with the 陸軍偕行社（Rikugun Kaikosha）/Army officer club or a similar institution?

Another fake one with close ser#

The PLA captured a large number of Type 32 and Type 95 swords and reissued them to their cavalry units. This is one of them. The slogan on the hanger is in Chinese. While the meaning would be understood in Japanese, this specific phrase is not commonly used in Japanese. Below are some photos of PLA cavalry using the Type 95.

Turn it upsids down and read from left to right This is a commonly used slogan by the PLA: 提高警惕 保卫祖国 “Enhance vigilance, defend the motherland.”

Take a look at this one — they are very similar.

The sword shops with the character "Matsu" in their names that I could find include 松山軍刀製作所（Matsuyama Gunto Seisakusho (Shinbashi, Shiba Ward, Tokyo City),松本元洋堂 Matsumoto Motoyodo (Shibuya, Tokyo), and 松川屋刀劍店 Matsukawaya Token Shop (松代町 Matsushiro Town, Nagano Prefecture), but none of them are located in 新潟县 NiigataPrefecture. The 山上 Yamagami brothers live in Niigata Prefecture. In Niigata, there is a store that sells gunto fittings called 下野軍裝店 "Shimono Military Store," located in 村松町 Muramatsu Town. It is unclear whether any of the above sword shops with "Matsu" in their names are related to the 松 mark.

More

Recently, a seller based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, has appeared on eBay. Most of the swords listed by this seller feature genuine fittings but blades with Ge mei. I suspect that more swords like these will appear in the future. Below are some photos for your reference.

The kanji “柄平” and “柄順” found on the handle may indicate the intended wrapping method or style of the tsuka.

Unfortunately, I do not have additional photos. The ito wrap appears to have been painted in the style of a Type 3, and there are no visible traces of the カケス mark. It seems unlikely that it is from the same maker.

〇四八二 柄平 like on this one

The blade for officers made from an Army Arsenal There are two kinds of blades for officers of directly or supervisor manufacture on an army arsenal. In the public, the common name was carried out to "Zōhei-tō. Forging sword 1. Forging sword in which swordsmith under exclusive contract carried out sword making by sword workshop of each 　arsenal (A swod-tang has a swordsmith Mei and an arsenal trademark stamp) 　Osaka Arsenal: Gassan Sadakatsu, Masakiyo, Kokura Arsenal: Hakuryushi Tadataka, Tairano Sadashige, and Kanenobu, 　Arsenal: Yoshihira others. http://ohmura-study.net/206.html

Bruce You may have come across the relevant information on the Omura website — perhaps you just didn’t happen to notice it at the time. 各工廠 (造兵廠) 鍛練所で専属嘱託刀匠に依り作刀された鍛錬刀 (茎に刀匠銘と造兵廠標章刻印) 　　東京砲兵工廠: 横山祐包・森岡政吉、東京第一陸軍造兵廠: 吉原宣威 (昭廣・國家同人)、大阪工廠(造兵廠): 月山貞勝・貞一 　　(二代) ・貞重・正清、小倉工廠(造兵廠): 白龍子忠孝・平貞重・兼延、　旧兵器廠　善平　他

No star stamp.

Michael I have a Zoheito also from the Kokura Army Arsenal, which likewise does not have a star mark, but it was made a month later than yours.