robinalexander

Hello Nazar, Good picture.....this 'string binding' of sayas has been mentioned before, maybe on the leather combat cover thread? I believe many of those seen are period, in fact I have a copper 95 with the tell tale makings of old (long gone) string binding. Of course, both metal and wooden sayas had leather covers in the combat environment but what happened if you were transferred without the benefit of a leather cover or yours simply rotted off in the tropics.....string? My belief is that it may have been done to both camouflage and also, possibly more importantly, to reduce any noise occurring from the steel saya hitting the many other metal military objects carried. Sound carries! Rob

Hi Joe, as you are new to this I just wanted to emphasise, or expand upon, a couple of points already made above.. I believe they are very important. 1. CLEANING ....dont clean too hard...IMO most buyers/collectors value and appreciate the patina that you find on every part of a sword like this. So as it's > 80 years old please leave that patina intact. Honestly, you do not want to go and polish the copper tsuka (handle) or any other part of a sword that may well have been through China and WW2. Just gently clean to remove dirt and dust then super light oil and that's it. 2. DISASSEMBLY ... as mentioned, please don't do it. TYPE 95's such as this were not designed or meant to be disassembled for cleaning or anything else. Unlike Officers swords (Types 94, 97 & 98) that were actually made to be taken apart. As Sam said there is nothing on the tang under the tsuka so it's far better to leave it together....nice and tight. I also would be interested in seeing clear pics of the number on the saya (scabbard) throat....if its matching,that's a plus and it would make it an even better example. You have got something quite special there...take care of it. Rob

Perry, is it for a Type 94 Army Shin-Gunto or Type 97 Navy Kai-Gunto?

John, is it possible there are different grades of gold thread? Maybe early ones were purer and later ones had other metals mixed (even slightly) therefore opening them to corrosion in 'salt air' type environments. Just about everything else in the Japanese war production changed over the war years as money got tight and resources started to dry up. Type 95's for example or even the length and width of tassels. Just a thought.

Nice find Bruce... another picture from a different angle your auction 'find' ...nice sword!

Hi Andrew, The Kai Gunto looks good from the little that's shown. Sword aside, I am no expert re translation or surrender tags for that matter.... I have only one but i have seen many. I also know what I would believe and buy and this 'surrender tag' is not it. To be honest I would be making observations and asking lots of questions of the seller. IMO this tag is just not >80 years old. The age of the material (Calico?) is so wrong as is the new twine and fresh texta kanji. Maybe it's a copy of the original that fell apart or was lost? But, considering the above and with the anomaly of the rank IJN vs IJA, I would question both the authenticity of the 'tag' and any supposed relationship with the sword. For me, what ever is written on the tag is academic. Don't mean to be negative ....just my opinion. All the best. Rob

Calabrese (Hokke) above, hit the nail on the head.

It's because we're down under Clive

Looks nice to my eyes Yonie, looking forward to more clear pictures.

Copyright protects the interests of the very people who bring you such valuable information. Let your conscience your guide.

Sri Forrest, I fully agree with Hamish's 'appraisal'

thanks Zack...appreciate your openness and honesty. My unsolicited advice? If your friend has asked you to sell it then do everything possible to make contact with the person who bought the tsuka etc and do a deal (this seems to be the universal term these days ) As I see it, what you are selling now is really not worth much. A collector won't be interested unless they have all the missing parts (UNLIKELY) and even then, its mismatched. A sword enthusiast is better buying something recently made and cheap, at least the bits would have been made together and it will cut (unlike a Type 95 blade). The person who bought the tsuka etc would be crazy not to pay a good price for the matching blade etc given they can put it all back together (or find someone who can/NMB will help there) and it will be worth a squillion more than it is now in two houses with two different people. and....you would be doing the collecting world a big favour! Rob

@CrosshairOmega Hello Zack, the OP and following member comments certainly are of interest to many on this site. Probably because we all have fundamental interest in the continuing care and preservation of all Japanese swords. And for me and many others Type 95's hold a special place. Clearly, you are free to advertise as you have, and of course you are under no obligation to provide further information or comment. That's up to you, but I for one would really like to know what happened to this sword in its recent history in the context of the above. Every pancake has two sides. Regards Rob

Masa-san is ok

Take this opportunity to thank those people [Bruce, Marcin, John C and Brian & so many others] who freely and tirelessly give their time and expertise to assist others. I know you don't do it for the recognition or the thanks but sometimes and quick 'thanks' or even acknowledgment is nice.

I'm not really holding my breath Lex. Remove the Tsuka if you can and post a couple of pics of the nakago (under the handle). First remove the little Mekugi (peg) ...just ask if you need help.

Adam. despite the mismatched numbers (not uncommon its a very nice example.

Too many points for me to list right now (big day ahead).....just search nmb website for 'fake 95'. have a squiz at this entire thread ...

Ouch Charles but welcome anyway. Sri to be bringer of bad tidings but it's a nasty fake..very common and more recently made in China. You can consider it 'identified'. Copy of a Type 95 IJA NCO sword. Rob

Wow ...looks like a very nice example Chris, thanks. I can never understand why people have to 'polish' the saya throat to see the number a little better....thus number for instance would have been perfectly readable without the extra 'work'.

This might help Todd...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFT5OMQr2vw

Hi Ben, before you do anything, have a squiz at this. http://japaneseswordindex.com/care.htm Its important if you have never handled one before.

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Yes that fits....thankyou Koichi-san.