robinalexander

Brian I appreciate that you don't have better pics available yet and as you know that always makes it difficult. For what MO is worth, based on what can be seen so far ..... 1. something not right with that tsuka ......see picture attached ..lack of detail on kabutogane .....looks like badly cast copy. 2. as you point out, that bohi is really bad, too thick and starts and ends poorly. 3. the saya throat looks unusually 'heavy' and lacking basic shape for an early 95 ... pic of one of mine attached for reference? Look forward to seeing pics of blade number/stamps and also saya throat. That could change my initial opinion (but unlikely) If your friend hasn't purchased it yet, I would definitely hold off until all relevant pictures produced. Rob

Nice one @dido I always wanted one for the scotch thistles (paddocks of them). None of mine are going that way or getting swung around the garage! Astute purchase

Hi Charles, I'm a bit confused trying to work out which part of which sword is which. The pics and 'flow' aren't really clear to me. As a general comment I'm not liking what I see so far and I wonder if that is why you havent had a response on this. What are the terms of the "offer" ...does he want money for them? If i was new (newer than I am) to the sword collecting thing, I wouldn't start with these. Don't mean to be harsh.

Agree with Oli above....from the latest pics the tsuba is not pierced, you have a broken chuso clip, an 'out of polish' used blade albeit with an attractive hamon IMO. But it is an authentic WW2 Type 98. So without exposing the nakago, I think the bottom end of your estimate would apply. To pay more would increase the gamble and more often than not, they just don't pay off.

Very nice Sam. Your next challenge replacement saya inserts for 95's. Time aside, you could become a sought after craftsman

Not referring to the cover,but the civilian saya underneath.

Hi George, My two bobs worth. 1. Blue saya? ....to me it does look blue and if that is the case it could simply be a civilian wooden saya that was enlisted to military service. The blade/habaki/saya are made for each other so throwing a leather combat cover on it makes it regulation. Note halfway down the saya (under the leather) you see flat semegane which is the same as the flat ashi up top. All civilian under a leather combat cover.....nothing wrong with that although its often associated with late war. The leather has shrunk over time, again normal and now exposes the original colour of the saya...just my thoughts. 2. Bent seppa ....not sure if that bent seppa is leather or metal but in any event, it appears bent due to the broken chuso clip. No uncommon to have a broken clip due to mishandling post war. If you can find the correct length size, it will cost around $120 AUD. As Ron said above, leather seppa are not uncommon to tighten up the mounts. The interesting thing about this piece is that it has a central chuso button/clip (normally found on Type 94 earlier mounts) BUT it also has a combat cover with a (genuine) press stud that would accommodate a leather retaining strap that would go through the tsuba. I don't know why it would have both (others can speculate on that). Maybe better pics from top and bottom of tsuba. By the way, from the pics, the tsuba looks pierced which is also indicative of Type 94 mounts. 3. Traditionally made? ... I am the worst to determine that unless it hits me in the face, but I will say ....v/nice hamon! Blade just looks as if it could be heavy, wonder how long that is(?) ... but all round ....nice! Rob

Hello Winston, As Brian indicated, it is a bad copy of a Japanese Army (IJA) NCO's sword. Nothing to be gained by removing the handle (tsuka) on this or any other authentic NCO sword...there is nothing under there to see. A genuine Type 98 (Officers sword) of course may be a different matter. A bit more info on NCO swords (and so much more) can be found here ...... http://ohmura-study.net/957.html

Mya IMO your good intentions are bridled by BS. This is sad for well meaning and intentioned people such as yourself. It's the pieces that will suffer the most.

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What Piers said above. That's a must.

@Stegel

Sounds like the best sales pitch (hook) I've heard for a while. The proof may lie in 'the huge discount" offer for another piece that is so overpriced a buyer may think they are getting a good deal.

Kyu saya....wow!

Alex, looks like a genuine Type 98 (probably not Type 94) officers sword with leather combat cover and nice pierced tsuba. More pics of tsuba/seppa/chuso button would be good. I'm not sure about the missing screw in the 'metal' saya (scabbard) you can see in the first picture. Many saya with covers are wooden but this may be a metal 'IJA regulation' saya but not sure if this was meant to hold a Koiguchi and its missing ??? Need more pics from different angles (pls). Stephen's point above is a good one. Just save the pictures to your 'gallery' and then use your draw/crop feature to remove the black top/bottom and then post the edited pics. Most phones have these features. Look for to clear pics of the blade and both sides of the nakago and pls orient pics so the end of the nakago is facing down as you look at it.

Well said Chris.

For posterity...

HI Bruce, It really would be good to see more clear pics of the tsuka, saya, kissaki and tsuba/seppa set-up (from an angle). I know that's probably not possible which is a shame because it allows for increased speculation and less real observation/comment. I am really no expert in comparison to others mentioned and bohi on 95's have always confused me somewhat but I would not buy it. I really dont like the position and newish 'scratchiness' of the blade stamp...or the crispness and spacing of the blade number (is that number too low?). Also dont like the fuchi stamps or the fuchi itself for that matter. The tsuka screw does look good...but on what can be seen so far, I would still leave it in the shop.

Hello Ryan, No comment on what I can see of the wakizashi. Probably a lot more to say on the katana. IMO the fittings are not good. Who would rebind the tsuka and leave the same in that condition. The tsuba just dosnt look genuine, nor does the kabutogane/sarute. I'm sorry but I can't say anything nice about any of the fittings. From the couple of pics the blade may be a different story but you will need to post clearer pics of the actual blade and kissaki (tip) to assist others.

Spot on Bruce. It's a Type 30 Arisaka bayonet frog. By the look of the wear on the buckle strap, it has been on the ashi ring for a while. One in slightly better condition in second pic.

John it would a very rare thing to find makers/owners marks on 95 inserts. I would venture to say it just didn't happen, unlike the odd 94/97/98's insert. The damage appears to have been caused by salt water immersion and if that is correct, my guess is that the soft timber inserts will be in pieces ..... at best.

Sure do Stephen ...here are a couple.

Well I like what Stephen said (above all other posts). Martin, you asked can this be saved......well hell yeah! Ok, it might have come from the bottom of Yokohama Harbour but, I believe it's a genuine Type 95, aluminium tsuka and probably iron tsuba [maybe earlier brass tsuba?]. The numbers are correct and at the end of the day the Chinese...not even the Indians (not the wild west kind) would put out such an item. And it's unlikely a chinese repro would find itself in this predicament. What's its story? It must have one. As far as I am concerned, this is a piece of history, regardless of condition. Yes, its not near a valuable as a 'normally used' 95 but it has had a life and it should still have a life from now on. In this case its about WW2 history and memorabilia, its not about nihonto. Please don't try and "do it up" or replace parts. It's just not worth it but more importantly, you would be destroying the soul of this sword. It is what it is, so preserve it by all means but , don't try to refurbish it. I would be happy to own it. Rob

Nice blade Ron.... I have one of those......its odd ........I have a number of 'clasped hand' sarutes and often wondered about this one ...back to topic.

Ok, got it Piers. But I liked the accompanying symbolism of herons all the same. Nice. What did herons symbolize in Japanese art? In Japanese culture, herons are valued for being birds who can move across three elements, making them divine creatures. They are most prevalent in woodblock prints, drawing upon the “kacho-e” technique.