robinalexander

2nd character Fuji or To or Do or Mura Therefore Kafuji Kato, Kado or maybe Kamura ?? Ill look at the third, it may provide a clue to the second.

Well I do like a mystery Got first character Ka The next must be at least 18 strokes!! Workin on it

Thanks Piers and Uwe, Always appreciate your responses. I will have to take your answers (Japanese figures) to Markus' kanji compendium though in order to arrive at a name in english. On that point, I often see your responses to translation requests are still in kanji and I wonder why that is....rather than just saying, or better still, adding a name like Nagamitsu? I dont wish to appear ungrateful as I am not 😊 ...just a question. Tks again Rob

Sorry guys...I should know better And apologies for indistinct pic...I didnt take that one.

This is a little tricky.....

The 'right up' (auction house in Rome GA USA) on this particular fake is a little scary. Looks like one bidder has committed $810 US.....boy are they going to be disappointed! "An excellent example of a World War II Type 95 Japanese Army NCO sword that was obviously carried in the field of combat operations." World War II Japanese NCO Katana Shin-Gunto Sword (#0384) on Mar 27, 2022 | Connoisseur Auctions in GA (liveauctioneers.com)

Have a hot link re 56th Brigade (Sakaguchi) and 2 Kure SNLF which sheds more light 'coincidence' on the previous link but will PM you as I don't want to digress too much from the original link.

The plans drawn up on 16 November 1941, and subsequently signed by the Dutch East India Unit and the commanders of the Navy, specified that the landing on the island of Tarakan would take place on the heavily fortified front on both banks of the Karungan River. Staff officer Yano Tsuneo of the Sakaguchi Division had insisted at the time that he wanted to carry out the operation in a modified manner, regardless of the original plan. When there were no objections, as soon as the department arrived in Palau, he began training to cross the jungle. [1] From German Wiki de.wikipedia Rob

So John are you thinking YANO Tsuneo or Lt Col YANO Minoru?

Nothing to see in tang under the handle Paul so best leave it as is. You may, or may not, see a very small 'W' stamp but nothing else. Never signed like most officer blades are. Its sometimes the case that it will just not go back together as tight as it is now and you could just damage screw in the process There is mention of the 'W' stamp on 95's in Bruce's great reference download .... Stamps of the Japanese Sword booklet Its probably fair to say that Type 95's are not meant to be disassembled like Type 94, 97cand 98 officer swords. Rob

Matt, A couple of pics from my TERUHIDE Ishido, for your interest. Rob

Yep I agree it all looks authentic Paul. Good article by Steve on 95's just in case you missed it on the NMB. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/31314-Japanese-type-95-sword-for-ncos/ Rob

What Chris said 🖒

Yes thanks Ian. Keep going. I grappled with the enormity of the auction, reviewed/researched as much as possible, was not aggressive enough on what I liked, bid on a couple including the first copper 95 but lost on that and some other 94's and 98's I should have gone higher on. Enjoying you sharing your knowledge and experience. Rob

Good pics and quick response Justin. I'm no expert on mekugi pegs but I just get the feeling that your 'peg' is poorly made and maybe not even designed to be removed. I hope not but the last picture shows either that it is poorly made (most likely in my mind) or someone has had a real go at it trying to remove it. Maybe a pre-war Wak with a post war refit/makeover? Rob

Justin, Looks vaguely like a larger (free standing) sarute barrel from a 94. Is it possible to post a couple of clearer and closer pics of each side of the 'pin' (mekugi)? It might just give someone a better clue. Rob

I tuned in to the auction last night and was soooo surprised at the high prices for many items. However there were many nice pieces. The prices paid for 95's were embarrassingly high particularly when you include commission and possibly postage. Interestingly, the coppers were probably more down to earth than the later types. If anyone is interested, I have recorded about 90% of the sold prices so if you need to know, just ask on the forum or by PM if you wish and I will be happy to advise of sold price for any particular Lot recorded (it was public info last night so it should be public info today ) Rob

I think your right on the mark Ernie. Just did a quick question search on google as to what the colour yellow means in Japan. Googles answer...... courage 2005/1/27 21:33. I find that fascinating, that in Japan the color yellow is one of courage. Here in America, it is the exact opposite. Yellow is considered the color of cowardice; indeed, to "show a yellow streak up the back" or to be "yellow bellied" or even just to be "yellow" is to be insultingly termed a coward.25 Jan 2005 https://www.Japan-guide.com › forum Meaning of yellow? - Japan-guide.com forum

And and another from Kyle @kyushukairu on a 2018 thread

This RS was purchased from a board member and had a red tassel. (Nobumitsu March 1945). It looks exactly like a chinese tassel that you could buy now on Ebay. Its not silk. Have tried to find out its origin but no response from original owner. It has been on there a while by the look of it but definately no way it is IJA. Belived to have come from Saipan area bought back by a Marine (hi Stephen). Good story anyway. At this point it will be left on the sword because thats the way it came.....any future owner can decide differently if they wish. Rob

Thanks Bruce just dont want to hijack your yelllow thread. The tassel you are remembering is an unkown orange/red made of silk, and what sets it apart from a sword bag tassel or a jitte tassel or even an IJA bugle tassel are the two slide knots which are clearly part of the oackage and well made. Also the evidence of previously being fixed to something like a sarute. Still a mystery I'm afraid I bought it as part if a job lot of various IJA rank tassels, IJN tassels and sword hangers...all from a bona-fide lifetime collector (now deceased- RIP). Now..... the red one I was referring to above, I will post separately below.

Alas, I only have a red one on a RS (Type 3)...I'll wait for a 'red' thread.

Not sure if its my eyes but the Mune looks flat (Hira mune)? If so, its another reason it is not genuine, should be pointed (Iori mune). In any case I wouldn't buy it.

Nice work Bob...that's a noticeable improvement that wont adversely effect the blade at all. I can certainly see the old cosmoline now! You may be able to squeeze a little more 'glow' out of it if you keep going but that's up to you. Rob

Ok Bob....but please dont try the 'oil and bronze brush' on the 98