MeijiVet_88

Thanks for your observations and reminders. I’m embarrassed I made this mistake. I knew better and had references for the identified ones. I let myself get caught up in false hope of a new variant. Lesson learned. I’ll be better prepared next time. Thank you all again for your time on this one.

Just received this item in hand. Now that I have it in hand, I’d appreciate some opinions from those with more experience. The blade appears to be a low-quality steel alloy with only a light magnetic pull. The sword overall shows age, use, and the same old wood/mildew smell I’ve encountered on other wartime guntō. The hand-wrap also appears lightly used rather than recently replaced. The field cover appears newer, but when I began removing some stitching above the ashi it frayed quickly, so I stopped to avoid damaging it. Beneath the cover, the saya appears worn with a dark charcoal-colored lacquer over what looks to be an older reddish wood. Both seem strongly aged, with scratches, dents, and chips present throughout what I can observe under the cover. The fuchi also appears to have a poorly struck inspection mark consisting of a large circle with a medium circle and smaller circle inside it. In hand, it immediately reminded me of the Nagoya Army Arsenal mark, although it is difficult to capture clearly in photos and much more apparent in person. I’d be interested in hearing whether others see the same thing or if I’m misidentifying it. Given the possibility of an island-made or Indonesian-associated origin, could a local wood such as Merbau have been used for the saya? I’m not suggesting an identification, only exploring possibilities based on the wood’s appearance and color. Other than those observations, I’ll let the photos do the talking and would appreciate any insights.

Wow, wow, wow! This is fun to research together. Thank you all for the continued research and discussion on this piece. I referenced Fuller’s and Dawson’s books before purchasing it, and it appeared to be consistent with the few known occupation variants, though I wasn’t, and I’m still not entirely certain. This bit about the Tsuba that's really good to understand. I knew about the flower type for civilian Guntō but not the tree. Once it arrives from Japan, I’ll be happy to provide additional photographs; no issues there. For the price of it plus shipping, it was pocket change. I actually felt it was a worthwhile gamble even if it ultimately turns out not to be genuine.

Thank you both. No, it was just pocket change. Darn, I’ll try to do better next time. I thought maybe an occupation piece. Oh well.

Hey @Bruce Pennington and others. I picked up another tonight. I was wanting some thoughts on it. The seller claimed it was a reproduction. I wasn’t sure if it was a known variant. It appears to be a late war or emergency issue variant. Thanks in advance to all for your thoughts on this one.

I may be going out on a limb here, but it appears plausible that this is a custom or semi-custom piece originating from the Kokura plant, combining features seen in both the page 68 variant and the page 244 variant. Thank you all for the insights and for pointing me back to Dawson’s book. I went back and flipped through the pages and must have missed the specific backstrap reference earlier, so I appreciate it being highlighted. The nakago appears to run nearly the full length of the handle at roughly six inches. The blade’s cutting length measures approximately thirty to thirty one and one third inches overall. I have a couple of additional photos that may offer further clarity as well. It also appears that the upper scabbard throat bears a Kokura First Arsenal stamp, matching the stamp on the blade’s ricasso. It is difficult to capture clearly in photos, but there are indications that an arched or circular symbol once existed on the ricasso and was later ground away, based on the remaining indentations and grinding marks. Notably, both the ground-away symbol and the arsenal stamp are on the opposite side of the ricasso from the serialized area, which suggests a deliberate alteration rather than incidental wear. Additionally, the scabbard throat seems to incorporate a European-style foil pressure locking system. This mechanism holds the blade securely in place, with no wiggle, rattle, or play, though it is admittedly hard to photograph in detail. For now, these are the best photos I can offer. I can share additional images later if requested.

Here are more pictures. Additionally, in handling, the piece feels heavy, but very well balanced. It is noticeably heavier than any other Kyū Guntō I own or have handled, with a distinctly overbuilt quality rather than crude weight. The mass feels deliberate and structural, again far more in line with European military swords of the same period than with typical Japanese examples.

I wanted to add a quick observation. This evening I picked up another piece closely related to this one, though with some notable differences. The overall construction is far more robust than what you typically see in standard Japanese production of the period. In hand, the quality, balance, and weight align much more closely with my contemporary German examples than with usual Japanese arsenal work. What makes it especially interesting is that it’s arsenal marked on both the blade and the scabbard and, oddly enough, even the scabbard boot carries a Kokura First Arsenal mark. That level of marking consistency isn’t something you encounter every day. The scabbard itself is serialed 128612, while the ricasso is marked 83060. Notably, it bears a strong resemblance to the example shown in Kyū Guntō mountings on page 68 of Swords of Imperial Japan 1868–1945. That comparison was one of the first things that raised my eyebrow. I also believe the scabbard incorporates a German or Austrian-style internal locking pressure spring to retain the blade. That mechanism is far more commonly encountered in Prussian, German, and Austrian European swords than in standard Japanese patterns, and its presence here is difficult to ignore. Another point worth noting is that everything is exceptionally tight. There are no wiggles, wobbles, or clinks of any kind. The fit and finish feel unmistakably European in character, very much in line with my Prussian, German, and Austrian pieces. My working theory is that this may be a German-contracted or German-influenced piece produced for Japanese use. The design language, metallurgy, and overall feel simply don’t read as standard domestic Japanese manufacture. I’m very open to additional insights. If anyone has documentation, comparable examples, or a different interpretation, I’d genuinely welcome the discussion. Pieces like this tend to tell their story slowly, and I enjoy letting the evidence do the talking.

Hi there @Stegel, who currently owns this 2nd from the top, “Prototype” or what seems to be a Bakelite-handled variant with the top latch? I’m curious about obtaining more pictures of it for my references. I haven’t seen this version in Fuller’s or Dawson’s books. But I’ve seen it throughout the years through a listing or two in 25 years, and here as well. Thank you.

Hi there all, I’m looking for a Type 95 NCO Gunto in the 30 - 150K blade serial range, black iron Tsuba in the 3. - 4MM size range, copper back latch, and copper Fuchi with preferably matching serial of the scabbard and blade, but honestly, it doesn’t need to match. Other stamped variants in the above configuration / specifications I’d be happy to consider: Gifu, Koban, or Suya. Price point I’m looking at: $ 500 - $1500. Thank you all in advance for reading my post, and I look forward to seeing possibilities and making new acquaintances. The below attached pics are not mine; they are pulled from this forum and Google Images of an example of what I’m searching for. Thank you.

Hey everyone, I’ve thoroughly reviewed the entire thread and a few others, but I couldn’t find any information about green handle type 95s. Initially, I thought only the Kobe company produced green handles, but now I’ve discovered they’re also available on others made by other manufacturers. Based on this, I assume all companies could produce green or brown handles, as well as various colors on the scabbards, as has been repeatedly mentioned in the scabbard discussions per regulations. I’ve also searched Jim Dawson’s and Richard Fuller’s books, but I couldn’t find any clear information on this topic. Can someone shed some light on this for me? I’ve been collecting these type 95s for 23 years, and I still don’t know the answer. I know someone here has it. Thanks for all your time and attention!

Here is another item for discussion in this forum. This item is currently listed on the Live auctioneers page. The question still lingers in my mind: if these were souvenirs sold at the PX after the war in Japan? On some of them, it is challenging to believe that they were merely souvenirs. https://www.liveauct...-sword-w-signed-tang

Did this ever sell? If not I’ll take it.

They’re not the same seller. My personal experiences with them are as follows: For the past 23 years, I have been acquainted with Showa22. While I have always maintained a cordial relationship with him, I must acknowledge that his information is not always accurate or reliable. He often presents misleading information, despite his generally good intentions. In my experience, Jewlery&Coin has consistently been challenging to engage with, communicate about products, or inquire about. Additionally, Jewlery&Coin has consistently been priced substantially above the fair market value of the products they sell.