Kiipu

United States. United States Naval Technical Mission to Japan. Ships and Related Targets: Japanese Submarine Operations. Index No. S-17. 04 February 1946. 35mm Microfilm. Paid the Library of Congress to microfilm S-17 back in the late 1980s or early 1990s. US$30. Summary Hampered by shortages of all kinds, assigned to a minor role with its forces dispersed in a losing war against a well-equipped enemy, the Japanese submarine force should be given credit for effort. However, in addition to its handicaps, there were several shortcomings of its own which prevented a creditable performance. Among these shortcomings of its own which prevented a creditable performance. Among these shortcomings were vacillating policies in building, false economy in withholding submarines for future use, failure to correct known mistakes, confusion of tactical command, poor communications, and a lack of individual caliber in many of the commanding officers. Briefly, in no particular could it be said that the Japanese submarine force excelled, while examples are many of its deficiency in strategical, tactical, research and personnel performance.

United States. Library of Congress. Japanese Studies on Manchuria. Microfilm Roll 1. 35mm, footage 108, exposures 1464. Roll 1 has volumes 1 to 7 on it. Currently sales for $100 plus shipping but I ordered this before the increase. US$60 including shipping. Volume 1 Japanese Operational Planning against the USSR (1932–1945): Plans and Preparations. Volume 2 Imperial Japanese Army in Manchuria (1894–1945): Historical Summary. Volume 3 Strategic Study On Manchuria Military Topography and Geography: Terrain Study (4 parts). Volume 4 Air Operations (1931–1945): Plans and Preparations. Volume 5 Infantry Operations. Volume 6 Armor Operations. Volume 7 Supporting Arms and Services (2 parts).

United States. Library of Congress. Japanese Monographs. Rolls 7, 8, 12, 13, 14. There is a guide to these reports entitled Guide to Japanese Monographs and Japanese Studies on Manchuria, 1945-1960. It can be seen via the link below. Guide to Japanese Monographs, 1945-1960 Roll 7: JOMS 83-100. Roll 8: JOMS 101-119. Roll 12: JOMS 154-164. Roll 13: JOMS 165-178. Roll 14: JOMS 179-185.

United States. United States Naval History Division. Operational Archives. Bulletins of the Intelligence Center, Pacific Ocean Area; Joint Intelligence Center, Pacific Ocean Area; and the Commander in Chief Pacific and Pacific Ocean Area, 1942–1946. Microfilm Publication 3. Washington, D.C.: USNHD, 1976. Microfilm roll JP-26. See PDF attachment for the list of titles on JP-26. US$60 including shipping to U.S. mp3-jicpoa-bulletins-jp26-index.pdf

United States. United States Naval History Division. Operational Archives. Reports of the United States Naval Technical Mission to Japan, 1945–1946. Microfilm Publication 2. Washington, D.C.: USNHD, 1974. Microfilm rolls JM 200-E and JM 200-F. These two reels cover most of the Japanese naval ordnance reports, namely reports O-08 to O-56(N). See the PDF attachment for the list of titles. Price for both is US$120 including shipping. FYI, NHHC no longer sells microfilm. usntmj-mp2-rolls-e-&-f.pdf

Rediscovered this old GBF thread which shows a picture of two swords in use. Can you find the second sword? Picture courtesy of "seinen," a well known researcher of Japanese training weapons. Type 11 training MG

The Suikōsha was established in 1876. 水交社

BTT

I have never heard of such a feature on either a sword or dirk. The Japanese did have a sheet metal reinforcement for the hilt though. There is a collector by the name of "Kai-Gunto" who owns a good many dirks. An example of his collection can be seen over at WRF. Help to authenticate Japanese Dirks Dagger The book mentioned above by Marcin is just a picture book and unlikely to help you with your scholarly research. And finally, it would be of interest to hear from "drb 1643" in regards to your questions.

Ditto the above. Conway, how in the world do you keep finding these swords! Are you Irish?

Thanks John for posting the pictures. Based upon past conversations, @Ray Singer would probably like to look at it too.

The Imperial Ordinance No. 775 can be accessed via JACAR. The citation is at the bottom of the webpage and can be cut and pasted. Good luck with your scholarly studies. 御署名原本・昭和十四年・勅令第七七五号・海軍工廠令中改正

Thanks for all the updates. Even today, many advanced collectors recommend these newsletters for beginning collectors.

FYI, Eric's sword is serial number 16416. Extract of his postmarked letter of 1999-0202 is below. Hope this helps in your research.

That is one of the books that you can "borrow" but not download. Might be different for some depending upon what country you are logging in from. Below are the rules for it. FYI, archive.org (and Google Books) is a safe web site and have used it for many moons. Borrowing From The Lending Library

I downloaded my copy via the link below. According to Bruce, it was a JSSUS article. Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey

And that is why I go by water quenched for traditional and oil quenched for nontraditional. I thus avoid what type of steel was used.

I do not recall running into that character before on a sword. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

It is Hidetoshi as Bruce states. However, the characters appear reversed? Not sure how that happened. Hidetoshi???

I have not looked into that topic but you might want check with Jussi Ekholm first.

An unusual place to find a matchlock! He,p with Flintlock ID

Sorry, it is a Chinese reproduction. Probably made within the last thirty years.

Correct John, one needs to factor in the quantity of blades that were being made. The Mantetsu was a modernized Nihontō and was water quenched. I see three basic blade construction types for this time frame: 2 or more layers and water quenched, 2 or more layers and oil quenched, and finally one piece construction (such as a Type 95) and usually oil quenched. I see the whole Imperial Japanese era (1868-1952) as falling into the realm of Japanese militaria collecting and not Nihontō collecting. This is where the collecting market is at. Your gas mileage my differ though!

First time I have seen a complete assembly. Even in the West, it would sale for a pretty penny. I classify Mantetsu blades as traditional because of the water quenching. This is the benchmark I use for blades made from 1934 to 1945. @Stegel

NMB Cross-Reference Shinogi ji inscription Gunto