Kiipu

Should have serial number between 1 and 7000: High serial number for a Pattern 1 is 6561. Should have thick brass tsuba with top latch: To be precise, 11 millimeters thick. Should have clear stamps on fuchi: Arsenal logo and company trademark sometimes reversed. Type of drag on saya: A brass plug usually, there are variations of these though. So the scabbard end will be rounded with no protrusions. Color(s) of saya: The scabbard color will usually be green with a gray primer coat underneath. The exception is a gold scabbard color that occasionally shows up.

中野栄三 Nakano Eizō. Nakano is the family name or last name while Eizō is the first name.

中野Ｘ三 Not sure on the third character.

The first white painted character could be the katakana character NE ネ? ネ八一九 = NE 819

Hi Chris Yes, that photo was only to indicate the part I need and thank you Chris for responding and the rest, I will look at one of the sites I saw here, thanks, if I have found one I will let you know know Gr Ed Courtesy of Google Translate via Dutch to English. Google Translate

昭和十八年 1943. 兼継 Kanetsugu. See for example the link below. Translation Request

As already stated above, it is kosher but repainted. Made by Seki in about 1941.

I no not recall ever running across section 11 第十一條 of Heiki saiyō kensa kitei 兵器採用検査規程.

Hi Peter, not sure if any of this 1937 information helps, but better safe than sorry. Thanks for posting that interesting photograph. 1937 氏名 Full Name:　小宮･四郎 Komiya Shirō. 刻銘 Inscription:　小宮四郎國光　Komiya Shirō Kunimitsu. 住所 Address:　大牟田市東新町二ノ六 Ōmuta-shi Higashishin-machi 2-6. 徒弟ノ数 Number of Apprentices:　一 (１). 製造能力 Manufacturing Capacity:　一ケ月 五 5 per month.

No, he was from Tōkyō 東京. All I have is a solitary reference from 1937. See below. Address 住所: Shibuya-ku Shimodōri 2-11 澁谷区下通二ノ一一. Inscription 刻銘: Fujiwara Yoshisada 藤原義定. Number of Apprentices 徒弟ノ数: 3. Capital 資本: １､０００￥. Manufacturing Capacity 製造能力: 90 per month.

This is what I have for Hirohisa 久廣 in 1937. 氏名 Full Name:　武藤･秀吉 Mutō Hideyoshi?. 刻銘 Inscription:　久廣 Hisahiro. 住所 Address:　福岡縣三潴郡大川町酒見四八六 Fukuoka-ken Mizuma-gun Ōkawa-machi Sakami 487. 徒弟ノ数 Number of Apprentices:　一 (１). 資本 Capital: ２､０００￥. 製造能力 Manufacturing Capacity: 一ケ月 一五 15 per month.

The name is 林清 on the tag. The first character is the last name and the last one is the first name. Many different pronunciations for each character though. @Stegel

Based upon the serial number of 110808東, it was made by Iijima in 1942.

Hi Cody and welcome to the forum. Below is a link to a brief introduction to the Type 95 Military Sword 九五式軍刀. Your particular sword was made by a company called Suya. IJA Type 95 NCO Sword Info

I know of one offshore sword with a name on it. It was made in Indonesia during World War II. A mei, a very odd/questionable Nakago, a weird mark and katakana writing.

The Fuller & Gregory book entitled Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks, page 247 & 249.

枝川 Edagawa or Edakawa. A Japanese last name. Cross-Reference Help authenticating sword and signature

Some additional photographs of 80442 can be seen via the link below. "custom Nco"

The handle is a replacement part that an armorer/armourer would have at the divisional level and above. While this part is not common, they do occasionally make an appearance. As you can see, the spare part is not drilled for the mekugi. The area that is not pebbled indicates the approximate position of the mekugi. It is likely your sword was damaged while in service and the armourer had to replace the handle. The most common damage to Type 95s was as follows. Dent/bent scabbard (26.97). Scabbard tip wear & tear (13.48) Blade bent (11.24) Scabbard throat screw lost (10.11) Hilt grommet screw worn-out (8.98) Hilt grommet screw lost (8.98) By far the best source of information about the Type 95 is via the late Nick Komiya. Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto

Does this sword have a star stamp by chance? Maybe Niigata Prefecture タ２１９７?

The only thing I see is yellow paint. Not much more I can do with this one.

A Kanenobu made blade that is engraved on both sides of the blade. 濃州関住兼信作 Nōshū Seki-jū Kanenobu saku. Translation Help With Kanji On Both Sides Of The Blade Itself

Not exactly a military sword, but I think everyone will like looking at it nevertheless. 甲子大黒天 Kinoene Daikokuten (translation courtesy of Edokko). Engraving on Samurai blade?

Hi Daniel, welcome to the forum. I always like it when these swords make an appearance. They are thought provoking and divisive at the same time. Best case scenario, a wartime "tourist" sword, like the dagger my father bought in Karachi, India, in 1944. Worst case scenario, it was made some twenty to thirty years ago in China. Who is right, only you can determine as you have it in hand. All we can do is provide a learned opinion. No matter what, I like it and am glad you shared pictures of it. All the best and hope to hear from you down the road.

Nagamitsu used the character to the left that Jean shows above. This a variant of the character to the right and has the same meaning. It is just a little different. Names sometimes used variant characters that differ from normal ones. I posted the above more for the translators on the forum than the collectors. It does not affect your sword by any means and can be safely ignored.