Kiipu

You mean the black staining around the upper right edges? Lets call it a six and call it a day!

Sesko, Markus. Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords. Lulu Enterprises, Inc., 2014. Page 453. WWII = Word War II.

It does seem to be an Asian two-handed handle for use with a sword. Maybe some sort of Japanese or native sword hilt. The metal tang would seem to have been about 5 inches long based upon the indentations in the wood.

I do not recall seeing this type of handle before. Maybe a handle for a machete? It has the lanyard hole in the back. What is the overall length and how long is the cutout in the wood for the tang? I wonder if @Dave R would know what it is for?

Hi Kyle, the mei is 山川秀夫 Yamakawa Hideo. The tang markings and stains are identical to the sword below. Help with translation of symbols on WWII Sword tang

The white painted characters look like 平二一七一 [Hira-2171].

It does kinda look like a handwritten six (6) or a really bad zero (0).

You are right, it is in the K-range and 37730 is within the serial number range used by this maker. I am unaware of these K & 一 markings being intermixed. @Stegel

I agree with Conway. However, the second one has an unfullered blade and could be of interest to some collectors that are missing this Suya variation.

Hi Peter, it is not a Japanese character or a logo. Are there similar markings on the other side? Also, it seems as if there is some abrasion adjacent to the indentations? Maybe some type of repair was going on?

☆　武蔵国昭則造之　Musashi-no-kuni Akinori Tsukuru Kore. 昭和十八年八月吉日　サ１６４　A lucky day in August 1943　SA-164. A Type 100 with a star stamp and prefecture serial number. 品番No-sw23169

A list of the known serials can be seen via the link below. Whats the DEMAND for early copper handled type 95 ncos swords??

Ran across this November 1944 picture of Japanese naval officers and one clearly has a single hanger on his sword. Kaiten Group "Kikusui"

The drawing of the seventeen (17) dirks is coming from a Japanese publication called RANRU. The translation below is courtesy of Shiro Yoshida. Left Column, Top to Bottom 1) Imperial Forest & Field Bureau. 2) Small Forest Station. 3) Forest Officer. 4) Governor’s Headquarters of Taiwan. 5) Governor’s Headquarters of Korea. 6) South Pacific Government Office. 7) Navy Cadet. 8. Navy Officer. 9) Imperial Police Guard. Right Column, Top to Bottom 10) Government Office of Karafuto, Sakhalin. 11) Department of Imperial Household. 12) Red Cross. 13) Railroad Bureau. 14) Police Officer. 15) Firefighting Officer. 16) Manchuria. 17) Manchuria.

The translation can be found via my link above.

I have been working on this as well and I am drawing a blank. I understand the characters but not how they connect to a date. Translation Requests, Post #2414

Some better pictures can be seen at Samurai Shokai. https://www.samurais....jp/sword/22120.html

This reminds me of @ww2shingunto's Type 100 that was made by Akimitsu. Fortunately, @BANGBANGSAN was able to convert it into a Gregorian date. Akimitsu - Unusual Date Inscription

Chris, the advertisement already states the scabbard is too short. X

Hi Ian, it is a Chinese reproduction as you state. Just look at the position of the scabbard hanger compared to a real Type 95.

贈パオロ、ボムパルド殿　Oku Paoro Bomuparudo-dono [Gift to Mr. Paolo Bompard]. 満鉄製作　日本刀　松岡洋右　Mantetsu seisaku　Nihontō　Matsuoka Yōsuke [Manufactured by South Manchuria Railway　Japanese Sword　Matsuoka Yōsuke]. Mr. Matsuoka was president of South Manchuria Railway at the time of the gift. Yōsuke Matsuoka

Paolo Bompard パオロ ボムパルド was part of the Italian PNF (Partito Nazionale Fascista) Mission that visited Japan and Manchukuo in March and April 1938. 4. BOMPARD, Paolo. (Bologna 1887) Doctor in Jurisprudence. Director, Bank of Rome. Commendatore, Order of the Crown of Italy. Representative: Fascist Confederation of Insurance and Credit Houses. Cross-Reference koa isshin with the South Manchurian Railway Company logo

Peter, did you by chance record the serial number on the nakago mune?

Cross-Reference Japanese Navy Officer Samurai Sword w/ Saya To give credit where credit is due, found it via a post by @Stephen back in January 2022. Just another golden oldie from Stephen! Kraft auctions in Indiana

The last name is pronounced as Komura or Omura 小村.