Kiipu

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.

Sometimes the sexagenary cycle was used and below are the early Shōwa years. For more examples, Wikipedia has them for the years 1804 to 2043. Sexagenary cycle 1926 = 丙寅. 1927 = 丁卯. 1928 = 戊辰. 1929 = 己巳. 1930 = 庚午. 1931 = 辛未. 1932 = 壬申. 1933 = 癸酉. 1934 = 甲戌. 1935 = 乙亥. 1936 = 丙子. 1937 = 丁丑. 1938 = 戊寅. 1939 = 己卯. 1940 = 庚辰. 1941 = 辛巳. 1942 = 壬午. 1943 = 癸未. 1944 = 甲申. 1945 = 乙酉.

This should cover most dates found on gendaitō 現代刀. Everyone has permission to use so feel free to cut and paste. No acknowledgement is needed, desired, or required. Imperial Era = 皇紀 or 紀元 (see Japanese imperial year). Meiji = 明治 (1868-0908 to 1912-0730). Taishō = 大正 (1912-0730 to 1926-1225). Shōwa = 昭和 (1926-1225 to 1989-0107). Year = 年. Month = 月. Day = 日. Spring = 春. Summer = 夏. Autumn = 秋. Winter = 冬. The numbers are in the order of common to formal. ０ = 〇 零. １ = 一 壱 壹. １ｓｔ = 元. ２ = 二 弐 貮 貳. ３ = 三 参 參. ４ = 四 肆. ５ = 五 伍. ６ = 六 陸. ７ = 七 柒 漆. ８ = 八 捌. ９ = 九 玖. １０ = 十 拾. ２０ = 廾 廿. ３０ = 卅 丗. ４０ = 卌. １００ = 百 陌 佰. １０００ = 千 阡 仟. １００００ = 万 萬. Any comments, corrections, or criticism welcomed.

Looks like the katakana character KI キ to me.

Kosher it is. @BANGBANGSAN

@vajo Photography help & tips?

Luca, thanks for the tang picture. Below is a link to another sword like yours, except it is assembly #499. Note the unknown character that follows the number on the bottom of the hilt. You may want to take a look at yours and see if it has a character as well. Two KaiGunto for review

Hi Luca and welcome to the "Military Swords" subforum. Your sword was made by Tenshōzan and inspected by the navy. Tenshōzan blades were signed & dated until late 1943 and then the practice was stopped. So your blade was made sometime after late 1943. I have a couple of questions for you about the tang. How long is the tang in millimeters? From the center of the tang hole (mekugi-ana) to the notches (machi), what is the length?

A minor correction in that the third character down is ヅ. Note the two tick marks in the upper right corner. Dakuten and handakuten

Hi Jared and welcome to the "Military Swords" subforum. These have been around for awhile and initially fooled me too. However, it is a reproduction as stated above. The giveaway for me is the inspection mark on the ferrule. Keep the faith and keep looking for the real McCoy.

濃州関住藤原孝雄 = Nōshū Seki jū Fujiwara Takao.

I found a similar signature that was translated as Sakō Kaneshige 酒向兼茂 via the link below. Two Signed Japanese Blades, Post #3

How about Sakō Kanesumi 酒向兼住 via Sesko's swordsmiths, page 273?

Besides the above, there is one another character that I have seen used in dates. It can be used for the day, month, or year. 元 = 1st. For example, 元年 first year (of an imperial era).

Yes, anything is possible when it comes to Japanese swords. English letters, Arabic numbers, geometric shapes, punches, file marks, you name it, it was used as a prefix or suffix.