Kiipu

RASC Royal Army Service Corps HQ Headquarters 34 Ind Corps XXXIV Corps (British India) SEAC South East Asia Command

Japanese TROPHIES. The bearer of this No. S/14770050 Sgt. BENNET A.A. 421 British Supply Platoon (Lt) RASC is entitled to be in possession of a Japanese Sword issued to him under th provisions of HQ 34 Ind Corps letter No. 190/1/A1 of 24 Oct 45 governing the provisions of Japanese Trophies to those who took part in the re-occupation of MALAYA. Station – SEAC. Date Jul 46.

A couple of us, including @Shamsy, discussed this sword at length over at WRF. This is a well documented sword via F&G and I think it is more in the line of local Type 95 production. However, not everyone agrees and instead think it was for officer use. Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto, Starting at Post #330

Thanks Trystan for the additional translation. 於大連 = oite Dairen = at Dalian (Chinese 於大连).

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum. Several of these swords have showed up in the last six months and I am skeptical of them. However, if there is paperwork that goes with the sword or pictures of him with it than the matter is mute. The larger ships in the U. S. Navy had a Marine Corps detachment aboard and your wife's grandfather could have been assigned to one. If that is the case, he could have picked up the sword just about anywhere. Keep digging and keep us informed of any new developments. Marine Detachment

No doubt about what it is. Amazing that after 78 years these swords just all of a sudden start showing up everywhere. I was driving home yesterday and saw one in the street. I had to stop and throw it into the ditch as it was a road hazard. The thought never occurred to me that I should pick it up and post pictures of it on NMB! These swords are starting to remind me of the 治 marked swords and how they just started appearing out of nowhere. WOII Katana. Help discovering if Authentic and what type Another vintage non Japanese made sword

Welcome Chris to the forum. As indicated above, the sword with the aluminium handle is a Type 95. Below is a link to get you started on the basics. IJA Type 95 NCO Sword Info Your Type 95 should have a number on the blade above the crossguard and on the scabbard mouth where the blade is inserted. Take a picture of these numbers and post them to the thread. It is likely the maker can be determined via these numbers.

神戸湊川神社菊水鍛刀会 日本刀鍛錬会（靖国神社）で修行した日立金属（株）安来工場の村上　村光（銘　正忠） 森脇　要（銘　森光）は昭和十六年に湊川神社御用刀匠となり海軍士官用軍刀を作刀する。 ハバキ、中心に菊水の刻印が入り菊水刀と呼ばれる。 以上、先生のHPより抜粋　菊水紋　湊川神社　正直

村光 = Muramitsu. 皇紀二千六百年十月吉日 = A lucky day in October 1940. I found a sword marked as 村上村光作之 at the link below. https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q13212120033 I have reposted the picture below for convenience. Could it be one and the same as 村上村光 (銘　正忠)? https://ameblo.jp/busyuu/entry-12527031561.html @SteveM @mecox @BANGBANGSAN

Rob, your sleeping at the switch, note the reversed order of the arsenal and maker symbols. While not common, they do show up sometimes. Very Rare Prototype NCO Sword

Is the blade made of steel as in a magnet will adhere to it?

What color is the ito wrap and also the scabbard?

接 = setsu = on, on-position, of switch. 受聽器 = juchōki = earphones, headphones. 纖條電源 = senjō dengen = filament supply. A related term would be senjō dengen hen-atsuki 纖條電源變壓器 [filament supply transformer]. Source: United States, War Department. Japanese-English Technical Terms Dictionary. TM 30-482, November 1946. Cross-Reference Manchurian Rinji Seishiki Sword, Post #31

Thanks to Trystan who transcribed the characters above, I was able to find the following information. 接 = setsu = on, on-position, of switch. 受聽器 = juchōki = earphones, headphones. 纖條電源 = senjō dengen = filament supply. A related term would be senjō dengen hen-atsuki 纖條電源變壓器 [filament supply transformer]. Source: United States, War Department. Japanese-English Technical Terms Dictionary. TM 30-482, November 1946.

I have seen another one on eBay with the same character back in November (courtesy of @John C). However, the fittings were different. Emergency Late War Officer Gunto I am of the same opinion, regardless of what others have said, that these are current reproductions. Again, why are these all showing at the same time? Mumei Guntō Fake or Real?, Post #9 Whether you like it or not, this nonsense will only continue and has only gotten better over time.

My all time favorite Iijima reproduction has to be this one! How about that box. WWII M95 NCO Sword Opinions Comments Wanted

I thought I would post the links to the initial appearance of these Iijima's. NMB 2017-01-17: Nco Shin Gunto - Real Or Rotter? WRF 2017-07-02: WRF Is it replica 95 NCO Sword shin gunto?

This is a very good reproduction that has fooled many. A Polish collector was the first one to ask questions about them and ever since they have been called the Polish fakes. (However, it is not known if they are indeed made there). The serial number font is incorrect and it is in a Suya serial number range. It is not unusual to see these swords aged and additional artifacts placed with them to fool collectors. For the record, I had about seven of these listed as real so they fooled me too. Fake Type 95 Nco Swords, Page 8

The monograph covers the Japanese police from 1868 to 1952. Besides swords, it also discusses keibō 警棒, what we call a baton or nightstick here in the States. The monograph is almost entirely text. As an aside, you may find this of interest in regards to police swordsmanship. 警視流 Thanks for the valued input.

Additional information about John Plimpton and his upcoming book can be found at the link below. Information courtesy of @Kotetsu1959. John Plimpton and his book Swords of the Emperor

Mori Yoshio 森･良雄. Nihontō to seinan sensō 日本刀と西南戦争 [Japanese Swords and The Seinan War]. 2000. A 43-page monograph with text only. Mori Yoshio 森･良雄. Junsa taiken no rekishi 巡査帯剣の歴史 [The History of Wearing Swords by the Police]. 2003. A 72-page monograph with drawings. Mori Yoshio 森･良雄. Nihontō teiten shuppin sōdō 日本刀帝展出品騒動 [Controversy over the submission of Japanese swords to the Imperial Art Exhibition]. 2004. A 58-page monograph with mainly text.

Thanks Piers, the phrase is coming from the title of a book. Mori Yoshio 森･良雄. Junsa taiken no rekishi 巡査帯剣の歴史 [The History of Police Wearing a Sword]. 2003. A 72-page monograph with drawings.

How would one render this into English? Is this literally belt knife/belt sword or is the meaning more akin to armed/wearing a sword? The longer phrase is 巡査帯剣.

@Kotetsu1959 Better late than never. The character 廿 simply means twenty. Reverse: 渡島国住人秦国作之 = Oshima-no kuni jūnin Yasukuni saku kore. Obverse: 昭和廿年七月日 = A day in July 1945.

The Teikoku Bijutsu Tenran-Kai 帝国美術展覧会 [Imperial Art Exhibition], or “Teiten” 帝展 for short, was held annually from 1919 to 1934 with the exception of 1923. Japan Fine Arts Exhibition 第1回帝展(大正8年)～第15回帝展(昭和9年) https://nitten.or.jp/vicissitudes