Kiipu

As a place name, the characters 安浦 would be pronounced as Yasuura. As a person's name, the characters 安浦刀 would be read as Yasuura Katana. So this could very well be the swordsmith's name. The character 刀 in this case is the person's first name. Can a picture be posted of the fittings used on this sword?

Thanks Dan. I have run into this Type 100 marking variation before. The seller of serial number 2-95 was of the opinion that it was made by Nagamitsu. The location of the serial number on the nakago mune indicates it was made under the supervision of Ōsaka Army Arsenal. The Ōsaka swords that are serialized on the nakago mune can be either traditional (RJT) or nontraditional manufacture. WTS Nagamitsu sword

Depends if the other Takamasa 高正 blades also have a small Seki 関 stamp.

This sword has a small 関 inspection stamp and this could have a bearing on the numbers that are being seen. Last ditch Naval Rinji

The signature is 坂田義人一郎 and one possible reading is Sakata Yoshito Ichirō. This is just three names strung along one after the other. There is another sword in Russia with the same signature, but the date is 寛文十三年六月 (1673). 寬 = 寛 = 宽.

Nick & Kiipu would like to acknowledge the contributions of Trystan, AKA BANGBANGSAN. Without his input and assistance, the above would not have been possible.

The Relationship Between Nakano Shōten and Manshū Tōken By Nick Komiya In 1937, KK Nakano Shōten 株式会社･中野商店 [Nakano Shop Co., Ltd.] established a sword manufacturing factory in Shinkyō 新京 [Hsinking] (currently Changchun 长春) and became the exclusive manufacturer of swords for the Manchurian Police. This later became Manshū Tōken KK 満州刀剣株式会社 [Manchuria Sword Co., Ltd.], but the capital investment and personnel continued to be from Nakano Shōten, making it a sister company of Nakano in every way. Manshū Tōken was initially an outpost of Nakano, but with 150,000 Yen of paid in capital, eventually became an independent company. They continued to monopolize the production of Manchurian Police swords. By 1942, Manshū Tōken operated 2 factories and may soon build a third in response to growing demand for their police swords. The President was Nakano Yōzō 中野･要藏, also President of Nakano Shōten. KK Nakano Shōten 株式會社･中野商店 Nakano Shop Co., Ltd. Manshū Tōken KK 満州刀劍株式會社 Manchuria Sword Co., Ltd.

Based upon the sword linked to below, I would say the fittings were that of Nan-Man Army Arsenal. These fittings were introduced by Nan-Man Army Arsenal starting in the spring of 1944. As to why an older Mantetsu blade was fitted out as a Type 100 variant, I have no idea. WWII Japanese Sword

I think I see numbers on a Takamasa 高正 posted by Shamsy back in 2020. Maybe the same as the one Bruce lists as 267? last ditch naval rinji?, Post #8

昭和十七年五月吉日　A lucky day in May 1942. I know of another one that was sold in Japan that had a fullered blade. It is anchor stamped and dated 昭和十七年八月日 [a day in August 1942]. http://kako.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT124416.htm

And one of these days you need to clue me in on what a panet is, as in "lonely panet."

Yikes! The sampling is small and asking someone to take apart a perfectly fine copper-handled Type 95 is never a good idea unless the reward is greater than the looseness that follows! To summarize though, the following can be said about non-standard Type 95 numbers. 1. Pattern 1 swords with hand carved numbers on the tang that range from serial number 109 to 4042. See the posts above and only two known so far. 2. Pattern 1 swords with the ホ prefixed numbers in the 5,000 to 6,000 range. See the thread Another copper NCO. 3. Jinsen Pattern 7 & 8 swords with a tang serial number. I am aware of three so far: 260 (Pattern 8), 1285 (refitted as a Type 100), and 1551 (Pattern 7). It is unknown if the 300,000 range also has these tang numbers as I am unaware of one being disassembled yet. Hoping Bruce will have a go at one soon! 4. Pattern 5 swords that have no serial numbers on the blade; but, are serialized on the scabbard throat. This discussion is intermixed within the thread Questions about "late war", NCO swords. 5. Sometimes letters and numbers were added by returning allied servicemen. This was usually in the form of their initials, name, rank, or service number.

Well then, I will start calling it Chinese-American food and I really like my Belgian-American waffles too. Bon appétit everyone!

Rob, it just occurred to me, that your sword 4042 could be the very same sword that is depicted in the thread linked to below. If this is the case, what is the the thickness of the brass crossguard, either 9 or 11 millimeters? Type 95 seppa early Pattern with Brass tsuba

I have been having some problems with accessing that site with the link you provided. After talking to Trystan about it, I found that I needed the www. prefix for reasons unknown. Maybe @Brian can explain this. This only started recently and it could be something to do with the Firefox browser or one of the plugins I am using. http://www.ohmura-study.net/900.html The website that I like the most is actually the one put together by @Rich S. It is still by far the best English language online resource for the gendaitō era. Thanks Rich! www.japaneseswordindex.com

The blades were inspected at the swordsmith's forge and then sent to Tōkyō 1st Arsenal. Upon arrival, I believe they were then serialized without regard to the production date. For this reason, the dates can and will be out of sequence to the serial numbers. Some swordsmiths worked a great distance away from the arsenal and thus the inspector would arrive at a much later date than say a swordsmith who worked closer to the arsenal. Bottom line, go by the serial number first and then make sure the date is reasonably close to the other surrounding RJT blades.

To give credit where credit is due, I was aware of the markings on Stegel's sword from past correspondence and that was what prompted me to think the markings on Rob's sword were numbers. However, I could not come out and state as such as the information was conveyed by private message. It is as we say in the US, Stegel's story to tell. And finally, the number could be any of the ones suggested above.

Nice sword and ditto what Stegel and Rob said above. As you are in the States, start with Dawson's book first. A beginner only needs 1 or 2 books to get started with military swords, either F&G and/or Dawson's. Dawson, Jim. Swords of Imperial Japan, 1868–1945. Cyclopedia ed. Newnan, Ga.: Stenger-Scott Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9719127-2-4.

Trystan, it is an English language thing. The problem is how can a "Japanese sword" be made in China and still be called a Japanese sword. The English language can be a bugbear at times as I imagine you are well aware of by now!

Actually, it is a three digit serial number. The third digit can be partially seen above the shinobi to the left. The shinobi was probably drilled by the fitting shop and it took out the third digit. Some Niigata Prefecture RJT blades did not use the encircled 松 stamp and this is one of them. Niigata Prefecture Timeline 615 Akitaka January 1943. 松819 Akihisa March 1943. 86? Kiyokatsu March 1943. 松1080 Munetoshi May 1943.

Found you another one to compare to. ☆　濃州兼久作 = ☆ Nōshū Kanehisa saku. 昭和十八年四月 = April 1943. Type 3 1944 Pattern Shin Gunto Sword Pictorial: Show us your Type 3, Post #49

Cross-Reference Bruce Pennington the name is Kikuhide

A Seki swordsmith that I do not see listed in the guild list or in Sesko's book. I found another Kanemasa though with a 関 stamp. Takehito

Rob, what is the serial number of the blade that this marking is coming from? Are there any other markings on the tang? In regards to the nakago marking, I think it could be the number 十五? You will need to rotate the picture around 90 degrees to see it though.

@BANGBANGSAN may have identified the maker of that sword in another thread. Japanese Swords Made In China During World War II, Post #3