Kiipu

試製一式短剣 = shisei ichi-shiki tanken = Experimental Type 1 Knife. The same characters 短剣 are used to describe the naval dirk.

Yes and no. The officer's swords were introduced via uniform regulations and did not use "Type". The use of Type 94/97/98 is a postwar distinction, based upon the year of the uniform regulation. Hence my statement about informal use. If my memory is correct, the Japanese referred to them as the New Military Swords 新軍刀 Shin-Guntō. The Type 95 Military Sword 九五式軍刀 on the other hand was adopted as an ordnance item and was given a type designation.

Darth Vajo is back in town! Humor aside, I agree with Chris in that it should not be called Rinji Seishiki 臨時制式. This is merely a category of ordnance and nothing more. Without a prefix and suffix, Rinji Seishiki has no meaning other than the category it is in. To flesh it out, one needs to add the year of initiation or introduction and what the item is. That is why I use the prefix of Type 100 and the suffix of Military Sword or Officer's Sword. In the case of the army, Type 100 denotes the year 1940. This fits in with the existing informal terminology used for the Type 94, Type 97, and Type 98. The use of Type 3 is inaccurate as it would indicate the year of introduction as 1943 which is not the case. Type 100 Contingency Military Sword or Type 100 Contingency Sword

Trystan, the picture above is upside down. Rotate it around and one gets 394. To refresh everyone's memory, see the link below. @george trotter Matsu stamp

Not unusual and it is just a civilian factory inspection mark. 社 = SHA = Each civilian/private factory 各民間工場.

A Type 95 Military Sword made by Iijima with an early symmetrical pattern hilt. The scabbard has been stripped down to bare metal and hence the rust problem. The sword, as indicated by Rob, is kosher. Below are a couple of links to get you started about Type 95s. IJA Type 95 NCO Sword Info and Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto

A Chinese reproduction from around the turn of the century. 天皇 = Tennō = Emperor. 昭和十七年 = 1942.

I could not get the page to open? I am sure Brian will point out the errors of my way; but in the mean time, see the link below. My First Gunto Blade Signed

A souvenir sword made by Takeyasu. Somewhat rare Japanese Naval Kai Gunto signed Takayasu

I found yet another "last ditch" or as the Australians say, a "Pattern 9". Late War Japanese Sword @Stegel & @Shamsy

Yes, the sword is good. @Stegel & @Shamsy

It is a start at least. The penmanship style would seem to indicate that someone other than a Japanese wrote it. Ｘ民Ｘ省 @SteveM or @BANGBANGSAN

And a link to a typical school used parade/dress/command sword. 法政大學豫科 = Hōsei Daigaku Yoka = Hōsei University Preparatory Department or Preparatory Department of Hōsei University. WW2 Japanese Army Sword -DESIRABLE Inscription

While browsing around on the Internet, I ran across this April 1937 dated Chiba Shōkai 千葉商會 catalog and thought others might enjoy looking at the sword section. It mentions several swords for school use in the upper left corner.

I ran across this while researching a Japanese trading company in New York City and thought I would pass it along. Hagiya Katsuhira [萩谷勝平] (1804-1886) Edit: Be sure to click on the three "Chrysanthemum" icons at the bottom of the page to show the "Marks", "Examples (from the web)", and "References".

The souvenir swords run the gamut as for as parts are concerned. The early ones would have used naval parts and when the supply was exhausted the switch to the more readily available army style parts. For this reason, the early souvenir swords could easily pass as a naval sword. No matter what parts were used, the goal was to have a nice looking sword for sale in the PX. And finally, never underestimate the wear and tear of kids playing with Dad's bringback!

The first two characters are indistinct while the last three characters 一太郎 are a first name.

This is the same exact sword that is pictured over at WRF. All the dings and scratches are the same.

See post #10 for an example of a black painted handle and scabbard. Leather covered sword @Shamsy & @Stegel

Nice! A 19th series commercial Mantetsu. It is the lowest reported serial number for this series. The highest is ツ 六五一 [TSU 651]. ツ 二九 = TSU 29. 昭和辛巳春 = 1941 Spring. 興亜一心　満鐵作之 = South Manchuria Railway Company (SMR) made this.

These swords are practically nonexistent here in the United States so I am somewhat chagrined to see everybody else around the world owns one. Fortunately, they show up in Indonesia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Australia from time to time. Right Column: ジャワ刀 = Jawa-tō = Java sword. Left Column: スマラン = Sumaran = Semarang. A city 市 or province 州 in Central Java. An Appraisal on Some Japanese Swords Please Sword Number 3

Bob, as an aside, the use of seasons is uncommon on Japanese swords from this period of time. As you are already aware, the swordsmith is Takehisa 武久 and the black painted subassembly number is 87. 八七 = 87.

Above the date there appears to be an M partial inspection mark; but, I will need "eagle eyed" @BANGBANGSAN to have a look at it first. 昭和十九年春 = 1944 Spring.

I asked Nick over at WRF to take a look at the logo and below are the two options that he came up with. 各農家の「山印」

The subassembly number is 22. 廾二 = 22.