Kiipu

Steve, it is a Chinese reproduction from about 20-25 years ago. When time permits, take a look at the link below. IJA Type 95 NCO Sword Info

X田正則. The first character is easily identified by radical but I do not see it listed in the modern dictionaries. @BANGBANGSAN & @SteveM

That sword actually dates from 1933 to 1945, more likely earlier rather than later. The logo is that of Kokura Arsenal along with a Kokura 小 final inspection mark. Below is a link to a drawing of a jig used in the manufacture of your sword blade. As of 1934, the location of blade manufacture was Kokura Kōshō Tōkyō Heiki Seizō-sho 小倉工廠東京兵器製造所 Tōkyō Ordnance Factory of Kokura Arsenal. This factory formally belonged to Tōkyō Arsenal but was transferred to Kokura Arsenal when it came into existence in 1933. System Kaizen behind the Type 32 Gunto production of the 1930s

Markus Sesko runs that site. I use it frequently to translate a swordsmith's mei if I can ID the first character visually. It saves me time; however, it is a good idea to then lookup the swordsmith in Sesko's Swordsmiths of Japan. The two, the website & book, should be used hand in hand. Naturally, I am only speaking about gendaitō 現代刀 in this situation. As for our mutual friend Sadaharu 貞治, go to page 877 of Sesko's 2015 book mentioned above and you will find what you are looking for. Good luck with the search.

SADAHARU (貞治), Kawai SADA (貞)

Cross-Reference Officers with Katana in back position

All I can say is that I read it on the Internet! See my edited post above. Thanks Ray.

Ron, close, but no cigar. How about Daiō 大道 by Higashidani. See link below. DAI (大) Edit: Markus Sesko has it as Daidō 大道 in Swordsmiths of Japan, published in 2015. @Markus

Cross-Reference You can tell this is a genuine WW2 Japanese Naval Landing Forces Officers Kai-Gunto because it only has a single ashi (suspension loop) plus has a leather combat cover. ... This is a late war gunto as there is no same (ray skin) but rather a black pitch fabric tsuba base cover. WW2 Japanese Naval Landing Forces Officers Kai-Gunto, Sold

They are on the fittings and not on the blades. Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal 東京第一陸軍造兵廠 usually just used a yamagata M partial inspection mark on the blades. The final inspection mark will be on the fittings. When you factor this in, one will see that they made plenty of swords.

Cross-Reference With only one ashi (suspension ring), these naval kai-gunto are often associated with Naval Landing Force officers (marines). The wooden saya may well have originally been plain with a black leather combat cover, but this one is painted black which may or may not be period. The sword is late war because of the black pitch tsuka; earlier swords would have been rayskin. WW2 Japanese 1937M Naval / Marine Officer's Kai-Gunto Katana, sold

Another Type 95 Military Sword, serial 113550東, with a black painted scabbard and hilt. WW2 Japanese Army NCO's Katana, 1935P, rare variant, (sold)

There could be a second inspection mark on the nakago mune above the ホ under the grime or rust. If so, it would probably be a 名 for Nagoya Arsenal. Christian, this is what I see 昭和十七年仲春 for the date.

Leen, I put together a table showing all of these army sword inspection stamps and it is included in Bruce's little missive. Stamps of the Japanese Sword

The marking on the nakago mune is the katakana character HO ホ. It is a factory inspection mark used by the 1st Factory of Kokura Army Arsenal 小倉陸軍造兵廠第一製造所.

First, below is the link to the Kunihiro 國廣 sword from which these markings are coming from. Note the numbers above the 名 stamp. Second, it does indeed look like a double-struck 東 to me as well. translation on 43' shin- gunto showato

A double-struck arsenal stamping on a kabutogane. Magnify to clearly see the arsenal and company logo. Stamp on kabuto-gane

Ditto the above. 濃州住福本兼宗作 = Nōshū jū Fukumoto Kanemune saku.

Cross-reference to same sword. Why did this Type 98 Shin Gunto Sword sell for so much? Blade maker translation needed

Cross-reference to another Type 95 which has a leather adapter for a 2nd hanger. WWII Japanese Army NCO Type 95 Shin-Gunto Sword

Maybe someone can clue us lesser mortals in on what the heck this thing is. Thought some of you might appreciate this

Just the date on the reverse side of the tang. 昭和二十年四月 = April 1945.

Could the serial number be either 2664東 or 2684東?

Did you notice the Yasukuni Shrine display!

Enjoyed seeing the picture of the shipping box located behind the naval sword. While some were carried aboard ship by the returning servicemen, many more arrived stateside via the mail. Thanks for sharing your photo-essay.