Kiipu

And also in the beginning as well. It was during the time frame of May 1939 to May 1945 that the lower ranks were prohibited from wearing non-regulation swords. https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/f216/short-development-history-type-95-gunto-676112-post1751561/#post1751561

Barry, if time permits, can you measure the height in millimeters of your Seki stamp? As an aside, Type 100s were required to be inspected per regulations and the early ones were traditionally made.

Prince Chibata's gunto practice sword

More than likely, your sword is a 造兵刀 (arsenal sword). The Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal did make this type of sword during the war. Check the top of the tang (nakago mune) for markings.

Sakaida, Henry. “Comment on Article ‘Gunso-Gunto’.” Banzai 129 (January 1993): 10.

The 東 inspection mark was introduced in 1932 and continued in use until the end of the war. It is the final inspection mark used by the Tōkyō Arsenal and the later reincarnation into the Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal. It does show up on officer's swords from time to time. Below is a link to one such 東 stamp. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/5999-arsenal-stamps/?do=findComment&comment=60340

With the help of BangBangSan, a Chinese book can be added to the bibliography. Wang Hui 王･辉. Ri Ben Leng Re 日本冷刃 [Japanese Cold Steel]. Shan Dong Mei Shu Chu Ban She 山东美术出版社, 2016. Chinese language.

Prior to 1896, the Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal used 東京砲兵工廠 because the stacked cannon ball logo did not come unto use until December 1896.

So far, I have run across two different double-edged blade shapes used by Kanemasa 兼正. I think yours is called a "kissaki moroha zukuri" 鋒両刃造 and it is based upon the Kogarasu Maru (小烏丸). Four of the fourteen Kanemasa swords have this blade shape. Ohmura-sensei disagrees and calls it a "mukade-giri-maru" 蜈蚣切丸. Below is a link to a PDF that shows the "mukade-giri-maru" at the Ise Shrine and it can be seen in frame 2. Any thoughts about this dilemma welcomed. http://museum.isejingu.or.jp/docs/cms_event/o65yx90q/展示作品.pdf Kanemasa 兼正 also used one other double-edged blade shape and it can be seen in Edward's sword in post 14. I do not know what this style is called but it does show up at least twice. Here is the translations for your sword. 明治廿六年十二月一日 = 1893-12-01 (01 December 1893). 村田刀兼正 = Murata-sword Kanemasa.

With the help of BangBangSan, the following update is possible on the Murata sword made in June 1888. 1888 Nakago Obverse 明治廿一年六月　陸軍歩兵大佐村田経芳 Meiji 21st Year 6th Month　Army Infantry Colonel Murata Tsuneyoshi Nakago Reverse 新折衷和洋之刀制爰謹令我東京砲兵工廠小銃製造所鍛冶造焉 Page 181 of Slough's book gives the translation as "By order of the new Japanese-European combined sword system, I respectfully forged this at the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal & Small Arms Factory." A minor correction is in order though in regards to this translation. The characters 東京砲兵工廠小銃製造所 translate as "Rifle Factory of Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal."

Baron Murata passed away in 1921 and the last known blade signed by Kanemasa 兼正 was in 1894. Ohmura-sensei actually has a page devoted to him but it is in Japanese. 男爵　村 田 經 芳

Are both mekugi-ana 目釘孔 used by the current tsuka 柄? I can only see one peg hole in the hilt pictured in the OP.

Just a small correction here if I may. There is a small error in regards to the date of Prince Chichibu's practice sword 練習刀. The obverse of the nakago is dated 大正八年八月吉日 which comes to August 1919. The logo on the nakago denotes manufacture by Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal 東京砲兵工廠 (1879 to 1923), one of two such arsenals in Japan at the time. Both arsenals reported directly to the War Minister.

Not all of the swords have these Arabic numerals. I think these numbers could be divisional? issue/inventory numbers. However, your opinion is just as valid as mine! I have oshigata information on 14 Kanemasa 兼正 swords via the Internet and sword forums. Thirteen of them are summarized in post number 6 above. The last one could be a presentation sword as it has a horimono and the mei markings are different from all the rest. On this possible presentation sword, the nakago obverse is marked as 小銃 兼正 while the reverse is marked as 為龍為光.

It appears your sword is neither a Murata-tō or an arsenal sword. It is a 練習刀 which translates as "practice sword." The Prince Chichibu practice sword dates to 大正八年八月吉日 [August 1919] and I think yours would date to about this same time frame as well. It is the only one that I am aware other than the one at Ohmura's website. I would suggest starting a thread devoted to it as I am certain others would like to see and learn more about it. I know I would! Thanks again for sharing your sword with us and I hope to see more of it in the future.

That is an interesting sword. I think the blade would be classed as an "arsenal sword" 造兵刀 though. I am sure others will chime in if I am wrong. 造兵刀 Army Arsenal blade As an after thought, does the top of the tang, nakago mune, have any markings? If so, could you post a picture of them?

Below are some links to various Murata-tō. Needless to say, start with Ohmura's site first. Ohmura's website Murata-tō 小銃 兼正　明治廿三年十一月 Early Murata-To, And How To Id Them Earliest Date On A Kogarasu Maru Blade? 村田刀 兼正　明治廿六年二月十八日 Rare Murata-to, Kogarasumaru-to Dress Saber in Shin-Gunto Mounts 村田刀 兼正　明治廿六年十二月一日 kyū guntō 旧軍刀 murata-to Kanemasa from Murata Tsuneyoshi 村田刀 兼正　明治廿七年一月十五日 sword ID

The early Murata swords appear to have three distinct nakago mei variations. These marking variations seem to be in chronological order. Unfortunately, the meaning of the Arabic numerals that frequently appear underneath the date is unknown at this time. 1888 Nakago Obverse 明治年月　陸軍歩兵大佐村田経芳 Meiji Year Month　Army Infantry Colonel Murata Tsuneyoshi (Only one known example and it can be seen on page 181 of Slough's book.) 1889 to 1892 Nakago Obverse 明治年月　[sometimes Arabic numerals] Meiji Year Month & sometimes Arabic numerals Nakago Reverse 小銃　兼正 Rifle　Kanemasa 1892 to 1894 Nakago Obverse 明治年月日　[sometimes Arabic numerals] Meiji Year Month Day & sometimes Arabic numerals Nakago Reverse 村田刀　兼正 Murata Sword　Kanemasa

“The Army of Japan, Part II.” The Cosmopolitan 10.2 (December 1890): 167.

The Japan Weekly Mail (1888-07-21): 56.

Sharp eyes you have. The markings on the tsuba are as follows. Suya logo. H二二二マ = H222MA. Katakana character マ = MA

Sorry about that BangBangSan. Apparently the link disappeared from my post or I forgot to insert it. Cream/Brown Tassel of Railway Police

And yet two more NCR swords show up with numbered habaki! Thanks for sharing the pictures. Gotta run along as I am working on something else.

See this recent article for a complete image of the flaming pot/jewel symbol. This symbol only seems to show up from this group of smiths? Amahide & Seki Nihonto Tanren Jo The source of the two illustrations above can be found below. north china railway winged wheel stamp

Bruce, I updated the post after the fact and that is why you missed it. It took some time to find the Mantetsu 13 series swords that BangBangSan was looking for. Thankfully, Stegel-san reposted those tachi pictures which had serial number ワ 一三四.