Kiipu

Not common on either army or navy steel crossguards but have seen one or two? Below is a link to a possible marker's mark on a Type 97. Kai Gunto Naval Sword A little more common are guild or arsenal inspection marks. Below is an example of a guild marking on a Type 100 crossguard. Type 44 Katana + Information request The most common markings on steel crossguards are subassembly numbers.

This is the lowest so far with a マ prefix, prior to that they just used Arabic numerals.

Do not recall seeing this before either. Possibly a Japanese katakana NA with an Arabic 8? ナ８ = Katakana NA 8.

I had to look that one up! 瓢箪 = hyotan The Gourd Canteen See also the story "Tengu no Hyōtan 天狗の瓢箪 The Tengu's Gourd." A little homework assignment for those that just gotta know what I am talking about! Another indicator of an early souvenir blade is that the bottom of the tang is finished versus cutoff. And finally, thank you for the additional pictures Rebecca. We track these souvenir blades by the subassembly number. If you look carefully at the tang, you will see the following two characters have been painted over the older number. As you can see, the parts on your sword match this number. I zoomed in on one of your pictures and also saw 40 stamped on the crossguard. 四〇 = 40.

Agree, 40 is the souvenir subassembly number. See the picture of the seppa (washer) above. 四〇 = 40.

Hi Rebecca, the various small parts will have a one or two digit number stamped or written on them. For example, the tsuba (crossguard) will have this number. Take a picture of this number and post it. This number will match to one of the combination of numbers painted on the nakago (tang) of your sword. When time permits, below is a link to an article about postwar souvenir swords that will answer most of your questions. The Mysterious Naval Landing Forces Sword And finally, many thanks for sharing pictures of your sword.

Cross-reference to the same sword. ☆ 長州住清次　Chōshū-ju Kiyotsugu. 昭和十九年三月日　A day in March 1944. Japanese WWll NLF officer's sword in type 44 mounting "Kiyotsugu", star stamp

@Spartancrest might be able to help with the identification of the tsuba.

１．１　Enkaku　沿革　History　Page １ 昭和　９年　県内の金属工業指導のため地方商工技師１名が関刃物工業組合に駐在 1934: One local commercial engineer was stationed at the Seki Cutlery Industry Association to provide guidance on the prefecture's metalworking industry. 昭和１２年　岐阜県金属試験場規程を公布、仮事務所を関刃物工業組合に開設 1937: The Gifu Prefecture Metal Testing Laboratory Regulations were promulgated, and a temporary office was opened at the Seki Cutlery Industry Association. 昭和１２年　庁舎新築起工式（岐阜県武儀郡関町南春日１３） 1937: Groundbreaking ceremony for new office building (13 Minami-Kasuga, Seki-machi, Mugi-gun, Gifu Prefecture). 昭和１３年　本館および試験棟２棟竣工 1938: Completion of the main building and two testing buildings. 昭和１６年　日本刀鍛錬研究室増築（日本刀鍛錬塾寄贈） 1941: Expansion of the Japanese sword forging laboratory (donated by the Japanese Sword Forging School). Citation Gifu-ken kōgyō gijutsu kenkyūsho 岐阜県工業技術研究所 [Gifu Prefectural Industrial Technology Research Institute]. Gifu-ken kōgyō gijutsu kenkyūsho nenpō: Heisei 25-nendo 岐阜県工業技術研究所年報〜平成２５年度 [Annual Report of the Gifu Prefectural Industrial Technology Research Institute: Fiscal Year 2013]. 2014. Source https://www.gitec.rd.pref.gifu.lg.jp/files/annuals/annual_metal_2013.pdf

14昭和19年（1944）関刃物工業組合に届出のあった刀工は233人、未登録を含めると265人。関鍛冶伝承館「企画展 近現代刀匠列伝 廃刀令以降の刀匠たち」パンフレット（2004）、岐阜県博物館『伝統と創造 岐阜県重要無形文化財のわざと美』図録（2016）を参照。 Footnote 14: In 1944, there were 233 swordsmiths registered with the Seki Cutlery Industry Association 関刃物工業組合, and 265 including unregistered ones. See the Seki Blacksmith Heritage Museum's "Special Exhibition: Modern and Contemporary Swordsmiths: Swordsmiths Since the Sword Ban" pamphlet (2004) and the Gifu Prefectural Museum's "Tradition and Creation: The Skill and Beauty of Gifu Prefecture's Important Intangible Cultural Properties" catalog (2016). https://www.gifu-kenpaku.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/岐阜県博物館_調査研究報告_第40号（2019・2020）_南本有紀_青木啓将著『現代日本刀の生成』書評に代えて.pdf

Not sure if it still exists but other associations mention it. Attached is page 1 from the 2013 annual report put out by the Gifu Prefectural Industrial Technology Research Institute 岐阜県工業技術研究所. 2013-岐阜県工業技術研究所年報-pp01.pdf

The source of the Shō 昭 stamp identification is via Ohmura as already stated. Bruce asked me some years back to reread the text and that is when I spotted the reference below. 関の軍用日本刀 With the cooperation of Ido Seiji 井戸･誠嗣, chairman of the “Seki-Den Japanese Sword Forging Technique Preservation Society” 関伝日本刀鍛錬技術保存会, a description was found in Tōto Seki 刀都関, published by the Town of Seki in 1940, that said "the blade has passed the strict inspection of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers’ Society 関刃物工業組合 and is stamped with “Ōka ni Shōji” 桜花に昭字, and has gained an unrivaled reputation as a practical sword." There is another book that I do not own yet and it is referenced below. The Seki Tanrensho book and others related infos

造兵廠 zōheishō How much should I spend?

Just goes to show that you learn something new every day.

The subject of traditionally made and guild stamps can get confusing at times. Sunagashi

I would make the "Downvote" available only to those with a Gold Membership. If you like the suggestion, "Like" it, if you dislike it, "Downvote" it.

Did find mention that one of the authors is a bit controversial. Yagyu shinkage-ryu swordmanship

Ran across the second book at a bookstore this month. Seemed interesting so I thought I would pass it along. I did a NMB search and did not find any mention of either book. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MSFQNCR?binding=hardcover&searchxofy=true&qid=1757980878&sr=8-3

That is coming from Bruce's Mantetsu study and does not apply to your sword.

Cross-Reference Collection of gendaito for sale

I went over to Japanese Sword Index (JSI) and that is a different Kiyokuni with different characters. The JSI Kiyokuni 清国 would probably be from Yamaguchi Prefecture and the blade is also "Star" stamped. 長州住清国 Chōshū-ju Kiyokuni. Kiyokuni Found a second one by same smith. Star stamped and dated March 1944. 長州住清国

Cross-Reference 長野縣　Nagano Prefecture ☆　神國　= Shinkoku [or Kiyokuni] 皇紀二千六百三年三月日　松１２ = A day in March 1943. See page 978 of e Swordsmiths of Japan by Markus Sesko. Advice for new collectors from an old dog

A GBF thread asking about current reproductions. Does anyone make firing/functional Tanegashima matchlock reproductions?

A sword/uniform shop logo that has been encountered before. Arsenal Stamps. Old versus New 神 = 神

Ted, glad to hear my post above was useful; alas, the list above was only focused on the army though. For a list of naval dictionaries, see my post over at TPF. Japanese Military Dictionaries For Japanese sword terms, see the NMB thread below. Japanese Sword Encyclopedias & Dictionaries