Kiipu

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.

The character is the hiragana character と (to). Thus the serial number is と 三七四 [to 374].

Serial number not stated but is looks like it could be ワ 三三? Mantetsu Wakizashi

ワ 六 = WA 6　No pictures. http://ohmura-study.net/222.html ワ 一三四 = WA 134. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/28631-railway-swords-stamps/?do=findComment&comment=290148 ワ 一五八 = WA 158. https://yakiba.com/Kat_Mantetsu4.htm https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/26165-attention-mantetsu-owners-a-survey/?do=findComment&comment=265512

The Mantetsu 13 ワ series is a bit of a toss up as far as dates are concerned. An unusual amount of custom swords also make an appearance. At this early date, all are commercial blades. In summary, this is what shows up. 1941春　ワ 　　六　Details unknown. 1940秋　ワ 　三三　Wakazashi. 1940秋　ワ 　七三　Wakazashi Type 98. 1941春　ワ 一三四　SMR Tachi. 1941春　ワ 一五八　Type 98

The logo stamped on the crossguard in post 2.

Possibly the logo of Yamamoto Military Sword Shop 山本軍刀店. Kyu Gunto mounted tachi

Nothing wrong with your memory! Very Unusual Gunto Koshirae

明治廿三年三月 = March 1890 [1890-03].

The complete stamp should look like the image below.

Ishimeji 石目地 maybe? Try looking up the term in Sesko's book, Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords.

28th Series Mantetsu, Early Army Contract. ク 四七一 = KU 471. 昭和壬午秋 = Autumn 1942. M inspection mark along with subassembly number. 満鐵作 = SMR made.

Fourth Column From Left (Revised) 昭和十七年壱月参日 = 1942-01-03. Second Column From Left The first two characters look like Tōkyō to me. But I am at a loss as to the last two. 東京 = Tōkyō.