Alex Genikov

Thank you John No it is colonel and I must admit its reproduction as well, have to live with it until the better times. The rest is all restored original. Next time will do better pictures

Hi, here is another by Hiromasa

Hello Bruce, Thanks for your appreciation, but(fittings) its not as clear as it looks... I do not know about the hot stamp. It maybe smith personal stamp or work shop mark. As who the smith may be its a mystery. My friend from SF (LK) thinks its a Masatsune, he has one with a very similar hataraki. Pity a blade like this not signed

Hello, let me put my two cents as well

Bruce, You are right about the "x'ed numbers on the right. What I can see on the left is 'x'ed number 394. My guess is its been struck wrongly by someone(not 395 as the rest of the parts) Then its been ordered to restruck on the left and save the already fitted part. Here you are the history on the run.

How about this one The left side is numbered and the right side... I'll let you geuss

Thank you Dave a wealth of info! By the way a modern Japanese swordsmiths extensively using machines nowadays. Witnessed myself at ones famous swordsmith workshop near Tokyo, amazing. And this live as to what you pointed early- a military swords been made during the war to a purpose, not for the future collectors or admirers so was the medieval swords of the past as well. I am pity much sure, if would given a chance, medieval samurai would give a lot for a good WWII sword!

Thank you everybody! As usual anything Japanese is not simple. It is much clearer now especially from the info by Bruce! Hi David how are you mate!

Hello there! As I am new to a military swords Can someone clarify what is actually meant by "machine made sword". Since there were no CNC machines back then it could haven't been made by machine entirely. Is it just refers to a power aided hammer, drill or sending motor?! Is It still have to be forged and folded? Are this "machine made swords" made of one piece of steel or wrapped constriction? I guess if a modern clean steel has been used instead of inferior tamahagane, one will not need a wrapped constraction. This would be interesting to know, anyone can help? Would like to add that I am very sympathetic with Dave R at a look on military swords. On picture a machine made and arsenal stamped blade. Best of all

Brian, Thank you for an advice. Somehow it slipped my mind. Will try to be more careful in the future. Best regards

Bruce, thanks It is a full set of army fittings numbered 395 on all pieces other side of nakago included. Beautiful blade with the straight hamon and fine jihada present. No arsenal stamps present either. You right this stamp looks more like hachi (eight) then anything. Maybe it is something different after all. I am surprised such a nice blade not signed! Maybe some kind of special order. Anyway, now it looks like it need more research. Lets see how it'll look like after polish, not soon though.

Hello everyone! I am a new member here, but my interest in Nihonto goes back for a few years back. My ,specialization' is to repair and restor neglected blades and give them a new life where possible. I've completed a few projects by now with the good resalts recognised by the fellow collectors as well. Recently, by chance, I've became an owner of a few so called gunto swords and the quest for information leaded me to your wonderful site. A couple of hrs of research produced unswears on all my questions, thank you. To add to this topic I would like to post this picture of the nakago with the 'HE' stamp insp. mark of the Heijo factory Jinsen arsenal, which may help others to identify similar stamps as well. There is the only this stamp on nakago, it is mumei. I have another question or two, but it will be later on other topic. As for now all the best for All Alexander G or Alex