Scogg

Awesome example in great looking fittings. I was drooling over that one, and other gunto on Mr. Singers Instagram recently Thank you for sharing, -Sam

Yes those are great, thank you! If you’d like to read some more on these. Here’s a great couple links: http://ohmura-study.net/794.html http://ohmura-study.net/957.html Additionally here on the NMB in the download section, I have written a document about the variations and evolution of the Type 95 military sword. Best of luck, and happy to help. -Sam

Hello Adam, welcome to the forum. What you have is an authentic Japanese Type 95 Military Sword. Sometimes called a Type 95 Guntō, or Type 95 NCO sword. Yours has the stamps on the ferrule indicating it was made by Suya Shoten, inspected by Tokyo first army arsenal, and administered by Kokura Arsenal. The "東" stamp on the blade (also middle stamp on the ferrule) is for 東京第一陸軍造兵廠監督課 = Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal Supervisory Section. According to my study and interpretation, your sword was made between April 1941 and March 1942. It looks to be in good condition, although the hanger piece at the end of the hilt (the sarute) is not factory original. It's very common for the sarute to be replaced or missing entirely, so this is not a big issue. It also looks like the scabbard number does not match the blade, this is also common, but it does hurt the value a bit from a collector standpoint. Are you able to get a close up shot of the flowers in the handle? Also the side openings of the tsuba? I like to catalog these swords, and am noting some fine details. Nice looking sword, and thank you for sharing. All the best, -Sam

PNW Token Kai, for the pacific northwest USA states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Although our club is in our infancy, and I am still figuring stuff out https://www.pnwtokenkai.com/ Including it might get me some more traction and members, but also no biggie if it's included or not. -Sam

Jared, I’m sorry the information provided about titles didn’t meet your expectations. We are all here because we care about Nihonto. What’s historically important to the broader study of Nihonto isn’t always the same as what’s culturally or artistically worth preserving and respecting. All of it matters to most of us, and we feel strongly about it. With any fine art, there’s a spectrum of importance. The Mona Lisa’s significance doesn’t negate the value of a family heirloom or an older painting with more personal meaning. -Sam

I only have about ~120 Variation#1 copper hilted swords cataloged. I include stamps, saya#, the source I found it, and any other notable features, damage, or paint colors, replacement parts, etc.. My highest cataloged serial number Variation #1 Copper Hilt Type 95 is #6561 (with #501 forward habaki). My lowest serial number Aluminum Hilt Variation#2 Type 95 is #6756 (SUYA). I continue to catalog more swords. I usually add about 5-10 new swords per week, and I think I have over 1000 total cataloged now. (I have not done a hard-count since I had around ~800, a while back). Best, -Sam

Hello @Dken, I'm going to relocate this post to the "translation assistance" section. I think you'll get a faster reply there. Welcome to the forum, and best of luck. -Sam

Indeed, @John C. There are actually a few variations that are more scarce than the Copper Hilt Variation#1 swords; but for that rarity to reflect itself in the market $$$$, people would have to know about said scarcity. Few people are dedicated to learn the nuances of these interesting swords. I think another factor is that people often associate early/pre war Japanese military with high-quality, and late war Japanese Militaria with low-quality. That said, I recently saw one of those late war Jinsen Variation#9 swords sell for $2250. Maybe views are evolving? -Sam

A really great example. Unfortunately I just bought one myself that should arrive this week. I have seen these sell for as low as $2,000 and as high as $9,000. I would think one in this condition with matching numbers could easily bring around $5,000. That probably sounds crazy to the Nihonto guys, but that's what i've witnessed in the market. They made fewer that 7,000 swords of this copper hilt variant. -Sam PS: I cataloged this sword last year, when it was shared on the Wehrmact forum. If it's from the same individual, they at least know a little about it.

I like having them both, and using them in conjunction with Dawsons 2007 cyclopedia

Personally, I do not wonder. I keep my crudely cast parts separate from my collection; because I have always believed them to be fake or modern-cast repros. At least until proven otherwise. -Sam

Indeed. I’m not the seller of this sword, and my photos are from a different but similar set of crude looking fittings. The scratches on my tsuba might be obscuring something. There’s a raised area at the bottom left of the scratching that could be some kind of logo. Unfortunately I cannot determine what it is, if anything at all. -Sam

It’s a rule we all follow to learn about katanas on this platform. I think Reddit is anonymous, if that’s what you’re after

I agree with Geraint. In my opinion, at best it’s a piece together with a mix of real and fake parts. If these crudely cast fittings were actually late-war; I would think that we would have seen them more frequently on other late war examples. Here they appear ill-fitted and with brand new tsukamaki. I do not think that is writing on the sarute. To me, it looks like scratching from using a tool to crimp the sarute into place. Another sign this might have been put together recently. -Sam

I have watched a few videos of modern smiths adding broken pieces of older nihonto to their billet. I imagine this would help provide a level of diversity from one sword to the next in steel composition. Interesting stuff, -Sam

I think I have a very similar set of this type of very crude fittings. They came to me in a bag of miscellaneous parts and fittings. It has always been my assumption that they are modern reproductions or outright fake. They appear extremely crudely cast, and the hanger looks too small. Mine have remnants of paint on them. Again, I always thought they were fake, and keep them as a curiosity. -Sam

That is a wise decision. Excluding old “family” swords, and Gendaito; many WW2 swords, and especially machine-made blades and showato; are simply relics of their time and the war. Their value and collectibility is associated with their history, and there’s a level of acceptable condition issues. People in the militaria collecting world will see more value and intrigue in an item that shows some wear and tear, and will look at a “clean” or “pristine” item with scrutiny and skepticism. Nobody likes to see evidence of modern alterations on vintage or antique items or art. Best to leave it as-is. Best of luck, -Sam

Partly because it’s in a poor state of polish and condition. Different light and angles = different reflection and illumination

@Vampyres, I’ve merged your newly created topics to this old one again. Please reply to this ongoing topic, instead of creating new topics

We do not promote or encourage DIY polishing on the Nihonto Message Board under any circumstances. Our focus is the study and preservation of genuine Japanese swords and fittings, and proper restoration is a critical part of that responsibility. If a proper restoration is not financially possible, that does not justify attempting to do it yourself. Owning a damaged piece does not grant license to restore it, just as one would not attempt to repair a damaged Rembrandt without the necessary training, knowledge, and expertise. Sorry to be blunt, but it reflects the standards we uphold. DIY polishing sets a dangerous standard within the hobby and ultimately risks irreversible damage to the very objects we are trying to preserve. DIY polishing is an ALL STOP situation here. Regards, -Sam

I do have concerns about the sword. In my opinion, it looks severely altered or messed with. The proportions make me wonder if it’s been machi-okuri, and the nakago looks like artificially accelerated aging rather than natural patina. That makes me question whether there might have been an effort to obscure a stamp, or make it "look" older than it is.

@Vampyres I combined another new topic to this pre-existing thread... Instead of staring a new topic for every grouping of photos, please "reply to this topic" and do not "start new topic"

Hi @Vampyres I have combined your topics for this sword. Please keep one sword per topic; Otherwise it will get very confusing, and you'll have several discussions about the same item happening simultaneously. I'm going to relocate this to the "Military Swords of Japan" section. I think you will get better feedback there. All the best, -Sam

Lovely piece @Volker62, best of luck with your sale. It will be a wonderful addition to any collection. Relocating to "Assorted Samurai, Japanese Art and Related Items" in the For Sale section. All the best, -Sam

@RW-Maryland Now that we’ve seen your sword, I’m going to relocate this to the Nihonto section Best of luck, and thank you for sharing your blade with us. -Sam