Scogg

If the bids reach $1250… I will include a company grade blue/brown tassel, and a silk sword bag, both from my own collection. Could make a nice package or display for the military sword collectors! Bidding ends in just over a week on September 12th, at 5pm Pacific Standard Time, USA. All the best, -Sam

Howdy fella's! Brian and I are auctioning off a Showato in nice Type 98 shin gunto fittings. All proceeds go to benefit the forum. Posting here to get more eyes on our listing from the Military sword crowd. This is a great opportunity to help the forum improve into the future. A software update is upcoming, and this will massively help. Normally cross-posting like this is not allowed, but this is a special circumstance. I will delete this post when the auction ends next Saturday at 5pm PST. All the best, -Sam

The non-matching scabbard hurts the value quite a bit, unfortunately. Otherwise it’s actually in decent condition. You find these really beat up sometimes, or with cracked hilts. I recently sold on auction the same variation (variation#8), also with a non matching scabbard, and it sold for $800 USD. So I would think it would be worth around that price. Best of luck, -Sam

Finally gave it a go, and it’s a lot of fun! Love the daily game. Also, the traditions and schools kantei is a bit more my speed, so I’m very happy that is now available. Well done on this site, it is really impressive! Happy to now be a member

I don’t like it either, especially how it’s patinated right on top of where the bohi starts. It’s hard not to be reminded of similar practices being done, but for unethical reasons. Not for me personally. Maybe a special order or request? Best, -Sam

Awesome guys, thanks so much! @Bruce Pennington , what would be your opinion on date range for the large SEKI stamp?

Thanks again! Very interesting and cool photos. Also, that looks like a black painted scabbard. -Sam

Thanks Trystan, very interesting. Great belt, too. -Sam

Jacques is the one who brought up collecting in the first place. Otherwise, this thread is simply about papering standards. The discussion is specifically about papers and military swords, so I’m not really sure what Jacques’ point is here, other than simply being contrarian. -Sam

Blade pictures:

That would be awesome, Bruce! Thank you. The person I sold the sword to is one of the PNW club members. It would be great to share with him some additional information / data on Osawa Kanehisa. Best, -Sam

I have a bit of an interest in Osawa Kanehisa, as I once owned a blade by him and sold it to a friend. I notice there is not a ton of information about him, and I found that a little unusual for someone who signs with a kokuin. Since I had that blade, I think I've seen 3 more swords signed by him with kokuin. Some with longer signature than others as can be seen in my quote + image/link above. Another for the data pool

We are fortunate enough to have another sword donation, from an anonymous donor, to benefit the forum! This is an extremely generous gesture, and we cannot be more thankful. The funds from this sale will be spent to benefit the Nihonto Message Board and support it's much needed and pricey upcoming updates. This is an awesome opportunity to get a sword for your collection, and also help the board in a very meaningful way. Auction rules: Place your bid in a comment below. Bid in at least $50 increments. Auction will run until Saturday September 12th at 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time. Highest bidder by that time will win the sword, payments will be made directly to @Brian, and when payment is confirmed I will ship the sword to you. Free shipping within the USA. For international shipping I will cover $50 of the cost, and you will have to walk me through the process for shipping to your respective country and cover the difference in price. Please message me or Brian with any questions you may have. Type : Katana Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : UBU Mei : 土岐兼正 = TOKI KANEMASA . (R&G oshigata #202). Not dated. Papered or not and by whom? : Not papered. Era/Age : World War Two Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : WW2 Type 98 army officer Koshirae Measurements : Nagasa: 650mm Sori: ~10mm Kissaki: 34mm Motohaba: 30mm Sakihaba: 20mm Motokasane: 6.5mm Sakikasane: ~5mm Hamon Type : ~Midare Jihada : Non traditional blade with large Seki Stamp. Flaws : Some scuffing, tarnish, scratching, and some shallow chipping. Some cracking in samegawa. Sword Location : Oregon, USA. Will ship to : USA preferred. International shipping is available, with some patience and instruction. (I am not a dealer and do not have experience with this; I may need instruction on how to ship to your respective country). Payment Methods Accepted : Payment made directly to @Brian here at the NMB. Price and Currency : * Forum auction setting. Place your bids in the comment section below. * Returns Policy: No returns. Other Info and Full Description : This is a World War II Type 98 Shin Guntō officer's sword featuring a signed blade by Tōki Kanemasa ( 土岐兼正 ). Tōki Kanemasa is documented in the thick Fuller & Gregory oshigata book as oshigata #202 (photographed below). The blade is arsenal stamped with a large Seki stamp and is not dated. The hamon and boshi are clearly visible, and no fatal flaws have been observed. The blade remains in good overall condition, with some minor scuffing, small chips, and areas of tarnish consistent with its age and having been carried during WW2. The sword is in Type 98 officer fittings that are nicer than typically encountered. A desirable combination of a documented maker, well made showato, clear hamon and boshi, large Seki arsenal stamp, and above-average Type 98 fittings. More photos can be provided upon request. From Markus Sesko swordsmith books: KANEMASA (兼正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanemasa” (兼正), real name Toki Yoshihira (土岐善平), born November 21st 1897, he worked as a guntō smith and died November 2nd 1980.

Another example signed Osawa Kanehisa with large seki stamp and kokuin, found here: https://www.ima-usa.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/original-Japanese-wwii-type-98-shin-gunto-handmade-katana-sword-by-osawa-kanehisa-with-aluminum-scabbard

Hi @Jonas W, I can relocate this for you to the Tosogu section. Welcome to the forum! Best of luck with your investigation. I am sure the fittings members will offer input soon. All the best, -Sam

It says "Cash Only day of the show" I wonder if that means there's not a prior sign-up for the shinsa? I would love to secure my spot, if that's a possibility. Best, -Sam

Thank you for that clarification Bruce, that’s absolutely correct. What I should have said was; that while it’s not a cavalry specific sword, it could have been carried by a cavalry trooper, but short of some wartime paperwork or photographs that is likely impossible to determine.

Price reduction to $4750, OBO

Hi Derek, welcome to the forum! I'm going to relocate this to the Military Swords of Japan section @Moderk Bruce is correct, it looks like a wooden hilt Type 95 guntō. The stamp near the serial number is a SEKI stamp ( 関 ) that is either lightly struck or partially polished away. It's believed that this variation ( Variation 8 ) would have been made around June/July 1944. 関 = seki = 名古屋陸軍造兵廠関監督班 , Seki Supervisory Unit of Nagoya Army Arsenal. These swords are often called NCO swords, but their carry was limited to senior NCO's mostly Sergeant Majors and Warrant Officers. They were also issued to mounted branches such as cavalry, transport, and military police. See Nick Komiya's write up here, specifically Comment#10 : https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/short-development-history-type-95-gunto-676112/ So it's possible it was Cavalry, but impossible to know for certain without some associated wartime provenance. They are cool swords. All the best, -Sam

That’s some Senjuin… That old Go attribution is beginning to make some sense. Stunning! Thanks for sharing. -Sam

@Jeff Vines 東 = TŌ = 東京第一陸軍造兵廠監督課 , Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal Supervisory Section. This looks like possibly a Type 95 Gunto, that has had a lot of weird things done to it. I would need better photos of the tsuba area, habaki, blade, and other fittings to be sure. Some things looks strange, like the thickness of the tsuba for example. Best, -Sam

My pleasure. And please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the Type 95. It sounds like you're starting down a path I traveled myself not too long ago, and there is a lot to digest. I am still studying myself. As for that little leather knot on your sarute, I don't think it's a remnant of one of the NCO leather tassels. It looks considerably thinner, and I'd be surprised if the original NCO tassel strap could be tied into a knot that tight without splitting. For those reasons, I’m inclined to think it’s something else. I don't think it would hurt to remove it, but I also don't think removing it would accomplish much; unless, of course, you plan to replace it with an appropriate leather tassel. Long story short, it's up to you, and I don't think there's really "right" or "wrong" decision about your leather knot. All the best, -Sam

Ohmura’s study guide also mentioned the lacquered ito. See image from the link below with descriptions. It’s a well known feature on these swords. ohmura-study.net/952.html Quote and image from the link above: “The hilt was changed into Ikkan-maki- binding (Tenshō era-mounting for battles), and reinforced by applying Japanese lacquer to a Tsuka-ito…” All the best, -Sam