Scogg

Thank you for sharing your blades. Unfortunately, it's difficult to provide meaningful feedback based on the current photos. Because your swords are mumei (unsigned), we must rely entirely on their sugata (overall shape), hamon, hada, and other physical details to offer reliable feedback. I’ve attached a visual guide (see below) outlining how to photograph a nihonto for the most accurate feedback, please: - Photograph the entire blade (sugata) from a straight overhead angle, with the tip pointing north and tang pointing south. - Remove all fittings, including the habaki, to expose the full blade and tang (nakago). Also close-ups of: -The kissaki/boshi (tip) - The hada/hamon (grain/temper line) - The hamachi/munemachi (notches of the edge and spine @ the nakago) - The nakago/mei (tang/signature area, even if unsigned) Against a dark background is best. From what I can see so far, your blades appear to be suriage or osuriage mumei katana with extended kissaki, very likely pre-WW2. However, clearer and more complete images are needed for meaningful feedback. Can you discern a visible hamon in the kissaki area (Boshi)? Cool swords! All the best, -Sam

I recently picked up a sword, that similarly has what appears to be an intentionally/selectively removed menuki. I suspect Bruce is correct, especially if the missing menuki had the family mon on it (in my case, a possibility). Which would increase its perceived value. Just a theory about missing menuki. -Sam

Looks like a 3-5-3 kirimon Interesting sword! Yes, could very well be 1500s. The fittings are WW2 but the blade is older. Welcome to the forum All the best, -Sam

Hello, I_Kendo_It / E.N, Interesting sword! Just a quick reminder, as part of our forum guidelines, we ask that all members sign their posts with at least a first name. It helps keep the community friendly and personal. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/27534-welcome-to-the-forum-please-read-here-first-before-posting/#comment-277750 Welcome to the forum, and thanks for sharing your sword with us! All the best, -Sam

Not that it applies to this specific sword... I agree with Bruce, that your blade appears to be Chinese. But, threaded nakago are sometimes found on kyu gunto, and other 'wartime' sabers. So it's not always the "red flag" it might appear to be at first glance. All the best, -Sam

The problem with adjusting the search function restrictions, is that the search function can be easily bypassed via google. For example, if you type into google "Nihonto message board hakikake vs kaen", a post of mine, with the same title from a few years ago, is the first result. If you type "hakikake vs kaen" into NMB's seach bar, it's the third result. I actually don't use the NMB search function because i'm so used to "rapid fire" searching, that the pauses it gives me between searches becomes a hinderance. Instead I do it through google with the same or similar results at a faster pace. -Sam

Club update: First meeting is officially scheduled! Sunday December 7th 2025, 3pm-6pm, in Tualatin Oregon. Please message me for the address if you have not received the club email. A big thank you to the Multnomah Aikikai, who allowed me to visit their dojo with some of my collection, and talk Nihonto with their members. It was a great time, and fun to see others swords. Photo below. Looking forward to getting this ball rolling! -Sam

These days, NMB isn’t the only place people turn to for Nihonto information. Free communities on Facebook and Reddit are active and often feel more approachable to newcomers. Many of us use those platforms too. The challenge is: why would a new collector choose to support NMB financially? Longtime members understand NMB's value, but for someone just starting out, that value can be hard to see. Especially if their first experience here feels more negative than positive. I sometimes see derogetory comments about NMB on other platforms, usually stemming from early interactions that left a bad impression. That’s concerning, and likely a barrier to growing membership. We can still be honest and maintain the highest of standards; but with a more encouraging tone for those who are still learning. My first ever boss once told me: "A person with a bad experience will tell dozens of people. A person with a good experience might never mention it." Creating a more inviting environment will go a long way toward helping NMB grow subscriptions in the long run. That’s how I see it, anyway. -Sam Edit: All good ideas above. Banner adds wouldn’t bother me either

If you search this forum for that eBay seller, you will find many concerning testimonies. Buyers beware https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12191-ebay-seller-showa22/page/3/

Yours is the “pattern 2” variant, with aluminum handle and brass tsuba, which is desirable. A mismatched scabbard hurts the value a little, but it is pretty common. I typically see matching sets go for between $750 and $1250, and sometimes more; so I would think around the lower end of that range. They are pretty collectible, and make for great displays. Depending on condition and the motivations of the buyer it could go for more or less. All the best, -Sam

Hi Mike @Mike Murphy, and fellow Oregonian, I'm going to relocate your post here to the Military Swords of Japan section, because I think you'll get more and better feedback there. You have what looks like a genuine Type 95 NCO Shin-Gunto, but I would love to see more photos to confirm. Your specific sword bears the "Sakura Ichi" stamp, the Tokyo First Arsenal supervisory section stamp, and the four cannonball kokura stamp. Your sword was made in ~1942 according to my interpretation of my records. Does the scabbard have a matching serial number? If you have any questions, please let me know. All the best, -Sam

Thank you Conway. I've got that noted now. The variety of these swords is really amazing. Much appreciated! @Bruce Pennington, the earliest Tokyo that I have recorded has a 9mm tsuba; do you know the mm of the tsuba on 10506 nagoya? It's my second earliest nagoya "pattern 2b" recorded, so it would be interesting to note. Thanks everyone, -Sam

As far as the pattern 5 with bohi, I have also never observed one myself. But it stands to reason that they exist. My catalog pattern list is still a work in progress and evolves as I see new features. I would love to add a Pattern 5a if/when I encounter any. Edit: I see that I do have some early pattern 5s with a fuller denoted. Thank you! Will add that to my pattern list Patterns in order Pattern 1 = Copper Tsuka - 11mm Brass tsuba - Offset ito at fuchi. *Pattern 2a = Aluminum handle - 9mm Brass tsuba - Offset ito - punctured ito. SUYA, 東 .* *Pattern 2b = Aluminum handle - 9mm Brass tsuba - Offset ito - adjusted ito around mekugi. GIFU, 名. * Pattern 2 = Aluminium Tsuka - 9mm Brass tsuba - Mirrored ito. Pattern 3 = Aluminium Tsuka - Steel tsuba - Mirrored ito. *Pattern 3a = Aluminum handle - steel tsuba - mirrored ito - no bohi. *Pattern 3b = Aluminum handle - Top latch but with side latch cutout - mirrored ito. Pattern 4 = Aluminium Tsuka - Steel tsuba - Side latch - Mirrored ito. *Pattern 5a = Wooden handle - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch - Has Bohi - Steel Saya. Pattern 5 = Wooden Tsuka - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch - No Bohi - Steel saya. Pattern 6 = Wooden Tsuka - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch - No Bohi - Wooden saya. Pattern 7 = Wooden ring Tsuka - Steel Tsuba - No Bohi - Side Latch. Pattern 8 = Ito wrapped Tsuka - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch.

I have read mixed information about this. I have 7249 Tokyo, in my collection and it has a 9mm brass tsuba. It stands to reason that there would be some carry over, but I have never seen an aluminum with 11mm tsuba myself. If you have any examples for my list, or definitive sources I would love that for my records. Sincerely, -Sam

My pleasure, John, and thank you for sharing your family stories around the war. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying how fascinating they are to hear. Your experience with your sword is one many of us can relate to. At the time, these items were often seen as little more than souvenirs from a difficult yesterday; far from the historical items we now treasure as connections to our fathers and grandfathers and a world altering conflict. I also inherited a sword very young. Before it came to me, my grandfather spray painted the scabbard gold. Fortunately, the dry climate has caused much of the paint to flake off over the years. Cool sword, and thank you for sharing! -Sam

Wouldn't that be cool? Even though i've accomplished quite a bit with my cataloging, I still feel like I have a lot to learn surrounding the arsenal and manufacturing landscape of WW2 Japan. Maybe someday with some help. -Sam

You get a few different interpretations of the Type 95 patterns, but all generally agree with the basic order. I am working on putting together a photo guide that includes some of the less common transitional patterns; but in the meantime, here's the pattern order list that I use for my cataloging; created with both ohmura's list and the addition of transitional patterns that I have observed. The patterns with asterisks and in red font, are the noted transitional patterns. Work in progress: Patterns in order Pattern 1 = Copper tuska - 11mm Brass tsuba - Offset ito at fuchi. *Pattern 2a = Aluminum handle - 9mm Brass tsuba - Offset ito - punctured ito. SUYA, 東 .* *Pattern 2b = Aluminum handle - 9mm Brass tsuba - Offset ito - adjusted ito around mekugi. GIFU, 名. * Pattern 2 = Aluminium tsuka - 9mm Brass tsuba - Mirrored ito. Pattern 3 = Aluminium tsuka - Steel tsuba - Mirrored ito. *Pattern 3a = Aluminum handle - steel tsuba - mirrored ito - no bohi. *Pattern 3b = Aluminum handle - Top latch but with side latch cutout - mirrored ito. Pattern 4 = Aluminium tsuka - Steel tsuba - Side latch - Mirrored ito. Pattern 5 = Wooden tsuka - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch - No Bohi - Steel saya. Pattern 6 = Wooden tsuka - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch - No Bohi - Wooden saya. Pattern 7 = Wooden ringed tsuka - Steel Tsuba - Side Latch - No Bohi. Here is a really great thread topic that goes over some of the earlier transitional patterns: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/31314-Japanese-type-95-sword-for-ncos/ All the best, -Sam

Japanese sword bags often have yellow tassels, as seen below: If the sword originally had a General rank tassel, it would be a shame if it were lost; as they are pretty valuable. I see no reason to doubt your story, it sounds plausible to me. As Bruce pointed out, though, without a time machine, it may be impossible to confirm the full history with absolute certainty. That said, inherited pieces like this often carry personal and historical value that goes beyond what can be proven. Thanks for sharing yours; it's always a pleasure to see these kinds of items surface and be appreciated. All the best, -Sam

Hi John, cool sword. It's a pattern 2, Type 95 Shin-Gunto with the aluminum handle and brass tsuba. Yours has the Iijima factory stamp, TO stamp ((東)Tokyo first army arsenal supervisory section)), and Tokyo first army arsenal trademark star stamp. The date range I have for this serial number range and stamps is a little wide... It was made between September 1942 and March 1945; and probably sometime near the middle of that range, in my opinion based on my data. They are pretty collectible so take good care of it. Does the scabbard have a number that matches the blade? It would be near the opening where the blade inserts. -Sam

Thank you Bruce. I check eBay a couple times a week, but some always slip through the cracks. Those are good ones. The fabric handle one has been floating around the auction sites for over a year now. Interestingly, there's a very close serial number 109278 with Tokyo blade, that has a plastic or bakelite handle reminiscent of the late-war wood handle Pattern 5's. I have that one recorded as an anomalous outlier. All the best, -Sam Weird plastic handle version, second from the top, below:

There is an active nihonto club in your state of Indiana. If you want to get some eyes on your sword for more opinions, they would be great people to contact. @ChrisW https://indianatokenkai.wixsite.com/indiana-token-kai Nice looking blade, congrats; and welcome to the forum! -Sam

Hi @Dante Gambino, I deleted the post in the Nihonto section, because the information on this sword can be found here. Best of luck, -Sam

Those hash marks, the modified Roman numerals, are repeated on the seppa and tsuba. I had figured those to be the “assembly numbers”, and was hoping for a surname in the writing. Thank you everyone for the input! This is turning out to be an interesting gunto. Sincerely, -Sam

It looks non-traditional showato, in my opinion

I see it now, thank you@Bruce Pennington! I was scrounging the stamps document for something hourglass shaped . Anyway, let me know @SonoSam if you’d like someone to get eyes on it. Otherwise, I have no doubt that it’s genuine, and with the combination of input here and from Chris Bowen on Facebook - you’ve got the best info available . All the best, -Sam