Wangzi

Actually it has a blade inside with a Mei "兼國". I just ignored the blade becoz I do like this Koshirae.😅 You guys are right, it is too expensive even with a whole blade.

To be honest, I have never met a type 94 gunto with Wakase fitting. It is a pity that the second hanger is not original. The dealer asked for about 5000 US dollars for it. I know that it is expensive, but I think I would take it if it has two original hangers. So Im asking for some suggestions if it is worth the price for its rarity.

I think the Wakase koshirae is characterized by a solid and slim tsuba and a special ishizuki.

Bruce, sorry that the gunto showed above is owned by a sword dealer. But I can show you another hanger of mine. To my knowledge, there should be three variations of the hanger, I hope this could help. Zi

no，this gunto comes with the leather cover and only one hanger，the seller took off the cover and put another hanger onto it.

Hello fellow militaria collectors, I’d appreciate your expertise on this Japanese Army Type 94 Guntō featuring exceptional Wakase-style Koshirae. Seller told me the second suspension ring is a genuine one，but does not belong to this Koshirae set. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

About the place of production, I think they have always been produced in Nanman until the end of war, or to be more exact, produced in the city of Dalian（大連）. I have found a document, it is a section from the memoirs of ex-SMR staff. I made an interpretation below. It says, in July 1944, 三笠宮殿下（a royal member, the little brother of Japanese emperor）visited the Mantetsu gunto manufactory, 松岡洋右（the boss of SMR）planned to present a Koa isshin gunto as a gift. Therefore, the factory began to produce Koa Isshin gunto from 18th July 1944, they finally made 6 swords, and one of them was piked out as a gift. So at least they were still making Mantetsu gunto in Dalian in July 1944. the stamp 'Nan' (南，means south)，the stamp 'Ren'(連，possibly stands for the city name Dalian or DaiRen，大連，where they were forged). The photo below is the Mantetsu gunto manufactory（滿鐵大連鍛刀所）in shahekou district of Dalian. I hope these would help. Zi

Bruce, About the stamp of 'Nan' and 'Ren'. I have found a table about the marks of Mantetsu Gunto. Here I try to translate the content from the year of 1943. 昭和18（1943） 興亞一心（Koa isshin） , 滿鐵作（made by Mantetsu） , Spring; 昭和18（1943） No motto，滿鐵鍛造之（forged by Mantetsu） ，Spring, 南（Nan）； 昭和19（1944） No motto，滿鐵鍛造之（forged by Mantetsu） ，Spring, 連（Lian，Ren）； 昭和19（1944） No motto，滿鐵鍛造之（forged by Mantetsu） ，Spring, 連（Lian，Ren）W； 昭和20（1945），no record. It looks like the motto 興亞一心（Koa isshin）no longer existed after 1943. Instead of it, the “Ren” and “Nan” blades are actually Mantetsu gunto without motto.

Hi， Bruce, Yes, The SMR buildings in Dalian are now being used as museum ,exhibition gallery and liberary. However, it is a pity that exhibitions are mainly about history of SMR, not quite relate to its edged weapon manufacture. I am glad to post the details of my sword. It was forged in Autumn 1942(昭和壬午年秋)， the number is Ku 101 （ク101）. Zi

well, this kind of mantetsu gunto are special to me coz it was forged in my hometown. The building below is the head office of south Manchuria Raiway(or called Mantetsu,滿鐵). It is still preserved well nowadays.

I just bought a field grade tassel， the seller told me it is a genuine one 😀

yes, you are right. the genuine general tassel is too expensive.

copy that， then I give up and save money for something else. cheers!

Yes，this kind of Chinese made repro costs about 200 bucks(photos below). however, the seller did not inform me about this:-( For the sword fitting，it costs about 1500 bucks, do you think it is worthy to purchase?