Klink

Well thanks, you gave me a thought and so I searched for it and since I use Chrome it turns when your on the website to be translated you simply right click on your mouse and it brings up a Google Popup which has a Line that says, Translate to English.... and it worked. So I'm back on the site!!!

Ed, I saw a retention strap like that but the photo was from a distance. That's a perfect photo for an interpretation on dimensions. Was the material leather, pigskin ..... It looks very soft and flexible like a deerskin. And I suppose the snap may be interesting and that may turn into another topic of its own My concern was would that affect the Seppa and spacing. My gunto has a full set of spacers which may suggest the strap would have been the Fuchi wrapped style.

Thanks Bruce. For some reason I was on the Main Site and a window allowed for English Translation that appeared instantly and now no more.

So I guess it's a good match and thanks for the comments. If all else fails (which is sounds like it's going to) on the retainer strap I have a custom saddle maker down the road and he made a friend a replica 1903A3 cheek rest, so I'm sure he could handle a strap... we shall see . Regarding the Saya, lets just say I have been a friend of the WWW since its creation and I have used it successfully to search for items such as this. Heck, I found you guys! But I do find things locally as well so check your local Facebook Marketplace, Auctions Houses, etc. Assuming your retired and have lots of spare time on your hands! Unfortunately most of our greatest generation have passed away and we have personally recently lost family members who served at Normandy Beach, a 1st Division / Hollywood Marine who served at Peleliu, Okinawa and China and others. Where I live we have a large contingent of retired Military serviceman and many families are confused as what to do with items such as this as they do not want their children accidentally finding one. I believe in history preservation and someday hope to pass it on to my Grand kids.....

Based on Bruce's notes, it looks like not only did Yoshitada (義忠) win the "Chairman's Prize" in the arsenal smith category in 1944 but he also produced more then the other smiths (based on a statistical population of six)...

I was enjoying reading the Ohmura-study but now when I bring up the website I don't get the english translation option to click on. I was going to quote the author but by paraphrasing I thought it said that facilities that were bombed had work in progress that were never finished.

This is what I am looking for?

I think I have found a Saya match for this Gunto and so give me your thoughts. (1) From the earlier comments I learned the Tsuba has the hole for a combat retention strap. (2) It is my opinion that the fuchi is simple as compared to the the more decorated imprinted ones or the ones with release buttons, therefore keeping with the frugal warrior concept I have read that not all Saya with combat covers had Koiguchi fittings. (4) I understand the fitness test is that the Gunto should stay in the saya unsupported in a vertical position which this one does and the habaki fits snug. No matter what this will protect the blade and my fingers... Now where can you get a Combat Cover Retention strap?

So May of 1945 was getting close to the end. I wonder if the factories shut down prior to the end of the war.

18,000 swords a month.... Thats some quota. I wonder how many a day that works out to for the Gunto smith??

Bruce it was a Google AI quote. Here is the full content.. The Gifu-in-sakura stamp was a specific mark used by sword makers in the Gifu region of Japan in 1944 and 1945, and symbolized the character for "Gi" inside a cherry blossom. Its adoption was driven by several factors related to the Japanese war effort and the production of military swords known as gunto. The context and purpose of the stamp Wartime demand: During World War II, the Seki area in Gifu was a major center for sword production, with approximately 18,000 swords per month being sent to military organizations. Need for quality control: The massive scale of production led to confusion between traditionally made blades (gendaito) and the lower-quality, non-traditionally forged blades (showato) that made up the bulk of military production. Conflict with military inspectors: To address concerns about quality, the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association initially used a large "Seki" stamp to inspect and identify blades. However, this caused conflict when the Nagoya Army Arsenal commandeered the mark around 1942 for its own inspector stamps. Avoiding confusion: The new Gifu-in-sakura stamp was adopted to distinguish swords made in the Gifu region from those marked by the army's Nagoya arsenal stamp, clarifying the origin of the blade. The transition to this new mark occurred in 1944 and 1945. Symbolism of the stamp The stamp's symbolism was significant for the swordsmiths and the military: "Gi" character: The inclusion of the "Gi" character directly references Gifu Prefecture and identifies the blade as originating from the area. Cherry blossom (sakura): The cherry blossom is an important symbol in Japanese culture, representing the fleeting nature of life and serving as an emblem of the samurai. Its inclusion on the stamp tied the mass-produced military blades to this long-standing tradition. Interpretation for modern collectors For modern collectors, the presence of a Gifu-in-sakura stamp helps to date a sword to the final years of WWII and indicates its point of origin. However, the stamp's presence also suggests that the blade is most likely a showato (non-traditionally made) rather than a traditionally forge

Does the two symbol Kanji in picture 3 say Yoshitada? If so I am trying to figure out which person it was. There is reference to rikugun jumei tosho swordsmiths named Hizen (no) Kuni ju nin Yoshitada Saga (Hizen) Yoshitada Hizen Kuni Kinoshita Yoshitada There apparently are no know Seki smiths by that name...

Quote: The Gifu-in-sakura stamp (a symbol of a "Gi" character within a cherry blossom) was adopted around 1944, potentially by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association (or an equivalent body), to differentiate swords made in the Gifu region from those marked with the army's Nagoya arsenal stamp, which caused confusion. This was a shift from the large Seki stamp to avoid duplication and avoid conflict with military inspectors, with swordsmiths in the area transitioning to the Gifu stamp in 1944 and 1945. There is one Gifu stamp on the nakago and the other on the mune.

Unfortunately this one does not have a scabbard. I ask myself how does one loose a scabbard..

Appreciate help with the mei. Thanks in advance.