Jump to content

The Mysterious "w" Stamp!


Recommended Posts

Wow Noah, great find!  And once again, an example showing no rhyme or reason as to why the mark is put right side up or upside down.  Here's the only other 19 I have on file and the mark is the other way around.   Note both have the Tokyo 1st "TO" but different other stamp.  Were they early, personalized inspector stamps?  Or shop logo?

20170802_170954_resized.thumb.jpg.878530797796c0f80249e62d9216f41b.jpg1496629145_FAC59114-8D44-4A1E-9203-37A0F12B96B1.thumb.jpeg.60ffa629806573e315f29534b1d176e7(2).jpeg.8e542dfb76feda70b84de3777e5b83a9.jpeg

 

This new one looks like the katakana I "" , but it's got an extra small stroke at the upper right.  What do you see @Kiipu or @BANGBANGSAN?

33912533_AEB1ABE1-6C1B-4B0C-84B4-548CD24E0674.thumb.jpeg.8a6ff68f4d06427879c11258fc960449(2).jpeg.9b84960438cb40c933483672c4204cab.jpeg   other one for the record   211054290_20170802_170954_resized(2).thumb.jpg.9b41e3efd8ecac2d413db6d2758c1991.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no idea Bruce, can’t find any info in the 2 books I have and I can’t find the Edward Tinker forum where he had a similar type 19 with a W from where you have your photo. But maybe it was a secret group of individuals who were in a cult and as a sign of devotion marked their blades….just kidding! Y’all are way in over my head, I’ll watch from the sidelines fellas.

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey @Kiipu, here’s the link. It’s being shipped out tomorrow. Do you suspect it to be gimei? Its a parade sword, upon review everything seemed to check out. Do you see something?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265709392175?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=hYRXTkA_QDu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=5b5Igx0HQ7e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Note both have the Tokyo 1st "TO" but different other stamp.

 

On both swords, it looks like a 京 and not a 東.

 

If this is an army inspection mark, which it appears to be, then it belonged to the following organization.

陸軍兵器行政本部造兵部板橋監督班

Rikugun Heiki Gyōsei Honbu Zōheibu 陸軍兵器行政本部造兵部 Production Department of Army Ordnance Administration Headquarters.

Itabashi Kantoku Han 板橋監督班 Itabashi Supervisory Unit = 京.

Edited by Kiipu
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, Kiipu said:

 

On both swords, it looks like a 京 and not a 東.

 

If this is an army inspection mark, which it appears to be, then it belonged to the following organization.

Rikugun Heiki Gyōsei Honbu Zōheibu 陸軍兵器行政本部造兵部 Production Department of Army Ordnance Administration Headquarters.

Itabashi Kantoku Han 板橋監督班 Itabashi Supervisory Unit = 京.

@Bruce Pennington

I agree with Thomas,both kanji are 京。 mark  is also used by 東京第二陸軍造兵廠 京都宇治製造所(Tokyo 2nd Army Arsenal Kyoto Uji Factory).Maybe the circled K is also means Kyoto Uji Factory?

 

WechatIMG1320.jpeg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, Kiipu said:

Production Department of Army Ordnance Administration Headquarters.

Itabashi Kantoku Han 板橋監督班 Itabashi Supervisory Unit = 京.

Edited 14 hours ago by Kiipu

 

16 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

mark  is also used by 東京第二陸軍造兵廠 京都宇治製造所(Tokyo 2nd Army Arsenal Kyoto Uji Factory).Maybe the circled K is also means Kyoto Uji Factory?

 

Any way to decide on one of these over the other, guys?  Do you both have documents to reference?  Both sound plausible, but it would be nice to pin it down.

 

10 hours ago, Bridges said:

I found another!

Thanks Noah.  That's 3 distinct inspection marks now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

 

 

Any way to decide on one of these over the other, guys?  Do you both have documents to reference?  Both sound plausible, but it would be nice to pin it down.

 

 

Maybe when used by 板橋監督班 (Itabashi Supervisory Unit it) it pairs with encircled イ(I), when used by 京都宇治製造所( Kyoto Uji Factory) it pairs with encircled K?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Thomas, 

 

Ah! So there's a difference between "W" and stamps that resemble "w."  I was going to ask if this other stamp was the maker mark, but I guess you answered my question. Aside from some of the braided wire missing, the sword is in overall nice shape.  Here are some more pictures of the hilt.

 

Conway

 

image.thumb.png.5d76b35507a6965684134ad457dc1712.png

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, Conway S said:

So there's a difference between "W" and stamps that resemble "w."

 

Many thanks for the hilt picture Conway.

 

The Wakase company logo can be seen in this picture posted by @k morita.

Sign on Sword, Post #2

 

27 minutes ago, Conway S said:

Does anyone know what this mark says?

 

特許 = Patent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The sword would have been assembled by Wakase.  Not everything is made in-house, even back then.

 

The patent did not belong to Wakase.  It had something to do with the production process of the grip.  I was slightly off in my dates above.  The patent was issued in December 1942 so your sword dates from 1943 to 1944.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...

Another TAKEHISA!  Dated 昭 和 十 八 年 秋 - 1943 AKI

 

Tang has some rust areas but there is definitely one clear "W" at the bottom on the side with the Mei.  The fittings are matched as well, and the Tsuba and Seppa are marked with "& 3 3 1", while the tsuka, fuchi, and scabbard lock are marked "& 三 三 一". Never seen an ampersand used as a matching number, but I guess it works!

ONSV23NCN111__02.jpg

ONSV23NCN111__04.jpg

ONSV23NCN111__06.jpg

ONSV23NCN111__05.jpg

ONSV23NCN111__09.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...