Type 98 with Arsenal stamp?

[Kolekt-To]

This Gunto is up for sale on Gun Broker and I'm confused about it. The blade has a fuller (as seen on Type 95's, and on many older blades) and has a tang with a Kokura arsenal mark (I say mark instead of stamp, because it looks to have been chiseled into the tang). I'm still new to the hobby and this is the first time I have come across one like this. Is this a Type 95 Kokura arsenal blade in Type 98 mounts? Did the arsenals produce some blades to be mounted in Type 98 koshirae? What are we looking at here?

[BANGBANGSAN]

It's a 造兵刀 Zohei To

http://ohmura-study.net/206.html

[Kolekt-To]

Thank you Trystan!

[BANGBANGSAN]

2 hours ago, Kolekt-To said:

Thank you Trystan!

You are welcome.BTW:Take a look at my signature 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Lately I have seen a few of those priced very high, as much as I like them I don't think they are worth over 2000usd unless in perfect condition with original tassel. 

[BANGBANGSAN]

6 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Lately I have seen a few of those priced very high, as much as I like them I don't think they are worth over 2000usd unless in perfect condition with original tassel. 

+1! Even in perfect condition with the original tassel,2K is on the high side in my opinion.

[BANGBANGSAN]

John

You and I both like them, but seems not too many people interested in those arsenal machine made Zohei-to.

[ChrisAWilson]

Just so I’m understanding this correctly and I did read the Ohmura link their is such an officers Shin Gunto with what looks like a 95 blade? I was looking at one at a gun show in Tulsa Okla. (the Wannamacher Gun Show, always a lot of swords there) that a collector had for sale, it was a 98, but had what appeared to me as a 95 NCO blade but no serial number. He told me it was a late war budget shin Gunto for someone that couldn’t afford a hand forged blade. I having never seen or heard of such a thing let it walk. If there is such a thing I’ll know for next time as I don’t have that variant! 
 

Trystan! Can I assume you have a nice NCO collection? I like the officer swords but my thoughts have always been that the NCO swords saw the most practical use just due to the job of the NCO! This is coming from a retired Infantry Officer. 
Chris Wilson

[Bruce Pennington]

2 hours ago, ChrisAWilson said:

If there is such a thing I

There is such a thing, and if you have been discussed here on the forum. In the pictures it can be a little difficult to distinguish between the two.  The zoheito tend to have a bit more curve in the blade and shorter nakago. 
 

 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

The Bohi is properly finished as well. The Habaki will generally be a goldwash type and the fittings have a pierced Tsuba, it should not appear 'late war' in any way.

[Kolekt-To]

FYI, the bidding is currently at $1700.00 USD for the gunto in the photos I posted. Seems a bit high, however, as stated here, these are known to sell for up to $2000.00, and Type 95's in decent shape aren't cheap these days, either. 

[BANGBANGSAN]

On 9/6/2021 at 9:18 PM, ChrisAWilson said:

Trystan! Can I assume you have a nice NCO collection?

Chirs

I do not have all 8 types of the NCO sword, but I do have quite a few Type 95 and Zohei-to（造兵刀）， not as many as John or Stegel though.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Trystan I don't have any Type 95 and just one Zohei-To

[BANGBANGSAN]

2 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Trystan I don't have any Type 95 and just one Zohei-To

That must be Stegel then,and Neil