NCO Type 95 identification help

[Mike Murphy]

 Just picked up this NCO type 95 and would like some help identifying it. Serial no. 140959 read with blade tip upward. 
Wont let me unload more pictures 
Thanks, Mike

[Scogg]

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

[Mike Murphy]

Thanks Sam, that was quick and helps me out a lot. 
Any idea of value?

[Mike Murphy]

Non matching serial numbers 

[Mike Murphy]

Scabbard serial no. Is 77861. 
Also the scabbard is dark olive green. 
Handle is missing the wire loop on end of it. 

[Scogg]

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 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Mike, 

You can read up on the NCO Type 95 on Ohmura's site: NCO Gunto Type 95 - Ohmura

The stamps can be identified there as well, but here is a chart from his pages:

 

As you will see, the "Ichi" logo is of a shop not officially identified.  Several of us, here at NMB, believe it is the same shop as the Kobe Sword Forge as seen with a "K" in sakura (cherry flower).

[Mike Murphy]

Blade is bright and beautiful. No signs of sharpening. No rust or dents in scabbard and has a dark patina. 

[Mike Murphy]

Thanks guys, you have been of great help

[Mike Murphy]

Ok, here is another one. A type 98. Matching serial numbers 112 with figure shown and on the tang a different figure followed by 112.  None on the scabbard that I can find.
I don’t know why, but all I can do is insert two pictures so here’s 2 showing the markings. Bottom mark is on the tang edges 

maybe someone can tell me how to reduce the size of my pictures or how to upload more pictures. 

Thanks, Mike

[Mike Murphy]

[Conway S]

The mark on the tsuba is the trademark of the company Suya Shoten (listed in figure posted above by Bruce). The second stamp on the tang looks like it could be a “to” stamp 東 for Tokyo First Arsenal. Does this sword by chance have a fullered blade also? A better picture would help in correctly identifying the stamp. 

[Mike Murphy]

[Mike Murphy]

The blade is fullered

[Conway S]

The stamp is the katakana ス and is sometimes a production sequence prefix. 112 could be part of the sequence, but it could also just be a number used to keep the koshirae and blade together during assembly. I would like to see more pictures of the whole sword, once you have the photo re-sizing figured out. 

[Rawa]

You have limit 2.93 max on photo. Do pictures in less resolution/cut unused space around item and don't change resolution while saving after changes. Or simply use some site with pictures free service and post link...

[Mike Murphy]

The katakana that looks like a seven with a tail on it I found that designates 1944. 
The other Mark is the to for the Tokyo first arsenal. 
 

 

 

[Mike Murphy]

[John C]

Mike:

One way to resize and image if you don't want to download 3rd party software is to take a screen shot of just the part of the photo you need. Click on the info icon to check the size. Then go to tools then down to adjust size. If it says something like 114, just change it to something like 74 and it will reduce the size by half. Close out the screenshot to save.

 

John C.

[Leen]

Zoheito, non traditional, mass produced blade (like the type 95) in good quality type 98 (suya shoten) mountings. Also mentioned on ohmura study net

 

[Mike Murphy]

Thanks everyone for the guidance 😃

[Bruce Pennington]

13 hours ago, Mike Murphy said:

Mike,

What is this a photo of?  Which part? Also, could you let us know where you found that katakana represented 1944?

 

Here's a couple tips on resizing photos:

 

Here is a search for free online photo resizing: Free online image resizer

[Mike Murphy]

That is the upper left side of the tang and the symbol in front of the numbers why with leg indicates 1944. Su symbol 

[Kiipu]

That is coming from Bruce's Mantetsu study and does not apply to your sword.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ah, yes, thanks Mike & Thomas!

 

The I RO HA numbering system has been seen in other industries and manufacturing systems, but that particular one tied to the SMR Mantetsu blade operation is specific to their work.  Other shops using it would have had completely different cycles as they moved through the katakana.  It's like Westerners using "A,B,C's" in a numbering system.  A 1-100, B 1-100, C 1-100 for bicycles; whereas a hammer shop might have A 1-2,000; B 1-2,000; C 1-2,000; etc.

Hope that makes sense.