Info needed possibly looking to sell

[Rebeccacran]

I’m looking for info on the sword. I’ve been told is a World War II Japanese naval sword of some sort can anyone help me?

 

Edited September 30 by Rebeccacran
Improve picture quality

[Bruce Pennington]

Hi Rebecca!

What you have there is a Navy blade made by the Tenshozan sword company in the last days of the war, but mounted in souvenir fittings.  Tenshozan contracted with the 8th Army PX (military version of Walmart) to sell over 8,000 of these souvenirs from 1946 to 1950'ish.  The painted number - 11402 - tells us the blade was likely made before the war's end, but never used in combat.  Many surplus blades were re-fitted for the souvenir contract and sold through the PX in Japan and later in Korea.

 

Value? When honestly sold as souvenirs, they normally run about $450 USD.   Navy kaigunto (Navy blades in proper Navy fittings) can go as high as $2,000 plus/minus.

 

You can read about the souvenir operation in this article - The Mysterious NLF Gunto - A Souvenir

 

PS: Could I possibly get a full length photo of the nakago (tang) for my records?  I file and track these.

[Bruce Pennington]

@BANGBANGSAN @Kiipu

 

The painted number seems to have a "40" more freshly painted over " 1 1 ? 2".  Can you make out the number underneath?  I'm thinking the "40" was a number put there, over the wartime number, while assembling the souvenir.

[Rawa]

Worthy adding is:

-its steinless steel blade,

-saya lacquered wood not rayskin wrapped.

-tsuba consists of one element [dunno if its brass/copper]

For comparison full toyokawa 265 [fuchi and tang marked too]

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/52795-affordable-kai-gunto/#comment-554951

 

@Bruce Pennington anchor in circle is toyokawa right? Tenzoshan used anchor without circle.

Edited September 30 by Rawa

[Kiipu]

Hi Rebecca, the various small parts will have a one or two digit number stamped or written on them.  For example, the tsuba (crossguard) will have this number.  Take a picture of this number and post it.  This number will match to one of the combination of numbers painted on the nakago (tang) of your sword.

 

When time permits, below is a link to an article about postwar souvenir swords that will answer most of your questions.

The Mysterious Naval Landing Forces Sword

 

And finally, many thanks for sharing pictures of your sword.

[Rebeccacran]

How would I go about getting it appraised 

[John C]

Just now, Rebeccacran said:

How would I go about getting it appraised

Hello Rebecca:

Since these swords are really just PX items sold after the war, they do not hold the value of a war-time sword or a real samurai sword. But one suggestion I have would be to go onto Ebay and search the COMPLETED auctions for souvenir swords and kaigunto. The problem is that MANY folks out there do not know that this is a souvenir and they incorrectly label it as a kaigunto or Naval Sword. You would need to read Bruce's article and examine the differences when searching.

Regards,

John C.

[Conway S]

I’ve never seen one of these sold as cheap as $450 by an honest seller. Like any low-quality Japanese navy swords, these can be found online listed for $700- $1,000. One day maybe casual collectors will recognize these as post-war souvenirs, but for now, I think Rebecca should try to get market value. 

 

Con

[Rebeccacran]

How would I go about getting it appraised 

 

[Rebeccacran]

[Rebeccacran]

5 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

@BANGBANGSAN @Kiipu

 

The painted number seems to have a "40" more freshly painted over " 1 1 ? 2".  Can you make out the number underneath?  I'm thinking the "40" was a number put there, over the wartime number, while assembling the souvenir.

[Kiipu]

23 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I'm thinking the "40" was a number put there, over the wartime number, while assembling the souvenir.

 

Agree, 40 is the souvenir subassembly number.  See the picture of the seppa (washer) above.

四〇 = 40.

[John C]

@Bruce Pennington

Did you notice the hyotan mark on the nakago jiri?

 

John C.

[John C]

2 hours ago, Rebeccacran said:

How would I go about getting it appraised

For insurance purposes? Start with what you know about the sword - it's a souvenir from 1946-1952 (with what appears to be a war surplus blade). Next, what you may have paid for the sword and compare to recent sales of the same item. Insurance companies generally cover fair market value, so comparative sales.

John C.

[Brian]

If by appraised you mean a written evaluation, I am not sure. But as stated above, you can take the market value to be around $750 or so imho. That is what you would get on a private sale. These still sell as wartime swords, and I think $450 is waaay low. This would likely fetch around the $800 mark on eBay etc.
 

[Rawa]

Here you go similar condition 900$. Dunno how to compare blades. Yours have same stamp etc.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/208615160_wwii-ijn-Japanese-naval-officer-s-samurai-sword-kai-gunto-swansea-ma

Edited Wednesday at 09:15 AM by Rawa

[Bruce Pennington]

9 hours ago, John C said:

@Bruce Pennington

Did you notice the hyotan mark on the nakago jiri?

 

John C.

 

Good catch, John, thanks!  I only had 4 others on file, and they are all on Navy stainless blades - 3 mumei (now 4); one signed by Kiyomichi; all in kaigunto fittings.  This supports the idea that this blade was surplus, made for the war but not used until afterwards in the souvenir.

[Bruce Pennington]

17 hours ago, Rawa said:

@Bruce Pennington anchor in circle is toyokawa right? Tenzoshan used anchor without circle.

Marcin,

Thomas (Kiipu) recently figured out that this circled anchor was a generic, all purpose Navy inspection/acceptance stamp.  Turns out that the Toyokawa Navy Arsenal had nothing to do with swords.  The more elaborate circled anchor was the Naval inspector assigned to the Tenshozan factory, so still a Naval stamp, not a shop stamp.

[Bruce Pennington]

As to market price, $450 is what I got mine for, however it is rare to see one sold as a souvenir.  Almost all sellers market them as Navy kaigunto.  But I've always felt they should be priced higher, more like Brian said.

 

Rebecca, I don't see how or where you would get an official appraisal for this.  You are currently talking with the only guys that really know what this sword is.  Like the other guys said, the market itself is the real appraiser.  They are worth whatever people are willing to pay for them.

[Rebeccacran]

So you guys would suggest selling it on eBay is that correct?

[Bruce Pennington]

My first choice would be our own Swords and Edged Weapons For Sale or Trade section of NMB.  You'll save all the ebay fees and taxes.  I know I've heard a guy or two talking about wanting one of these.  If no luck there, then, personally, I'd try ebay.

[Jcstroud]

Entirely up to you.You can always set a reserve for loss prevention. I personally have two of these and paid around what Brian mentioned for each.

[Kiipu]

15 hours ago, John C said:

Did you notice the hyotan mark on the nakago jiri?

 

I had to look that one up!

瓢箪 = hyotan

The Gourd Canteen

 

See also the story "Tengu no Hyōtan 天狗の瓢箪 The Tengu's Gourd."  A little homework assignment for those that just gotta know what I am talking about!

 

Another indicator of an early souvenir blade is that the bottom of the tang is finished versus cutoff.

 

And finally, thank you for the additional pictures Rebecca.  We track these souvenir blades by the subassembly number.  If you look carefully at the tang, you will see the following two characters have been painted over the older number.  As you can see, the parts on your sword match this number.  I zoomed in on one of your pictures and also saw 40 stamped on the crossguard.

四〇 = 40.

[Jcstroud]

23 hours ago, John C said:

know that this is a souvenir and they incorrectly label it as a kaigunto or Naval Sword. You

Hey John,hope you are well.Considering that these swords were made by the Japanese Naval Sword Company aka Tenshozan Tanrenjo and Stamped by Naval inspectors approving the products to fulfill the US Army contract. I will agreeably disagree because there is no real way to prove whether they were produced during or after the war.some yes some no but any of these that still hold an edge after 80 years is proof of their quality.

.

[Kaigunto230]

On 10/1/2025 at 10:04 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Marcin,

Thomas (Kiipu) recently figured out that this circled anchor was a generic, all purpose Navy inspection/acceptance stamp.  Turns out that the Toyokawa Navy Arsenal had nothing to do with swords.  The more elaborate circled anchor was the Naval inspector assigned to the Tenshozan factory, so still a Naval stamp, not a shop stamp.

@Bruce Pennington and @Kiipu Could you please point me towards the thread with this information? I'd love to learn more. Thanks!

[Bruce Pennington]

Michael,

The majority of the conversation took place via PM.  I announced our conclusion and summary of the issue on this post:

 

 

[Kaigunto230]

6 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Michael,

The majority of the conversation took place via PM.  I announced our conclusion and summary of the issue on this post:

 

 

Thank you very much @Bruce Pennington!