Need help confirming mei on WWII officer shin gunto, Sendai ju Kanemune saku

[MattBrandon]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here, and I appreciate being able to join the discussion.
 

I’m looking for help identifying a WWII Japanese officer’s sword that my father brought back from the Pacific after the war. He served from 1943 to 1945 in the 1539th Ordnance and Supply unit and was in the Pacific from New Guinea to Okinawa. He said Japanese officers had to surrender their swords after the surrender, and I believe he may have been involved in collecting them.

The sword appears to be an Army officer shin guntō with matching assembly numbers on several parts, including 135. The tang has no visible arsenal stamps on either side that I can see. The blade has a visible hamon, and the tang is signed.

My current best reading of the mei is:

仙台住兼宗作
Sendai jū Kanemune saku
“Made by Kanemune, resident of Sendai.”

I would appreciate any help with:

• confirming or correcting the mei
• identifying the smith
• opinions on whether the blade is traditionally made or wartime production
• any comments on the mounts and matching numbers

I’m posting a few photos first because of upload limits, and I can add more details if needed.

[Scogg]

Hello @MattBrandon, welcome to the forum.

I'm going to relocate your post to the "translation assistance" section. I think you'll get a faster reply there.

The fittings are pretty standard "Type 98 Shin Guntō" fittings with nice looking leather combat cover on the scabbard. The matching "135" numbers is great to have, and strongly suggests that your fittings are originally made for the blade. This is a good thing, because often times we see swords that are "pieced together" from mismatched parts.

Looks in nice condition.
Best of luck,
-Sam

[MattBrandon]

 

41 minutes ago, Scogg said:

Hello @MattBrandon, welcome to the forum.

I'm going to relocate your post to the "translation assistance" section. I think you'll get a faster reply there.

The fittings are pretty standard "Type 98 Shin Guntō" fittings with nice looking leather combat cover on the scabbard. The matching "135" numbers is great to have, and strongly suggests that your fittings are originally made for the blade. This is a good thing, because often times we see swords that are "pieced together" from mismatched parts.

Looks in nice condition.
Best of luck,
-Sam

Thanks for the help Sam.

[ROKUJURO]

Not KANEMUNE, MEI looks more like MITSUHIRO.

Province might be OWARI/OSHU.

[Nobody]

6 hours ago, MattBrandon said:

.................................

 

My current best reading of the mei is:

仙台住兼宗作
Sendai jū Kanemune saku
“Made by Kanemune, resident of Sendai.”

..............................................................................................

 

 

Whoever said that was completely different.

 

尾州住人真野光弘作之 (Bishu junin Mano Mitsuhiro saku kore) – A resident of Bishu (= Owari province), Mano Mitsuhiro made this.

[rebcannonshooter]

Moriyama-san, why does the "Nin" kanji have the extra strokes on it? (Mitsuhiro used 4 strokes on this kanji instead of 2), which had me scratching my head in confusion. "Nin" was the only thing that made sense there, but I never saw it written this way.

Thankyou, Tom

[Nobody]

1 hour ago, rebcannonshooter said:

Moriyama-san, why does the "Nin" kanji have the extra strokes on it? (Mitsuhiro used 4 strokes on this kanji instead of 2), which had me scratching my head in confusion. "Nin" was the only thing that made sense there, but I never saw it written this way.

Thankyou, Tom

 

I only know that it is one of variant forms of 人. I think that there is no deep meaning.

Ref. File:U3139a.svg - Wikimedia Commons

 

BTW, I usually write 7 in the left form in the attached image, whereas most people here write 7 in the right form. Because, when I was young, I often read German blueprints with handwriting characters, and I liked them.

[John C]

8 hours ago, MattBrandon said:

few photos

By the way, VERY nice M1941 Johnson.

 

John C.

[rebcannonshooter]

Thankyou Moriyama-san, I I did a long back and forth with AI on this kanji, and the AI wasn't able to explain anything about it being a variant. You are most generous with your time and knowledge, Thanks again, Tom

[Bruce Pennington]

Matt, and minor FYI - the blue/brown tassel is the Company grade tassel for Lt's & Capt's (Warrant officers too, I think).

 

As for the blade, I'm really bad at this, but I think it could be traditionally made.  (this will get the real experts to chime it for you!).

 

Another note:  Based on my chart and files, blades with dates on the end of the nakago (tang) like yours - vertical, blade tip up - were made from 1943 - 1945.  Just to give you an idea about the manufacture range.

[Brian]

3 hours ago, John C said:

By the way, VERY nice M1941 Johnson.

 

John C.

Was just going to say that :-)
Wow.

[MattBrandon]

12 hours ago, Nobody said:

 

Whoever said that was completely different.

 

尾州住人真野光弘作之 (Bishu junin Mano Mitsuhiro saku kore) – A resident of Bishu (= Owari province), Mano Mitsuhiro made this.

Thank you for the information.Can you tell me more about him? What does this tell me about this sword? I am amazed at the information and depth of knowledge on this board!

 

Thanks

 

Matt

[MattBrandon]

10 hours ago, John C said:

By the way, VERY nice M1941 Johnson.

 

John C.

Thank you, that was also a "bring back" from my dad.

[Conway]

Maybe this smith is a possible relation of Mano Masayasu and Mano Kuniyasu, who were also smiths (and brothers) from Owari during WW2.   Here are a few other examples found online, but no additional details on the smith. Maybe @mecox has some knowledge of this smith. 

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b1119732614
 

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/o1145185613

Also, that’s a nice looking display! 

 

 

[MattBrandon]

Again, thank you for your help with this. I would love to create a bio page on Mano Mitsuhiro and share what I've learned.

I also have a few other questions. Is there a better place to post them, since this thread is focused on translations?

1. Should I have this sword polished, or should I simply leave it as is? It has accumulated a few minor scratches over the years. They're light and mostly cosmetic, but being a bit OCD about these things, they tend to catch my eye.
2. The sword is missing its sarute. If I remember correctly, the original one was fairly plain. Should I look for a replacement, or is it better to leave the sword as-is?
3. The retaining latch has broken off. The remaining portion still has the matching assembly number, but I'm concerned that the blade could potentially slide out of the saya. I've found a replacement for sale for $75—possibly from someone on this forum. Would you recommend installing a replacement for safety, or leaving the original broken part in place?

I'd appreciate any advice from those with more experience in restoration versus preservation. Thank you.

[Bruce Pennington]

I have a gunto with a latch that will not catch the edge of the saya and the blade simply slides out if tipped the wrong way.  I've scared myself a couple of times.  It's certainly safer if you can replace the latch, if you can find one to fit properly.  They do vary a bit in size and length.  But it's worth a try.  Be ready for the possibility that the replacement doesn't fit or won't catch well enough, though.

[MattBrandon]

 

One obvious thing is that the tang has two mekugi-ana (peg holes), whereas many Gunto examples I've seen have only one.

 

Is the presence of two mekugi-ana significant? Does it suggest the blade was originally made for civilian/family use before being fitted with military mounts?

 

I'd be interested in hearing what conclusions, if any, experienced collectors would draw from a WWII-era blade having two mekugi-ana.

[John C]

1 hour ago, MattBrandon said:

I'd be interested in hearing what conclusions,

Matt:

I'll give you one possibility. An officer may purchase a blade that was originally designed for an RS/type3/1940 style fittings (hence the two mekugi-ana). But had the type 98 fittings mounted instead, which use only the top mekugi-ana. I have a star-stamped sword that is just the opposite - one mekugi-ana RJT sword  in RS mounts.

 

John C.

p.s. FYI in cases where a civilian sword were used, the mekugi-ana would be much closer together.

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, I have seen a few blades that were obviously made for RS mounts (Type 3) but were in Type 98 fittings.  Not normal, but not unusual.