WW2 Gendaito, Akihisa Yamagami, Star,607 & Mitsu (pin) marked Rinji Mounted

[john42768]

Hello Member, I'm a new member making first posting for your consideration and comments. This unverified information I have collected and combined regarding this purchase is as follow: This Gendaito is a WW2 unknown vet bring home without tag or lost in time. The Nagasa is 55cm,motokasane is 7mm, motohada is 3cm. the fuchi wears the inspection stamps of Kokura and SayaShoten Co..The tang mei and date is 1943 ( Oct. or Nov. not sure). It carries Starmark, #607 and Matsu (pine) stampings. The Rinji Combat mount has an undamaged dual latch release. It wears numerous small chips in the lacquer believed to be the results of combat conditions in the rough areas it served in The pacific Campaign. Not sure if tip of blade has a ding. Due to this as having been crafted by a smith with the skills of Akihisa Yamagami. I believe this would have been commissioned by a fairly high rank officer going off to war. If anyone can identify the date I would greatly appreciate it. From all that I have been reading about this quality combination it must have highly valued by the unknown IJA officer who wore it in combat. As to where it served remains a guess at present. Still trying to identify the US vet who carried it to the U.S.. I appreciate your time viewing and await your remarks. If any connections from the 607 that would be helpful, Hopefully sellers photos will be detailed to answer your questions. Please enjoy it as I will. Respectfully, John Sheehy, john42768

[john42768]

Sorry, additional photo that didn't attach above

[Bruce Pennington]

John, 

Welcome to NMB, the World's One-stop Shop for everything about Japanese Swords!  It's clear you've spent some time looking into your gunto.  It's quite nice.  I don't know your resources, but here's some good ones and some links to the inter-related topics involved with your sword.

 

Stamps of the Japanese Sword is a free download and discusses what we know about the stamped numbers (and Matsu) on your blade as well as the significance or the star and it's relevance to the RJT system that made your traditionally made blade possible.  I personally believe the stamped numbers on RJT blades were part of the contracting or tracking system of the RJT program.  But there is no documentation to substantiate that.

 

The Matsu Stamp is a thread started by @george trotter covering his discovery of the stamp used by the Yamagami brothers.  However, as a result, we discovered a couple or three other smiths' blades with the stamp, so we don't really know its full significance.  It is discussed in the Stamps of the Japanese Sword document as well.

 

For my own files, I have this gunto documented from Oct 2024, being sold by St. Croix blades.  Did you buy it from him or was there other owners between then and now?

 

[John C]

2 hours ago, john42768 said:

If anyone can identify the date I

Appears to be January, 1943. There is no day listed.

 

John C.

p.s. Not necessarily high ranking officer. Could just be a family with a lot of money.

[Marcin]

 from 2 weeks ago - rebel relics sale @Bruce Pennington

[john42768]

Bruce, Thank you. Yes I have looked at the Stamp listing, very helpful. I purchased from Rebel Relics out of Tennessee.

 

John C.  Thank you. Jan. 1943. I had from a couple other sources of  Oct. and a Nov. both 1943. I understand regarding the Officers rank, only went figured higher based on their salaries so yes could have been a rich Lt. 

 

Marcin, Thank you. Yes Brian Akins of Rebel Relics is where I purchased. Normally chasing Civil War items, but ran across it and got the urge

[john42768]

Bruce, The Rinji shown in your previous post is for sure not the same one that is with it now. 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks, John.  Someone switched the saya along the way.  Lucky for you, I'd say.  The current one is much nicer, and still period legit for holding an RJT star blade.

[John C]

2 hours ago, john42768 said:

Jan. 1943

John:

Just for your records, here is a breakdown of the kanji. Note that the 1 (ichi) is shaped kind of like a bent arrow. Very typical for mei.

 

John C.

[john42768]

John C. Many thanks for spelling  it out so I can see the correct translation. I was looking at the Ju and the hachi as one character. Basic stickman left me scratching my head. I have a really old Tanto that I make to be Yamato Masanori 1st generation, right around 1600 if I'm correct. The reverse has me stumped, but again two totally different responses. Remounted about mid 1800's along with a Kozuka that it's kanji I've been given different tranlations. Would that be something I should post here or somewhere else on this site. 

[john42768]

Bruce, Yes the one in your photo took a much worse beating then mine. Glad it got changed somewhere in it's travels. Was that why you mentioned fitting were different? What do you think of Tanto?

[John C]

35 minutes ago, john42768 said:

I was looking at the Ju and the hachi as one character.

A couple of tips for reading dates:

* if the number comes before the 10 (+) it is multiplied; after the + it's added. So, 二 (ni) 十 (ju) 三 (san) would be 23. You often see ni ju on swords for 1945.

* Sometimes older forms of numbers are used, for example the current number 3 三 and the obsolete number 3 參

* There are also numerous ways of espressing the date, for example Koki ni sen roku hyaku nen indicates year 2600, or 1940; on occasion, you'll see the word sho 正 used to indicate January; you may even see just seasons, usually spring 春 and autumn 秋; and once in a while the Chinese calendar is used.

 

So if you find yourself stuck on a date, try one of these other ways and see if you can get it.

 

John C.

 

 

 

 

[john42768]

John C.  Thank you for tips in deciphering. Being an octogenarian my 20-20 vision has seen better days. 

[Bruce Pennington]

15 hours ago, john42768 said:

Would that be something I should post here or somewhere else on this site. 

John,

there are some guys on this forum that can talk to you about it, but you would be better off putting it on the http://Nihonto Forum.

[john42768]

Bruce, Thank you. I've been doing a lot of digging on it. "IF" all turns out to be correct 1st generation Yamato Masanori  dated 1601  combined in a 1830's  Masamitsu ensemble I'll be a very happy camper even though it is not verified. Another Vet bring home. Best