John C Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 If I had to guess, I'm thinking 1956. John C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted April 3 Report Share Posted April 3 @Bruce Pennington For your files - another Seki Cutlery label. Unfortunately, no other information. Looks like it may have the inspector's initials. https://shopgoodwill.com/item/195384731 John C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 4 Report Share Posted April 4 These really do seem to be on late war gunto. Fairly low quality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted April 5 Report Share Posted April 5 @Bruce Pennington I hope this is another piece of the puzzle. On page 23 of the stamps doc, you note a "KA" symbol with unknown purpose. I found the same mark on a Japanese Red Cross medal. According to Peterson's Orders and Medals of Japan, he says this was used as a kind of mint mark. Unfortunately, he doesn't say from which facility. But if there were a facility that made both swords and medals........ John C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 5 Report Share Posted April 5 2 hours ago, John C said: if there were a facility that made both swords and medals........ Nice find, John! Maybe we can chat up the medals collectors over on Warrelics to see if anyone knows company names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 On 4/5/2024 at 3:05 PM, John C said: you note a "KA" symbol with unknown purpose. I found the same mark on a Japanese Red Cross medal. According to Peterson's Orders and Medals of Japan, he says this was used as a kind of mint mark. Unfortunately, he doesn't say from which facility. But if there were a facility that made both swords and John, just had to add this to the conversation. It is blocked by people walking by, but you can see a giant neon “KA“ in the back of the room. It’s in one of the scenes of the movie The Beekeeper. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 On 4/5/2024 at 4:24 PM, Bruce Pennington said: Warrelics So I was perusing some Nick Komiya's articles and came across a document we have seen a few times. But this time I focused on a different column (please see the circled column). It has the KA mark listed for the First Factory of Osaka University Army [military] research facility. According to one article, they were involved in equipment development. May be nothing. But I thought it was interesting - something I hadn't noticed before. John C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 11 hours ago, John C said: First Factory of Osaka University Army [military] research facility. Is this the name at the top of this section of the chart? If so, the "Saka" is under them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said: Is this the name at the top of this section of the chart? Yes...according to google app, anyway. From right to left starting at KA = 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th factories. John C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 Hmmmm..... so we have a duplicate use for the "saka" stamp, unless this chart is simply showing that the Osaka Army Arsenal Supervisory Section had a position at the Osaka University research facility. That's possible I suppose. What say you, @Kiipu? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 18 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said: Osaka University I don't think the wording refers to the university, just Osaka army arsenal. But the article mentioned the University being part of it as a research facility. John C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 @Bruce Pennington For your files - on a Kanenori showato. https://www.ebay.com/itm/176255601899 John C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNSSHOGUN Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 Examples of the "T.E.C." stamp on Kai Gunto, could have some relation to the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal due to their stamp? The quality on Kai Gunto with this stamp is often very good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 7 hours ago, John C said: For your files - on a Kanenori showato. Thanks John! That's the best one of this shape where the writing is completely legible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 6 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said: "T.E.C." stamp on Kai Gunto, Thanks John. I only have 3 examples and as you note, all 3 have the Toyokawa stamp on the seppa as well. I don't know the finer details of shops and forges that worked directly or exclusively for arsenals, but it appears this is so for this one. I know SMR had their own fittings shop, but I don't know if the Army and Navy arsenals made their own fittings, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 This is an interesting one, has both an anchor and a 岐 mark. These are all the photos of this sword that are on Facebook. Smith 兼玄 Kaneharu Date 昭和二十年五月 1945 May Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 Wow, that's a new one on me! Wish I could go back and see what hoops they were jumping through at the end of the war to get these gunto made and into the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted Tuesday at 10:15 PM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 10:15 PM On 4/6/2024 at 5:05 AM, John C said: @Bruce Pennington I hope this is another piece of the puzzle. On page 23 of the stamps doc, you note a "KA" symbol with unknown purpose. I found the same mark on a Japanese Red Cross medal. According to Peterson's Orders and Medals of Japan, he says this was used as a kind of mint mark. Unfortunately, he doesn't say from which facility. But if there were a facility that made both swords and medals........ John C. It could be 力 (Power) instead of Katakana カ(Ka), as they used on the good luck flag and Senninbari. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted Tuesday at 11:40 PM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 11:40 PM Definitely not 刀 katana, in which the strokes never cross. The kanji 力 chikara/ryoku/riki with the meaning of power, strength, surge, grit, etc. (As opposed to カ ka in katakana, which has no intrinsic meaning except to designate pronunciation, or to question something, and か ka in hiragana with an extra stroke, again to represent a sound.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted Wednesday at 04:01 AM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 04:01 AM Correction noted. Sorry for the mislead, Bruce. John C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted Wednesday at 10:32 PM Report Share Posted Wednesday at 10:32 PM 18 hours ago, John C said: Correction noted. Sorry for the mislead, Bruce. John C. Not a mislead, John, as everyone is just speculating here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.