Arsenal Stamps.

[mecox]

"Noshu Seki ju Amahide saku"    but very poorly cut, although they had a production line and various mei.  The two Sho/sakura stamps are interesting.  The gunto mounts looks like a budget variety.

[RobCarter3]

3 hours ago, Kiipu said:

An anchor-in-circle Type 97 with a stamp on the bottom of the hilt.  Very interesting.

WW2 Japanese Type 97 Navy Officer Sword T97 Katana Naval Arsenal Stamp WWII

This was my sword, posted here. I sold it in October or November. It looks like it’s already changed hands at least once since. 

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Thomas!  They both look to be in late-war fittings, although that kai has an upgraded saya.  Can't imagine paying for saya upgrade, yet still having that icky tsuka.

[Bruce Pennington]

Stamps of the Japanese Sword, March 2025 Annual Updated version available.  Stamps of the Japanese Sword; March 2025

 

Changes:

- Navy section re-written to discuss the discoveries about the Circled Anchor stamp.
- Kao: a few additions of both Kokuin (hot stamp) and Kakihan (inscribed)
- Cut Test Kao: added examples of stamped mei of Hakudo
- Began a section of Appraiser Kao
- Unknowns: Added a few unknown fittings stamps, like the small star and others
- Type 19 Shop stamps: one new one added

 

Enjoy!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Kai Gunto with TEC stamp on one Seppa: https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/25122.html

[Bruce Pennington]

That's 3 with signed blades, now.  Maybe if we get enough of them, we might narrow down an area where this shop operated.

But not there, yet:

 

Hidetoshi - Tottori prefecture

Kaneoto - Gifu

Tsuguhiro - won't help, this was an Edo era blade

[Bruce Pennington]

Something new has popped up over on this Wehrmacht-awards Thread. (page 2 of the thread).  Bob, "Bobl" posted this kaigunto tsuba marked with 

軍刀報國第四
Gunto Hokoku No. 4
Military Sword to Serve the Nation, No. 4

 

 

According to Akira Komiya, it was either marked on a sword that had been bought up in the drive to acquire civil swords for the war, called "軍刀報國, “Serve the Country with Military Swords”  or the gunto was "acquired with public donations for issuing to the mass produced reserve officers after the government cancelled the deferral of military service granted to college students and students in other institutions of higher education in October, 1943. .. The navy called weapons acquired by donated funds as 報國号, Houkoku-gou, “Serve the Country”. In the army, such equipment acquired by donated funds were called 愛國号, Aikoku-go, “Love of Country”.

 

I've added it to the next Stamps doc.

[Bruce Pennington]

An update: Bob powdered the tsuba, same writing on both sides and got the full number:

 

軍刀報國第四二六号
Guntou Houkoku Dai Yon-hyaku nijū-roku Dai
"Serve the Country with Military Swords" No. 426

 

Confirmation from Akira Komiya:

"Yes, the numbering combined with Houkoku clearly makes it a sword paid for by donations to the navy. Probably intended to go to the first round of newly drafted reserve officers?

Although you may have already seen it, here is a link to a famous wartime newsreel on the sending off of the first round of college students joining the military held in October, 1943: https://www2.nhk.or.jp/school/watch/...05402860_00000"