Bruce Pennington

Shame there's no date on the other side. But 3/4 of the blades with the Showa stamp are undated. Thanks Dee! Lance, this is a WWII Japanese officer sword, either a Type 94 or 98. Fittings shot might help tell the difference. If in Type 94 fittings, the blade could have been made between 1935 and 1938, as that is when this model came out. Most blades with the stamp, that have dates, were made in 1940-41.

Ah, just the lighting then.

Sam, Here's a really early aluminum handle 95. Found by @Bob in Ohio. Don't know if he got more shots or not:

And if the 70% rule of thumb still applied in that year, then there were 344 smiths working in the whole country. Great find, Thomas!

Wow!!!!

Terrific! Please let us know if and when you find out anything.

Interesting reading on Suya Shoten: Untold Story of Suya Shoten - Nick Komiya, Warrelics Here's how to measure your blade:

Couldn't find that term at Warrelics either. What I did find was his discussion on late war weapons specs getting loosened up. Found here: Daiyou seishiki weapon specs - Nick Komiya, Warrelics "Thus what started out as Rinjiseishiki 臨時制式 or Daiyo-hin 代用品 in 1938, then progressing into Clause 2 二號品 items in 1941, and finally into Daiyo-Seishiki 代用制式 in 1943, is just a linear progression of the same disease, merely with different names, according to stages of pain to the economy."

Good one, Johnny! Hey, is that a chromed zohieto or muratato?

And this statement was discussed with Nick Komiya. He said it didn't make sense, as this office had nothing to do with swords or weapons and he found no documentation so support the claim. Ohmura admitted that much of his write-up was based upon heresay, which explains some of the 'facts' as being off-timing and sometimes just not correct.

Ohmura's page discussing the use of the large Seki and Showa stamps is a bit jumbled, Part of his discussion claims the Seki stamp was first, yet farther down the page he cites, from a memoir, that the Showa stamp was used first (which is in line with observed blades with dates). http://Military Showato of Seki - Ohmura "桜に「昭」刻印 　従来、名古屋陸軍造兵廠関分工場長・尾藤敬逸技術少佐の回想記「日本刀」、 　及び「関史」資料により、「関」と「桜に昭」検査刻印の切り替え時期を 　昭和17年末頃と推定していたが、昭和14年期の「桜に昭」検査刻刻印を持つ 　刀身の出現に依り、再調査を行った。 　「関伝日本刀鍛錬技術保存会」井戸誠嗣会長のご協力により、昭和15年、 　当時の関町が発行した「刀都関」誌に、『 関刃物工業組合の厳重な検査に合格 　した刀身に「桜花に昭字」の刻印が打たれ、実用刀として天下無敵の好評を博 　している 』との記述が発見された。 　これにより、昭和14年には、新たな検査刻印が使用されていた可能性が高くな 　った。 　当事者の「関刃物工業組合」の資料は未だに発見されていない。 　刻印を変えた理由、その正式な切り替え時期は未だに不明である。 　銘: 関住兼則作　「桜に昭」の刻印 　裏銘: 昭和十二二(四)年十月日 (刀身写真提供元/美術刀剣「刀心」・町井勲 様) Google translate (which isn't the best): "Engraved "Sho" on the cherry blossoms Traditionally, the memoirs of Major Keiichi Oto, director of the Nagoya Army Arsenal Sekibranch Factory, "Japan sword", And by the "Seki History" material, the switching time of the "Seki" and "Sakura nisho" inspection engraving It was estimated to be around the end of Showa 17, but it has an inscription of the "Sakura ni Sho" inspection in Showa 14 According to the appearance of the blade, a re-investigation was conducted. With the cooperation of Seiji Ido, chairman of the "Kanden Japan Swordsmithing Technology Preservation Society", in Showa 15, In the "Totoseki" magazine published by Seki Town at that time, "Passed the strict inspection of the Seki Blade Industry Association The blade was stamped with "Shoji to Sakura Flower", and it was well received as a practical sword that was invincible in the world. It was discovered. As a result, it is highly likely that a new inspection stamp was used in Showa 14 did. The materials of the "Seki Blade Industry Association" of the party have not yet been found. The reason for the change in engraving and the official timing of the switch are still unknown. Inscription: Kanenori Sekizumi "Cherry Blossom to Sho" engraving Inscription: October 12, Showa 12 (4) (Blade photo provided by / Art sword "Toshin", Isao Machii)"

Leonidas, I am, as time allows, locating the sources for my summary of the Cutlery assoc. stamping history. Here is one. On page 2 you will find Nick's translation of the Seki City website. It is a 6 page discussion, but full of history on sword production, use of tamahagane, and stamping practice. RJT Star stamped blades - Any Documentation?

My dad got our sword when he was in the Marines after Korea. It was missing several parts. He said guys would steal parts and pieces because they thought they were real gold, or had jewels. @SteveM or @Kiipu - could we get a translation on the nakago? Marcel, The fittings look like the original officer paid for upgrades. It was likely quite nice, originally.

Hi Leonidas! I'm a little late to the discussion. You can read about the use of the Showa and large Seki stamps by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association in the beginning pages of my http://Stamps of the Japanese Sword article. I don't have the direct links to the only two pieces of actual documentation that we have, but when time is available, I'll try to provide them for you. One comes from the Seki City website, which states that the association was inspecting and stamping "all swords" made in the area, but doesn't state which stamp was used. The "all swords" makes it sound as if both showato and gendaito blades were stamped. However, Ohmura has a page depicting a tally of inspected blades by the association, and a side note to the chart states that the total does not include gendaito as "they were not inspected." So, I suspect the statement in the Seki City website is a generalization and not precise. We also have an article from 1940, found by Nick Komiya at Warrelics, that clearly states the stamp being used by the Cutlery association was the Showa stamp. Observational evidence in my ongoing stamp survey confirms the Showa stamp was the first to be used, starting in 1935. Ohmura's statement about the Seki stamp is partially true, in that the association, for an unknown reason, changed over from the Showa stamp to the Seki stamp starting in 1940. There was an overlap - Showa stamp use: 1935-1942; Seki stamp use: 1940-1945. The association drastically tapered off the Seki stamp in '43 after the Nagoya arsenal started using the small Seki stamp. Lots of information, but I appreciate your inclination to dig deep and research things. It's is what I enjoy doing, as well.

I hate it when auction houses don't post photos of the nakago.

Hi Jeff! Marcin gave you a great link, the Ohmura site, for getting to know WWII Japanese swords. As the other guys already pointed out, we could use some clear close up shots of some things to help you get to know your sword a bit better. Here's a great video showing How to Remove the Handled/Tsuka of Japanese Sword Here's a good page to start learning some of the Japanese sword lingo: Japanese Sword Visual Glossary Taking care of your sword: Japanese Sword Care First big step is removing the tsuka (handle) and seeing if your blade is signed and dated. Next is getting a few close, clear shots of the blade's hamon (temper line/pattern), and one shot showing the area around the belt hanger loop (haikan). The Type 94 had 2 haikan, but the second one was removable and is often gone by the time we see them. If it was the 94 version, there might be marks on the saya (scabbard) showing where it sat originally. Otherwise, you have a Type 98. [Mods - I was going to recommend moving this to Military forum, but I guess we might wait to see if the blade is an older nihonto] Oh, and the reason for the comments about "Samurai" are that these fittings were WWII Army, whereas Samurai swords were 'civilian' swords carried by Samurai long before WWII. Now, honestly, though, the Military blades were specifically designed based off the Samurai sword. So, a more technically correct way to refer to them is "Samurai styled sword." Now, it is still quite possible your sword holds a much older blade from the days of the Samurai. So, let's get a look at that nakago (tang)!

Ah, yes, thanks Mike & Thomas! The I RO HA numbering system has been seen in other industries and manufacturing systems, but that particular one tied to the SMR Mantetsu blade operation is specific to their work. Other shops using it would have had completely different cycles as they moved through the katakana. It's like Westerners using "A,B,C's" in a numbering system. A 1-100, B 1-100, C 1-100 for bicycles; whereas a hammer shop might have A 1-2,000; B 1-2,000; C 1-2,000; etc. Hope that makes sense.

Mike, What is this a photo of? Which part? Also, could you let us know where you found that katakana represented 1944? Here's a couple tips on resizing photos: Here is a search for free online photo resizing: Free online image resizer

The angled blade tip, almost squarish is a sure sign of Chinese work.

A boar's eye habaki worth posting. On a sword for sale by @matthewbrice, posted HERE. It's larger that most I've seen, and I like the coloration design:

Morgan, The restoration question really depends on your feelings. As a family heirloom, you may wish to bring it up to it's full beauty. I did this with my dad's Mantetsu and I'm glad I did. Waki vary quite a bit in market value. I don't follow waki prices, so hopefully one of the other guys can give you an idea. But the cost of a polish may exceed the market value of your blade, but it's a quality/personal preference that should really drive your decision.

Looks like a partially struck Showa stamp on the upper edge.

Very nice. Actual Type 97 kaigunto in leather saya cover. Technically, there was no "Naval Landing Sword." It is a term thrown around by collectors. There was an actual Naval Landing Force, but I have no knowledge that they had directives on what style sword to carry. Austin Adachi's book "RIKUSENTAI; The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Japanese Naval Landing Forces 1927-1945" has some shots of them with swords. Admittedly, all of the 97s have the leather cover, however, there are other shots of them carrying kyugunto. Austin may be able to address the issue.

After pinning the Type 95 Worksheet thread, it's had over 1200 views. So, you don't mind, I'm pinning John's thread in hopes more folks will see it and add to John's study.

That is elaborate and unique, Matt! Wonder what kind of trees or plants those are.