Bruce Pennington

It would be nice to know which of the fittings you had originally, and which were the new constructs, thanks. We have two other examples of that kabutogane (end cap on handle). One posted by @robinalexander on page 1 of this thread, and the other, on the same page by @PNSSHOGUN. John's Rob's

Was that your chogi oil and baking soda treatment?

Another one posted by Sky Gao on Facebook. He says it's a Koto mumei blade. Doesn't show nakago:

I no longer have a budget for buying blades. Wish I did. I'd buy this for the Chintamani Wish Jewel as well as Hisakatsu's ties to SMR Mantetsu. Good luck with the sale, Peter!

It's quite unique, actually. It resembles late-war kabutogane, but it's not the same. I starting thinking it was civilian, but then realized a civil one wouldn't have a centered hole for a sarute. Here is an example of the "standard" late-war style (though, as in most WWII stuff, there are variations) Standard Daniel's So, close enough. I suspect it was just a custom piece or a shop trying to make one that looks more attractive that everyone else's work.

A zoomed shot for those who don't follow links:

Moving this to the Nihonto forum for better review from those guys. They'll likely want photos of the full length of the blade, no fittings; also a good close-up of the blade body showing hamon (temper line) and hada (steel texture); and one of the tip. Measurements of the nagasa and sori are often useful:

Any stamps, Ron?

Seems like I read once that the machi going away was due to too many polishes.

well, that’s really unusual. Even for a post war, modification, unusual.

Welcome Dan! The only two military items on your rig are the late war very end cap of the handle and the leather scabbard cover. The cloth wrapping looks quite new, so could be late war also or something redone after the war. The rest of the sword is civilian and older. I will leave this conversation in the military section until comments run their course, but we need to move it over to the Nihonto section to get those guys to evaluate the blade and its age

That’s just scary!

Agreed. I could see $150 but not $650 to have one in hand. Oh, and another curiosity - Still using the 30000 range for the fakes!!! Anytime you see a 95 in the 30's, 40's or 50's immediately be cautious and examine more closely!!! Don't know why they are locked into this number range, but glad they are still.

What Joe said, plus 1 stroke vs 2 strokes in this kanji

Yes, quite concerning. If you had not introduced these as replicas, I would have believed them legit. Your last one had me going to my photos of my collection, and I was surprised to learn that the latch hole on the saya throat piece of my Tokyo 95s is - square! Replica Had not noticed that before. So, the replica's hole doesn't match. Admittedly a small sample. Maybe others can confirm?

It isn’t common, but I’ve seen a few with stamps on the drag.

Joel, Do you have a source for this information? By "occupation" are you talking about the The First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 1894 – 17 April 1895)? We know there were swords being made in occupied China during WWII. Just haven't heard of it being done before that.

Hi Jozeph! Someone will help you like @Ray Singer or @SteveM on the smith name. You have an excellent item there! The 8 seppa set-up is often indicative of a quality gunto set. Also, the inscription on the leather rain cover is quite unusual. It says "1944". Cannot imagine it being done by the fittings shop, or the owner, yet the writing seems period legit. Maybe Steve or @Kiipu can give us some thoughts on that?

This could have gone on the Leather Cover discussion, but it's more a "fittings" issue, so posting here. Fuchi made for swords, both civil and military, that are fitted with the combat saya can vary. Most are plain or have 'dots'. @Marcin found this one on Jauce. I think I've seen one in the one in the past, but not sure. It's really well done, and different than the norm, so thought I'd post it for viewing pleasure.

Due to the Showa stamp, it was most likely to originally have been made in 1940-41, though '42 is possible. But I feel like it had some repairs later in the war (wire sarute, late-war quality tsuba).

Thanks Duncan! Your gunto keeps getting interesting-er and interesting-er! Ha! Now keep in mind that I am, as my wife would say, "talking out of my butt"! Crude way to say that I'm speculating here. But your tsuba appears to be what Ohmura called a Mid-war manufacture ... and I would postulate even later war make. I have to go right now, but will continue later. Oh, if anyone has reason to think differently on the tsuba, I'm all ears!

Good catch, Matt, I knew something else looked off! He's referring to this:

Hi Timothy! You have an older civil blade re-fitted for WWII. If you want an approximate age, I'd recommend posting (or having Sam move this) to the Nihonto forum of NMB https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/3-nihonto/ They will need to see the bare blade, full length photo, and a couple of measurements like Nagasa and Sori

Thanks to @Marcin for finding this new variant of the 4-Sakura tsuba design on this Jauce.com auction. Slightly different that the one found by @Itomagoi and

Dang! Thanks guys. I get those two terms blended in my head and have to look it up half the time before I type. Just thought I had it today!