Bruce Pennington

Katakana "YU". Are the numbers "12" or "31" ? Hard to see exactly. Edit: The more I look at it, the more it looks like 31

"SHINKOKU (神国), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Nagano – “Shinkoku” (神国), family name Sakurai (桜井), rikugun-jumei-tōshō, his name is also quoted with the reading Kiyokuni, jōko no jōi (Akihide)" JSI used Sakurai Kiyokuni.

Nice find, Marcin!

@Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN as well. Steven, like they said, its a Spring 1943, Mantetsu made this, and we'd love the serial number on the back edge, please!

Shame this valuable discussion is happening in the Fake Swords section. John, it would be great to have a pinned thread on this topic in the Military Swords section. I suppose we could wait until your research and writing is completed. When ever you think is best, brother.

Cool, Dee! What does the writing say?

Nice hamon, Barny! It's possible it was traditionally made. The old wartime polish and wear make it hard to see the fine details, though. I bet it would be quite stunning in a full polish.

Eagerly awaiting your article, John!!! The photo you reference is the only one I've seen, too. My memory is poor, but I read once, about a commander gifting a special tanto to a pilot who was going out the next day. In other words, the tanto was a special gift, not a generic gift, given to the masses. I also read (again - someplace) they were to be used on themselves if they survived the crash into a ship; however I don't remember who said that, so that could be urban legend for all it's worth. Here is Ohmura's page on the subject: Kamikazi Dagger It is the source of the Keiten presentation. He states that he knows no source that pilots were given such daggers. Photos from the page (the text is clear when you click on each image):

sorry for the off-topic question - is that date Sept 1655?

Bingo, Thanks Steve! From JSI: Ikeda Kanetsuna - Japaneseswordindex.com

Thanks, Dean. I tried a couple or 3 ways and didn't get the same text. I suppose it depends upon the exact words in asking the question. I was just curious to see it's sources, because it sounded suspiciously close to quoting ME! Ha! We were discussing the stamp a while ago. I was leaning toward it being a civil stamp as the only other stamp on blades using the sakura was the Showa stamp. So, I speculated that maybe the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Assoc. picked up using the stamp in the last 2 years of the war. The complication comes when I created a chart showing whether stamped blades were tachi mei or katana mei. Quite strikingly, the blades with civil stamps - Showa and large Seki - were all katana mei, while arsenal stamped blades were all tachi mei. When you look a Gifu stamped blades, they are all tachi mei ........ the implication being that the stamp was an arsenal stamp and not civil. I've current flipped over to the theory that it was a regional stamp being used by the Nagoya Arsenal inspectors in Gifu. In 1943, stamping practices greatly expanded into regional/locale stamps. So, the Gifu might have been a Nagoya inspector.

Sesko doesn't list a WWII Yoshitada, which often happens.

Hi Barry, We'll need a really close shot of the blade showing hamon (temper line) and any details of the steel that are visible, to make a guess on whether it is traditionally made or not. Lack of stamps opens up the possibility that a blade is traditionally made, but not a guarantee. Hopefully someone like @SteveM will help with the second smith name. I know I've seen it, but cannot recall. Edit: I think this guy - Kanetada - is your smith:

May, 1945 Dean, where did you find that quote? Concerning the missing saya, I don't remember if it was a movie scene or something from a book I read, but a G.I. picked up a sword that had been brandished by it's Japanese owner during a battle. He was battle weary, and didn't bother to get the saya off the dead soldier. I suspect many swords were picked up this way. In another book, G.I.s were grabbing swords from a pile. One could easily have been in the pile without it's saya, or simply slid out of it's saya when pulled from the pile.

Thank you, Gunter, the semi-mysterious Gifu stamp. It came into use in '43, but really was used increasingly in '44 and '45. It was a time when stamping became more locale-based. We don't know exactly who used it, but it was likely a Nagoya inspector in Gifu. After comparing Yoshitsugu and Yoshimune in my files, I'm leaning toward a butchered-up Yoshimune. All my Yoshitsugu are Seki stamped and use another kanji for "Yoshi" Example: The Yoshimune are Gifu stamped and have very comparable strokes This one was also October '44, posted by @1tallsword

Gunther, Any small stamps above the name or date? You may know what you have there, but just in case, good reading on this model on the following links: Army Officers Type 3 - Ohmura Unveiling the Rinjiseishiki 1940 - Nick Komiya, Warrelics True Significance of the contingency model, or Type 3 - Nick Komiya

Yes. Out of the 400 or so Showa stamped blades on file, only one was dated 1942. So, it's safe to say for practical purposes, '41 was the last year they used it. '

Is that August 1659? (sorry to intrude, just practicing)

Here's another of the many fakes with the etching on the blade, this time in kyugunto form. Significant is the post by JAPLMB: "That is a Chinese made sword, for sale to tourists, and dates to the late 1990's to mid 2000's. I made 11 trips to China during 1999 and 2000 time period, and bought those swords as gifts for my co-workers for $10 each, from street vendors on every trip." The Gunboards Post: Need Help with a Sword

Dean, You can read about the Showa stamp, and all the others, on my Stamps of the Japanese Sword document. It was used by the civil Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association from 1935 to 1942, with most seen in 1940-41, just to give you an idea of it's date range. Concerning cleaning, I always disassemble my gunto, when new, and lightly clean all dirt and grime with a warm, damp cloth. Sometimes a toothbrush helps. You have to avoid chemical cleaners as they will remove the original finish/patina done at the factory. Then lightly oil them before re-assembly. As mentioned, never try to buff or polish a blade. It will be permanent and will be visible to anyone familiar with blades. Google "Japanese Sword Cleaning kit" and you will get lots of them online at little cost. Here is a good care and cleaning guide: Japanese Sword Care.

Wow, Sam, wonder why the ito was cut away like that? Also, I've only seen maybe one other gunto with the haikan worn this much. Guy must have worn it every day and done a lot of walking!

Shoot, Brian, I completely forgot what was on my kaigunto with Kamakura blade - clasped hands!

Reminds me of this one: "Learn from the mistakes of others. You don't have time, in life, to make them all yourself." Ha! I think I keep trying to make them all myself!

Unlike the other metal fittings, the sarute have an amazing amount of variations and variety.