Bruce Pennington

Mark, I don't see a date. Can you get a close, clear shot of those marks at the top of the nakago on the signed side? Might be a Showa stamp. If so, I can get you a date estimate.

Martin, Yes, there were several methods of making blades, but once the blade was finished, it's pretty darn impossible to know which one was used. Some blades will literally say on the nakago, but most do not. In broader terms, you can distinguish between zoheito, NCO, stainless steel, and with some telltale signs, gendaito vs showato. At that point, the desirability varies by the tastes of the collector. In general, traditionally made blades go for higher prices, which indicates desirability, but even the humble Type 95 NCO is going for prices equal to, and sometimes higher, than many officer blades. Mantetsu blades are slightly more rare than standard officer swords, so they earn a higher price, usually. It all comes down to what interests you.

Joe, Your kaigunto appears to be an example of the late-war swords that were made under new rules, reducing the specs, due to shortages. Here is a post from another thread - Recently discovered by NIck Komiya at Warrelics: "I don't know how relevant it is to the discussions here, but the navy also issued a "Last Ditch" Rinji spec directive for officer swords on 27th March 1945. Directive Number 54 said "1: Gilding, Gold Colored Metal and Cherry branch engravings are to cease, 2:Sarute not to be attached, 3:Only one Haikan (scabbard ring) to be present, 4: Use of animal skins to be minimized, 5: Push button type locks to be changed to tie-cord type, 6: Scabbards to be wrapped in tree bark and be finished with black lacquer. By that time, the navy had lost its ships and most members got deployed as land troops, so it is understandable if the above Rinji spec got to be associated with the NFL. The PX sword discussed here seems to consist mainly of parts matching the description above, but with some gold colored parts thrown in to beautify them. I asked for clarification on the fuchi design, and he said: "In Japanese, point 1 is 「金鍍金、金色金属、枝桜毛彫及彫刻ヲ用ヒザルコト」, which says no gold color nor engraved or relief adornment, so a "plain Jane".　This directive is mentioned in the Ohmura site as well as Wikipedia, so it should be common knowledge to Gunto collectors already." So this explains the odd-ball navy gunto with one haikan (ashi). I'm not talking about the souvenir sold with mixed army/navy fittings, but actual navy gunto. If memory serves, I saw one in combat saya with single haikan. If anyone has an example, I'd love to get it posted here." There are other examples on this thread:

An interesting mod to the drag of a leather cover. Looks wartime, maybe a field mod? Found on this ebay sale. It's got a Feb 1940, showa stamped, Kanemichi in it.

Had to post this for the laugh. Shockingly, it's coming out of Japan! Maybe a "lost in translation" error? Here's the full title: "WWII Imperial Japanese Army Type 98 Gunto Sword Mounts w/ Late War Wooden Blade" Here's the link: Type 98 with wooden blade - ebay

Reposing translation from other thread: Seki ju Fujiwara Yoshinao saku kore. Interesting in that I have another Yoshinao on file with near identical fittings. Don't have full photos, but the one showing the menugi, is clearly different although similar. He must have been selling blades to a particular shop that fitted them out with this style. As to the Showa stamp. If you haven't already, I recommend reading the first couple pages of the Stamps of the Japanese Sword. It's a free download here at NMB. There are those on both sides of the issue, but I believe the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association, whose stamp this was, was only inspecting and stamping showato. I personally feel the majority of blades I see with the stamp are good/high quality with nice hamon. If you research further, you will find there have been a couple blades pass Shinsa that had been Showa stamped, which supports those who believe the stamp was used on both showato and gendaito. It is my guess, though, that those blades were likely hand-made, water quenched, but with other steel than tamahagane.

And I would add, that any mountain on a sword is going to be Mount Fuji

Koto is the period; Mino is the sword school. Check this page: Japanese Sword Eras and Schools

I can safely say I've never seen that done before!!! I'd move your post to the Fittings Thread, but I don't know how to move it to a specific thread, so I just re-posted your photo.

{Copying this post from Peter's post - @Itomagoi - on the Clasped Hands thread: A leather covered sarute:

It's what we live for, dude, bring 'em!

There have been several wartime smiths show up an NMB that we can't find on any list. Not a surprise, as there were over 500 working during the war. Lack of stamps doesn't help us to determine showato vs gendaito. Stamping didn't really get serious until 1940, for the Showa stamp, and 1942 for arsenal stamps. Even after that, many smiths sold blades to private shops and those blades would not have been stamped. Additionally, blades going through the Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal weren't stamped at all (few exceptions), so lack of stamps isn't really a sign that a blade was traditionally made. It is an interesting sword. The fatter seppa and quality mekugi speak of upgrades. I also like the leather work. The darkened rayskin is a mystery that shows up here and there, but non-standard. So, whoever bought it went for a little bit of personalization. It would be interesting to see what the saya looks like under the cover. If it is glossy black, it could point to a later war sword. There might even be a Seki Industry inspection sticker on it.

There are plenty examples of swords covered with canvas. I’ve never seen one made out of this fabric, though :

That’s an interesting point, Jean! Although, some of these, when translated by our guys that read Chinese, actually say a name, usually a current famous person. The offset mune is standard for Chinese blades, but I have no idea how they look on blades made in the other 3 countries.

Hi Nathan! Here's AI's definition of that big term: "Shinto Mino Den refers to a style of Japanese sword-making that originated in the Mino region during the Shinto period (1596-1868). This school is known for producing high-quality swords characterized by their robust blades and unique designs, influenced by the historical context of warfare in Japan." The white cord reminds me of something we see on swords carried back on navy ships. The sailors braided cords and wrapped their war trophy swords. No way to know how the chips and bend got there. It often happens from people trying to whack stuff. Here's a link on care and cleaning: Japanese Sword Care - Japaneseswordindex.com

I believe it to be an unside down NAN. We have 3 other 1942 blades with the NAN on the mune. They are later in the year, which is why I said this is the earliest known NAN stamped Mantetsu. They are YA 677, YA 702, and YA 1048. Autumn '42 YA 677 was the clearest Autumn YA 702 was poorly stamped. Autumn YA 1048 was likewise poorly stamped

Others can help on the age estimate, but I must say your father had a knack for finding swords the the clasped hands sarute!

Thanks, Iberian! The Showa stamp was a civilian inspection stamp of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association. Your sword was likely made in 1940 or '41, according to chart survey data. There are a number of in-depth articles written by Mal Cox on the WWII smiths. Some links for download: Japanese Naval Swords, Part I Japanese Naval Swordsmiths and Workshops, Part 2 Showa Swordsmiths of Fukuoka, Kyushu, and Kokura Area Seki Toki Swordsmtihs Kaga no Kuni Swordsmiths Showa Swordsmiths of Ehime Prefecture Japanese Swordsmiths of Gifu - 1937 Tokushima Swordsmiths Kanemichi and Kojima Tosho Family Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide You will learn about Arsenal stamping in the article: Stamps of the Japanese Sword

Fascinating file marks on the back edge of the mune. In case you haven't heard or read - the Showa stamp was the approval/inspection mark of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association who was doing quality control over the Seki area sword industry. The stamp was seen on blades from 1935 to 1942, but the massive majority of them were on blades made in 1940 & 1941.

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

Really cool find, Jimmy!

Steve, Painted numbers are usually assembly numbers that match stamped numbers on the metal fittings. This isn't the case for yours. Some swords got refitted along the way and we'll see two sets of painted numbers, or simply numbers that don't match like yours. An interesting idea comes from a discussion (lost to memory, who or where) that some swords got painted with inventory numbers by the occupation teams that were collecting, logging, and handing out sword after the war. So, the short answer is - Don't really know, but usually assembly numbers. The two small marks on the nakago mune (back edge) are "NA HO". NA being the inspector marks of the Nagoya Army Arsenal, then the HO from the Kokura Army Arsenal that was over-all supervisor for sword production up to that year.

Well, I hope you know what a prize you have there! It's like owning a 1953 Corvette! Congrats, my friend.

A nice example posted by @Dogditcher on THIS THREAD. It came on his Suya Shoten fittings housing a '42 Koa Isshin.