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Bruce Pennington

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Everything posted by Bruce Pennington

  1. Koto is the period; Mino is the sword school. Check this page: Japanese Sword Eras and Schools
  2. 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.
  3. {Copying this post from Peter's post - @Itomagoi - on the Clasped Hands thread: A leather covered sarute:
  4. It's what we live for, dude, bring 'em!
  5. 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.
  6. There are plenty examples of swords covered with canvas. I’ve never seen one made out of this fabric, though :
  7. 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.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. Others can help on the age estimate, but I must say your father had a knack for finding swords the the clasped hands sarute!
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. 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
  14. 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.
  15. Well, I hope you know what a prize you have there! It's like owning a 1953 Corvette! Congrats, my friend.
  16. A nice example posted by @Dogditcher on THIS THREAD. It came on his Suya Shoten fittings housing a '42 Koa Isshin.
  17. Thanks Steve, that's perfect! So, you've really got something there, in my world. The serial is RA 768 which puts it in the first run of blades in FY '42. It is the earliest known Mantetsu blade, now, with the "half-way inspection" mark "W" or "M" and the earliest known with the "NAN" stamp (Nan-Man Army Arsenal Supervisory Section). The sword in Suya Shoten fittings, which is known to have made quality swords/fittings, and comes with the custom clasped hands sarute. Congrats!
  18. Wow, that is an interesting piece! I don't think a Tokyo 109278 is "late war", and I wrong? It's a top latch, too, not a side latch. I was not aware that anyone but Nagoya was putting out the late war, wooden handled style 95s. So, to me, this looks like an experimental or custom job by a shop.
  19. Edits are only available for a set time period. Don't recall exact times, but it's longer if you become a Gold Member. Even then, it times out.
  20. Here is what Sesko has on him: "YASUHIRO (保広), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Saga – “Hizen no Kuni-jū Yasuhiro” (肥前国住保広), “Yasuhiro” (保広), real name Motomura Tamotsu (元村保), born 1910, he studied under Hisahiro (久広) and worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)". So, a good smith!
  21. Thanks, Steve! A few of us study the Mantetsu operation and we appreciate you posting this for us. They were quite popular with Japanese officers, and have become quite popular with collectors. You can read about them here: Koa Isshin Mantetsu - Japaneseswordindex.com and a more comprehensive article on our studies here at NMB: South Manchurian Railway - The Mantetsu Blade Like Stephen's example, the serial number is found on the back edge of the nakago (tang). You might have to remove the habaki (brass collar) to see it all. Oh, and a basic page on sword care: Japanese Sword Care Guide - Japaneseswordindex.com
  22. Like Chris said. It's quite easy. These swords were made for easy disassembly for cleaning and repair purposes. Here is a popular video showing how it's done: How to Remove Handle, Japanese Sword It also makes your re-wrap much easier to do. Most people simply mail the tsuka (handle) to the guy doing the job for you. You will find it will cost around $300-400 USD.
  23. Hi Seth! Stegel hasn't been around for some time. What sort of shots are you looking for? I could reach out to him if I know what you're looking for.
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