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Bruce Pennington

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Everything posted by Bruce Pennington

  1. Bruce Pennington
    Yes, and so far, limited to Kokura Arsenal blades.
  2. Bruce Pennington
    Ed, concerning your point on the Mantetsu being manufactured both in Manchuria and Tokyo - I have read somewhere that the Koa Isshin was only made in Manchuria, whereas the non-Koa Issin Mantetsu was made in Tokyo (can't positively confirm that), and the one Jean Paul just posted is a Koa Isshin! So, it now seems the W stamp was widely used. We have now seen it in Tokyo, Seki, and likely Manchuria. Hmmmmm
  3. Bruce Pennington
    Dave, Have you read the Ohmura pages? ( http://ohmura-study.net/998.html ) It is interesting that there is no kanji at all?! I have seen custom jobs done by various smiths, but can't say I have seen it from the Mantesu group, though, it wouldn't surprise me. I've recently seen someone with a waki made by Mantetsu, so clearly it is possible.
  4. Bruce Pennington
    Brian, Nick just said we were "welcome to do so" with his article!
  5. Bruce Pennington
    Good catch Dave!
  6. Bruce Pennington
    Brian, I’ll see what he says. In what form do you mean - weblinks, or texts quotes, or are you thinking a “pinned” or “stickied” permant post?
  7. Bruce Pennington
    Well, a Type 98 cost an officer 120 Yen, and the Rinji or Type 3 was to cost 80 Yen, so it sounds like desperation pricing if you ask me.
  8. Bruce Pennington
    For those who don't already follow the Warrelics forum, Nick Komiya, has posted a short, but historically precious, article of a flyer he found calling for donations of swords during the war and the length and value restrictions involved. http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/japane...-gunto-688110/
  9. Bruce Pennington
    Wonder why the forestry service needed armed soldiers running it?
  10. Bruce Pennington
    Yes, that always throws me, because the 5-7-5 patern on the flower stamens on other swords means Imperial Palace household staff! But I guess is the all the other floral and leaf patterns that set it apart as Chosen. Japanese Palace staff have the cherry blossom pattern all over.
  11. Bruce Pennington
    Emery, I have several 95’s and have disassembled every one. There is very little to gain in removing the tsuka on an NCO. There is never a smith name, and very rarely you’ll see an inspector stamp. I’m an avid follower of stamps, so that’s the only reason that I look. So if you feel like you might damage the screw or nut, it’s not worth it. As to keep it sell - that’s a personal “taste “ question that only you can answer.
  12. Bruce Pennington
    Cool Neil! And good example, John! I'd say it was a quality upgrade, Neil. Is the blade special too?
  13. Bruce Pennington
    What a beautiful blade, John!
  14. Bruce Pennington
    Mathew, if you need the money for something else, then sell. But as an investment - only if you are willing to wait 10, 20 or 30 years! There has been a surge in prices for NCO Type 95s over the last year, but the officer market is flat right now. Of course, if you got this for free (passing of a relative) or a steal at a flee market, then your profit will be 100% or more!
  15. Bruce Pennington
    There actually were navy blades mounted in army fittings, it would have been a tsuka like this one, and a leather-covered saya, used by Naval forces stationed on land and serving with the army. But this one seems to be mission the seppa, and no saya. Either way, like John said, half the price would be more appropriate.
  16. Bruce Pennington
    That's an interesting thought, Dave. If the saya were old, but it was the leather cover being made for the war, then it would be the cover that would need inspecting, as to it's meeting wartime regulations/standards.
  17. Bruce Pennington
    That’s cool! I can actually read this one - “The Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Society “
  18. Bruce Pennington
    Gorgeous, Ed! I'm guessing that's eel skin on the saya? Beautiful! I see there's no Navy Arsenal stamp. I've read that prior to 1940, the compliance with the requirement for stamps was a bit spotty. Unless, ths was a gendaito, but the nakago looks too clean for that.
  19. Bruce Pennington
    I was thinking the same thing, Dave! If its a repro, it's one of the best I've ever seen in a movie. The tsuba looks a little too thin, but the rest looks real - even what I can see of the fuchi, seems to look right,
  20. Bruce Pennington
    I haven't watched many videos about sword making, but I enjoyed this one. It documents the whole process, showing things I haven't seen in other videos like filing the final shape of the blade, and making the mei. It took him over 2 weeks to make this, so you can imagine the pressure during the war to make 80 swords per month (or whatever the quota was)! Enjoy! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f7z9pkQnz_0
  21. Bruce Pennington
    Made in 1942. The hot-stamp at the tip of the tang would be the personal stylized mark of the swordsmith.
  22. Bruce Pennington
    Jon, Ray and the Nihonto pro's will need good pics of the blade & tip to even speculate. You don't show the rest of the nakago. Are there any small stamps on it? Sorry Ray! We were typing at the same time. Go ahead, I'll just read along!
  23. Bruce Pennington
    These seem to be showing up lately, each hotly debated simply because it IS possible, but unprovable.
  24. Bruce Pennington
    Good eye on the missing seppa, Chris! I'm puzzled by the ashi. I didn't know the original NCO ashi were removable. Are they?
  25. Bruce Pennington
    Thanks guys, glad I was wrong about the blade!
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