Bruce Pennington

Franco, Just a minor adjustment on that date - it's 1943, not'44, easy mistake to make. The little stamp at the top of the nakago is the "Na" of the Nagoya arsenal. Rather unique, as I've only seen 1 other blade from Nagoya made for army officers. They made lots of NCO gunto, though. I have a Type 3 (or Type 44 as some call it) Officer gunto with the plastic same' and seen a few others. Not common, but not rare. Nice Type 98!

Here is both the Kokura "Ho" and Kokura First Arsenal "Ko." on a nakago mune. 小 　Army Arsenal Kokura Factory - Kokura Army Arsenal inspection mark: "Ko". 　"Ko" stamp is not discovered except for the following example. It seems that the inspection mark 　used the "To" commonly since most Tokyo Factories relocated to Kokura Factory. ホ 　Army Arsenal Kokura First Factory inspection mark: "Ho" The Ko is above the Ho, and fainter.

Interesting Kokura Arsenal stamps on a mune, both the Kokura "Ho" and Kokura First Arsenal "Ko." 小 　Army Arsenal Kokura Factory - Kokura Army Arsenal inspection mark: "Ko". 　"Ko" stamp is not discovered except for the following example. It seems that the inspection mark 　used the "To" commonly since most Tokyo Factories relocated to Kokura Factory. ホ 　Army Arsenal Kokura First Factory inspection mark: "Ho" Sorry, the Ko is above the Ho and fainter. Not a good view of it in this pic.

Brad, Thanks for sharing your collection and giving us something to talk about! The full same' wrap, as it was explained to me, is a more expensive upgrade. Thanks, also for the view of the W stamp and the unusual one on the seppa. Does anyone recognize the seppa stamp?

Neil, I use Paypal for a charity that I run and I get an email from them showing the donor's name and email.

Also here: http://ohmura-study.net/913.html I don't know the top kanji, but the bottom 3 are "479". It is not known why Mantetsu numbered their blades. Some have speculated that they relate to a contract or batch numbers. I have found an interesting thread, though, on other things written on nakago mune: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21519-name-on-nakago-mune/

Yes, I noticed the pins in Julian's example above. Never noticed that before! Cool!

Charlie, I don't understand what you mean by the term "general mounts."? The 2 belt hanger ashi make this a Type 94. 94's had a removable ashi and a permanent one. All the other fittings are standard shingunto. Is that what you mean, or is it simply the general officer's tassel that is generating the term?

Peter, That is definitely a unique piece! It's possible it might be from another country, like China. You might try it on some other forums that specialize in swords from other lands. I can't remember which forum he's on, but there is a guy named Chen on one of the following that knows Chinese stuff. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=53 http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/ http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?52-Firearms-Of-The-Rising-Sun Also, these guys look at a LOT of foriegn swords: http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?11-Antique-amp-Military-Sword-Forum

It will help to see good pics of the hand guard basket as well.

Trystan, Remove the screw that holds the saya throat and that end piece comes off. Then simply turn the saya upside down and shake or lightly tap and the liner will slide out.

Allan, that one really has me stumped! I'm thinking it is part of a stamp that was incompletely applied, but I haven't found one that fits this.

I'm joking, but your pictures are close enough (grey hair & beards) to get you two confused!

Dave & Grey, I'm glad to see you both in the same place at the same time! I was wondering if you were the same guy, posting under 2 names!!! Now I can see the difference! HA!

Here are pics of my Dad's Mantetsu. Seems identical. In hand, I can see a ridge where the yakote is, but if it was every polished, it looks like it has long since rubbed off. And that's a steal for a Mantetsu!

Gert, I just re-read your original post - waki in full sized mounts! Can you give us the cutting edge length? It does look short.

Gert, Beautiful Kaigunto, and yes, it is Navy! Everything has the look, to me, of someone with money, custom fitting an old, treasured blade. I could be wrong about the blade, but the fittings are nice. Sharkskin saya cover was an expensive upgrade to the standard saya, which is what you have there. The only odd-ball thing is the white, army style, rayskin (same'). I don't know what to think about that. It is possible the tsuka was re-wrapped (ito looks almost untouched) and the person used un-laquered rayskin, but I don't know why someone would do that. The longer I study gunto, the more variations I see. It is possible the original officer ordered it this way, but it seems unlikely.

Update: All ugly paint removed. Uncovered a Nagoya stamp on the drag! Next us a trip to a powder-coat shop to see if they can reproduce an accurate color for a re-paint.

Found one on a Kojima Kanenori: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7703278&posted=1#post7703278

Julian, that's fabulous! No other stamps, like a Nanman or anything? Also, what is the date on the other side?

Ok, sounds good. In fact the auction one looks quite similar to Paul's. Sorry about my pics. They initially posted sideways and I cropped them to fit upright.

Stephen, I agree, even the date is the same - Spring 1941. So for a high quality operation like Mantegsu, why would the mei be so thinly cut. The auction pics are low quality, but even the file marks , which are distinct on mine, are almost not visable on the auctioned one. The memugi ana isn't cut in the same place. Then that seppa, which of course could have been a replacement. My first thought on seeing it was this looks more like something done late war, yet it's Spring 1941. I don't know.

Greg, The mei seems poorly cut, but accurate. Nice blade, so-so fittings. I'm completely stumped by that seppa without any edge work! Good price considering... Here are pics of my Koa Isshin for comparison:

Couple more First one shows a Type 32.

Just watched a British documentary produced for the newspaper Daily Mail with some film footage I'd never seen before. On shot clearly showed a tank driver or pilot (don't know the leather helmets) with a Type 95. Another carrying on his back a gunto with white-wrapped tsuka.