Bruce Pennington

Here's an odd one: Looks like the kanji "So" as in Soshu, or made by. Does "So" by its self mean "made"?

Very good! Here's mine. You can see the file marks, and for some reason they added an extra "1" in the number

Very nice piece, Neil! Is it Ko or Otsu? Would it be fair to say the 2 numbers on the other side look lined out with horizontal lines? Don't know why they would do that versus filing them off, like others I've seen.

And honestly, Neil, you haven't "done" anything to it, any more than the original owner would have done regularly himself. But I understand. It is "preserve as is" collector practice, which is cool.

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Yes, Ed, thanks for the link! I enjoyed reading about both the knots and the ito wrapping styles!

Neil, I believe I have read that this was a patent number. It is described on Ohmura's site, but it's in Japanese: 　　右より 　實用新案特許 若瀬軍刀製作所(東 京市芝區)の商標　　裏: 第213917號 I think that's the same number as yours, so it most likely is a patent number and not a serial number. As always, leave it to you to have a very beautiful example of every variation of the gunto!!! I love it!

Ahhhh, thanks I needed that !!! Similar number range. Mine is 134112, with the same Nagoya inspector stamp:

Neil, From Stegel's post on my thread: " "The Nagoya Arsenal (in the 132k range under Kokura) stopped the production of the previous Pattern 3 (Aluminium handle with top lock latch/steel tsuba) and moved it to the 200k range. This was later followed by the side lock version, resulting in this pattern being found in both ranges (100k and 200k)." I have a "Na" stamp on the blade next to the serial number, one on a seppa, and one on the saya drag. It is the only stamps on mine. As to serial number ranges, maybe Shamsy or Stegel can say. BTW, you're not going to leave us with that one single solitary pic are you?!?!?!

I don't recall seeing these stamps on this thread yet (if it is, please let me know and I'll delete this!) From Alex, as seen for sale via the web, a contractor and inspector stamp on a Kokura Arsenal Type 95 gunto. As far as I can find, the contractor stamp is legit, but classed "Unknown". Any ideas on the inspector stamp? My guess is the "Ho" of Kokura 1st.

Alex, Stegel of Shamsy would be the guys who would know this for sure, but the contractor stamp on the left, as far as I know is a recognized legit stamp, but falls into the "Unknown" category. I'm more stumped by the center inspector stamp. It's possible it is the "Ho" of the Kokura 1st Also, I don't recall seeing these on the "Stamps" thread, so if you don't mind, I'm going to reference your post and add it there.

Thanks Joe & Steve! I've lent out my reference books to my brother, or I'd have looked that up myself.

Guys, I don't follow this style so I have very little to go by, is there anything beyond the serial number that bothers you. Asking for the education, not to argue. The pics are poor quality, but the sabre seems to look good. These type of gunto did come with scabbard drags (pic below from Ohmura's site) Greg, do you have some better pics, like a view of the handguard basket, and closeups of the handle backstrap?

Steve & Stegel - I completely agree with Neil - THANK YOU! These are fabulous!!! And Neil- my folks lived out in the countryside of east Texas. Everytime I drove through that area, with it's old homesteads full of retired old folks, I can't help but look at each house as I go by and think "I bet there's a great gunto leaning in the closet of that house!!!"

I would like to hear from Windy as to whether he's open to the idea of pulling the tsuka off for a view of the nakago. The gap on the handle and fuchi might be due to a bent nakago. I have one on a ver 3 side-latch that is so bent I'm amazed it fits in the handle (pic attached). Windy?

It sort of has the look of an old family blade militarized for service in the war, where many of the fittings are original and just enough is added, menugi, saya, to militarize it.

*I several posts above happened as I typed this, Thanks Stegel for the strikingly similar example I admit the shape of the kissaki-end of the bo-hi is not the normal shape of a Tokyo Arsenal blade. It is rounded, which is often a tell-tale sign of a fake, however, I have a Nagoya ver 3 (side-latch) with a rounded bo-hi, so I don't know what to think about that. I agree the serial number font is odd. Also, the tsuka-side seppa is unevenly shaped. The Kokura cannon balls are a bit thin, but the contractor stamp is legit looking. Windy, can you get a good look at the dimpling in the diamond-shapes and tell if they are raised bumps, or are they indented? Indented dimples are another error the reproductions have. Also, Windy, if you are willing, it often tells us a lot to see the nakago (tang). Some guys don't like to take NCO gunto apart because they sometimes have a little wiggle when you put them back together. I take all mine apart and have a 50/50 experience with the wiggle, but it's worth it to me to see the nakago. One thing I have found studying these - there are ALWAYS exceptions and variations to the norm!!!

It is most likely the polisher, but no way to really know. You can read the full discussion your inscription here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21519-name-on-nakago-mune/

Interesting! That one is dated on the mune.

From SteveM on the Translations forum: Members 659 posts LocationTokyo, Japan Posted Today, 12:43 AM 和田護 Wada Mamoru ↑ My best guess. The Wada is obvious. The bottom name, not so much due to the balance being wrong for 護. Still, its the closest I could find without digging into the really obscure kanji. George - Thanks! I keep forgetting about that dating method. Do you think there is significance when this method is used, like the blade is made special by it? Or was it just the popular method of dating leading up to the war, then as the production demands increased, it became quicker to use the Showa dating?

Thanks Steve! Ever seen a name on the mune before? Think it's the actual smith's name?

I think it is a name on the nakago mune! I've posted it on the "Translation help" forum and will update as soon as I get word.

Hope someone can tell us what this says! It's on the nakago mune of a Kanemichi gunto. The rest of the sword can be found here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21514-rough-but-beautiful/

How interesting!

Matt, the scabbard (saya) is absolutely correct! This one has some collector interest, to me, because of the black painted diamonds, if original. You can decipher the fuchi stamps, yourself, here: http://ohmura-study.net/794.html