Bruce Pennington

Wow, what a super inscription, thanks Moriyama-san!

We need a dedicated Zoheito thread. I looked for one, with no luck. This one has the Kokura cannon balls and "Ko" stamps, and it's got a stamped "58" at the end of the nakago, blade tip down. It's in a quite unique Type 94, with "Imperial Gift" marked on the habaki. Being sold by St. Croix Blades HERE. Oh, also had the cheveron saurte (posted already on John's thread) and tsuba marked with the Suya Shoten shop logo: @mecox @BANGBANGSAN @Kiipu @PNSSHOGUN

Here's a nice one, John. On a an "Imperial Gift" Type 94, with zoheito blade, being sold by St. Croix Blades HERE. The tsuba (assume all the fittings) are Suya Shoten:

Found this on the mune of a Kanemitsu blade, for sale on this eBay page. It's actually quite a unique blade (assuming it's legit!) as the mei has a Kakihan. It's the first time I've seen a Kanemitsu kakihan. Here's the mune: Just for future searches, here's the mei and date:

Seems like I remember a conversation about that a while ago. Thanks for posting it here!

That would certainly point in the Polish direction, though, not proof, as the seller could have still gotten the sword from another who got it from China. Still, your link is the first bit of evidence I've seen. Here's the other side with the flag:

I don't think anyone has pinned down just where these are coming from. My guess is China, though. Where there are flowers, they appear to be plum rather than cherry:

I think I've seen this before, but don't recall. The kabutogane was made without the normal sakura/leaves on the top and sides. It's on a large-Seki stamped Yoshihisa blade, no date. The large stamp was used to 1944, so, late war?

First "26", found at this Burns Auction.

Thanks Sam! Those fittings are classier than standard, so the owner likely paid a bit more for the rig. And yes, the painted numbers are 226 also.

Sam, I have 7 Kanehisa w/Kokuin on file. It's interesting that 5 of them were fitted with leather covered woode saya, 1 was in a kaigunto, and the other 1 was standard T98 fittings. What is this one fitted out in? The kokuin is actually his name "Kanehisa".

Alex, Several of us at NMB put together an extensive write-up on the Mantetsu operation here - SMR - The Mantetsu Blade. It will likey explain all your questioins. Your Koa Isshin is number NA 716, dated Spring 1941. The "NA" series of production was the last in 1941, so it was more likely made in January-April of 1942. They used a Fiscal year in dating that began each April. And at 716, yours is now the last 1941 dated blade we have on file, before the 1942 numbers begin. The massive majority of them were suguha hamon (straight). We have some very rare examples with wavy hamon, but most are straight. I'd have to go re-read the article to see if it is mentioned how the blades were quenched, I don't recall, but I do recall some debates over the years where guys believe they were water quenched. That still wouldn't make them qualify as "traditionally made" though as they were made with Chinese (Manchurian) steel. SMR made a tube of softer steel and inserted a rod of hard steel, then electrically bonded them, before hammering out the sword shape. So, nothing there would be traditional. You've got a great sword there, and many of us really value the Mantetsu blades. @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN

Posting nakago shot for posterity

Maurice, Have you already purchased this? If so, try to get your money back. It is a well-known fake. I have several of these on file. They are usually found trying to be Type 95 NCOs, but I have a small number of Type 19s, like yours (not Kyu gunto), on file too. The side you are showing is a date - 1940 - and usually has a serial number at the bottom, like this: The other side should have some kanji and a flag, like this:

It is just something I track, and maybe others. There were a variety of ways that shops marked their fittings to keep them with a blade as it goes through the outfitting process. The Roman numerals are a little unique, but not rare.

That was Nick Komiya's opinion as well.

Yes, already saved to the files! Thanks, though!

John, The Showa stamp was used by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association from 1935 through 1942. The massive majority of dated blades were made in 1940-41. The presence of the stamp mostly likely means the blade wasn't made traditionally, however, there have been 1 or 2 known blades to receive Shinsa papers with the stamp. So, they are usually quality blades, even if showato.

Nice, and the whole sword looks to be quite nice as well!

@Cuirassier - any stamps?

I recently heard (on one of these threads) that his son Chris has also passed away. Jackson, I also agree that it would be important to have a look at the blade, especially the nakago (tang). If the blade is a fake, too, I would hate to see it go into legit kaigunto mounts. You can often find kaigunto fittings for sale on ebay, Invaluable.com, and Proxibid.com, but after all the expense and trouble, you'd be better off just buying a good kaigunto.

This might help?

I answered that already, just before your post - that name was used from the 1300s to the 1800s - that's why you need to have the guys at the Nihoto forum look it over They are both legit. The stamped numbers are assembly numbers put there to keep the custom fitted parts together as they go through production process. Each blade is slightly different from the next, so fittings are customized to fit a specific blade. The numbers keep them together with the blade. The size difference is due to the fact that the signed blade is an old family blade that had to be retrofitted in military gear. Sometimes this was done at an arsenal, sometimes at a private shop. Whoever did this one might not have had the time or resources to make an exact fit.

I can only assume that $83 was laid out to imply it would be sent in after our help! Ha! The hash marks are modified Roman numerals for "40", which matches the stamped 40 on the chuso (latch). You might want to post that over on the NIHONTO FORUM for further evaluation as that name was used from the 1300s to the 1800s