Bruce Pennington

Thanks for the update, Joey! Hey, it looks like the saya has the patented, Wakase-made, extended drag. Can you give us a shot of that? You can see a couple variations on this thread:

Anything is possible, but we just don't know. The notches often, but not always, match numbers on fittings. But the dots don't do that.

Just noticed this: The brown paint/coating had come off in two places, so it's not copper but a paint. I contemplated that it was a Nagoya sword, but with all the other issues, not to mention that I'm pretty sure Suya Shoten never made blades for Nagoya, I don't think it was a Nagoya.

Joseph, I understand the mixed signals you are getting on this one, as many things about it seem legit, yet just as many are off. Maybe you can describe the different colors of the tsuka (handle) from one side to the other? Can you post a shot of the back edge of the tsuka showing the transition of the two colors? The side showing the stamps seems to be realistic copper color, where the other side appears brass. Here are some observations of the things that are off: 1. The dimples in the diamond areas should be distinct, whereas those on your sword are almost not visible. 2. The center inspector stamp on yours seems to be a "Na" of Nagoya, where it should be a "To" of Tokyo. Plus the left stamp, Suya, is close but not accurate. 3. Copper handles had the imitation wrap on the stamped side, but not of the other side, where yours shows the wrap going all the way around the base of the handle. The drag 1. It is a fine distinction, but the curvature of your drag is a bit flat for a Tokyo drag 2. The end of the scabbard is rough, and too curved for a Tokyo 3. The dip in the long edge of the drag is almost not there, compared to a Tokyo edge. The bohi (fuller groove) Hard to see in your photos, but it appears the end of the groove is rounded/tapered. Tokyo bohi end in a point that mirrors the shape of the actual blade tip. All said, I thing this is likely a really well done reproduction. But still curious about the two colors of the handle and how they transition on the edges.

Have a number of smiths with dots on nakago, and the number varies over quite a range, but have not found out the purpose of them.

Photos of the fittings are not clear enough to judge, but with the information presented, it appears to be legit. I'm no expert on the blade age, and there are a number of Kuniyasu with that mei, including 2 during WWII. My guess is it's a WWII blade, but I could be wrong on that.

That's really good news, John! Glad it worked. A little surprised no heat was needed. You got me to searching, because I'm pretty sure someone else was wanting to try this. Could find the one tickling my memory, but found a good one where a Type 95 blade had be straightened. When the moderator situation gets straightened out (ha! pun not intended), I think this should get pinned for future reference.

Somebody get that serial number! HA! Nice find, Thomas. Does anyone know anything about LtGen Okada? Searches online line have scarce info on him. Looked to have been in mainland Japan jobs mostly. He commanded 2 tank divisions in '42, but none of the job titles I can find say where.

All five, as listed, seem to fall into the same 'class' of swords assuming they are all equally in the same condition. So, like said already, photos would be necessary for us to pick, Kaigunto, in general, are more "pretty" than army gunto, and more expensive, but the missing ashi takes it down a notch or two. Field grade tassels cost much more, around $500 USD, so that's a plus. As stated already, it would have to be a "what does my gut say?" approach.

Jumyo

Thanks Thomas! They both look to be in late-war fittings, although that kai has an upgraded saya. Can't imagine paying for saya upgrade, yet still having that icky tsuka.

I am out of town for a few weeks, and don't have my books. Maybe someone with a Hawley list can answer about his rating. I haven't intentionally noted which blades were in gunto with mon, but I suspect you will find everything in them. Maybe @PNSSHOGUN has experience with that question.

Amazing, @Jimny posted a gunto by the exact same smith, today: The stamp was used by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association on inspected/approved showato. It was a civilian organization doing the inspections at the request of area shops and forges to maintain quality blades. "KATSUMASA (勝正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Katsumasa” (勝正), real name Kojima Shichi´emon (小島七右衛門), born October 20th 1892, he studied under Kaneyoshi (兼吉), worked as a guntō smith and died September 22nd 1947" Likely no date on the other side, with that large Seki stamp, but most of those were made in 1942, plus or minus a year.

Nice find, Perry! Don't know how much you know about it. Smith was Katsumasa: "KATSUMASA (勝正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Katsumasa” (勝正), real name Kojima Shichi´emon (小島七右衛門), born October 20th 1892, he studied under Kaneyoshi (兼吉), worked as a guntō smith and died September 22nd 1947" Likely no date on the other side, with that large Seki stamp, but most of those were made in 1942, plus or minus a year. Faded blue/brown tassel was for Capt's & Lt's.

Hi Robert, For clarification, blades with the Showa stamp, like yours, were not "arsenal blades." The stamp was an inspection stamp of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association. The Association began inspecting blades made by the industry at the request of sword makers and sellers. The demand for Japanese blades exploded in the mid 1930s as Japan transitioned away from Western styled swords, back to Japanese, Samurai, styled swords. There were low-quality blades hitting the market and hurting the industry's reputation. So, they approached the Cutlery Association asking them to do Quality Control by inspecting all blades (more likely all non-traditionally made) made in the area. The stamp showed up in 1935, but most blades with the stamp were made in 1940-41. After logging yours into my files, it was surprising to see how many of them were in civilian fittings. I'll run a count to see the percentages, but it seems higher than blades with other stamps. My point being, that they were not "arsenal" blades. The majority were sold to the Army and fitted out that way, but many of these blades were being initially bought by civilians or civil shops, later donated to the war effort and refitted, sometimes with just a leather cover, like yours. On another note, I'm glad to hear you had success recovering the leather cover. I have read many time of guys trying to preserve their leather covers, but had never heard of such success as you've had. The blade does have a temper line, hamon in Japanese. It is the straight pattern called suguha. Here is a care guide: Japanese Sword Care Guide - Japaneseswordindex.com

This white-painted leather covered Type 98 with white ito, posted by @kanemotows6 here:

Dang, Matt! I just realized what I was looking at with that crumbing saya (scabbard). It's a leather cover that was painted white, and even the ito (cloth handle wrap) is white! There are a couple of threads discussing legit WWII swords, often NCO Type 95s, but some officer swords. Read these: Winter Is Coming - White Type 95s Greetings From AZ .... Type 98, white

Thanks Matt. That's "NA" "HO"; Na of the Nagoya Army Arsenal that likely processed the blade, then HO of Kokura Army Arsenal that had supervisory authority over them at the time.

Oh, and the sword was a Type 98 Japanese officer sword. You can see examples on Ohmura's site here: Army Officer Type 98 - Ohmura Care and cleaning guide: Japanese Sword Care - JSI

Matt, In spite of the condition of the fittings, you've likely got a really nice blade there. Sukenobu, from Noshu (Modern day Gifu, If I have that right) and was an RJT rated smith that made blades traditionally. I don't know when he got RJT qualified, maybe @mecox or @vajo might know. Check a litter higher above the smith name to see if there was a star stamped up there. The earliest I have on file from him is Oct '42, so far, with a star.

Late to the conversation, sorry, busy day yesterday. Seems like a moderator for each forum would be ideal. But that's coming from my world where I only study 1 thing - military gunto. Tough topic to discuss openly, I'd hate to hurt anyone's feelings by not naming someone, but hey - we're all big boys (and girls!), right? I'm online everyday, quite often only once per day, but could do it if only the Military section. Life puts too many demands on me to consider more than that. Some names I would consider: Experienced guys I've never seen say a cross word: @george trotter @mecox @Grey Doffin @b.hennick @Bugyotsuji @uwe @Nobody @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN (and I'm missing somebody that I can't remember their name!!!) Newer guys, but same deal: @John C @Scogg @Conway S Heck, more names are coming to mind, but this would be a good start. It would be an honor to help, yes.

Dan, That would depend upon the market it is being sold in. It also depends upon whether that blade is a zoheito (factory blade) or something old. As a zoheito, with all the corrosion, it would go toward the low end of the market, say $600-900 USD. If the blade is older, it would be worth more.

George, You are right about the brown tassel. It indicates the sword was carried by someone in the civil branch of the military - Gunzoku. The large Seki stamp was a civil inspector stamp with the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association. Civil stamped blades, both Showa and Seki, were always katana mei. Blades inspected and stamped by the Army, were tachi mei. So, this one is perfectly correct. I'd appreciate a full nakago shot of that one showing the Seki stamp, and an overall shot of the sword, for my files if possible!

Waiting for John, @PNSSHOGUN, and I'm away from home for a bit, so don't have my tassels to compare. But here is Type 32 diagram that seems to show the upper band. The one you are looking at appears legit to me, so it's a variation, or the upper band simply went missing over time.

Here are the updated photos: I believe the impression of a bend comes from puff in the towel and/or lighting.