Bruce Pennington

Marzio, We don't know for sure, so all answers are speculation. However, some blades with 3-6 digit painted numbers were certainly war surplus. We have some, also, that are signed and have well-finished nakago that could be surplus. The blades, like yours, that are unsigned and show heat blackened ends with unfinished, squared nakago jiri, plus 4 digit numbers, to me are most likely manufactured by Tenshozan after the war. But that's just my view.

Curtis, You can read all about the stamps on blades on this article: Briefly, it is the approval stamp of the civilian Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association. It was used between 1935 and 1942, with most of them seen on blades made in 1940-41. Mind posting a shot of the blade and fittings?

Your fittings are the contingency model, or rinji seishiki in Japanese, often called the Type 3, Type 44, Type 100, Type 0, Marine Landing sword, etc. It is an Army officer sword. Would you mind posting some photos of the blade and full fittings for the files? You can read about it's development and release here: Unveiling the Rinji-seishiki Sword 1940; Nick Komiya, Warrelics and here The Development of the Sword commonly called The Type 3 version; Nick Komiya, Warrelics

Curtis, I'm not knowledgable of the smith ratings, but there were 2 Yoshimitsu, that signed with 吉光, that were RJT qualified, so they both likely made good blades. I do not have one, yet, in my files with a star stamp. Could you remove the brass collar, habaki, and check near the top of the nakago (tang) for a stamped star? Here are the two listed in Sesko's book, that were RJT rated: YOSHIMITSU (吉光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Nagano – “Shinshū Inadani-jū Yoshimitsu saku” (信州伊那谷住吉光作), “Shinshū-jū Yoshimitsu” (信州住吉光), “Yoshimitsu” (吉光), “Tanaka Yoshimitsu” (田中吉光), real name Tanaka Shōkichi (田中庄吉), born 1901, he studied in Niigata under Amata Sadayoshi (天田貞吉) and Miyairi Akihira (宮入昭平) and worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Fourth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941) (see picture right) YOSHIMITSU (吉光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Iwate – “Ōshū Gose-jū Yasumoto Yoshimitsu” (奥州御所住 安本吉光), “Minamoto Yoshimitsu” (源吉光), “Gose Yasumoto Yoshimitsu” (御所安本吉光), real name Yasumoto Noriharu (安本徳治), born 1904, he studied under Yoshihara Kuniie (吉原国家), Katō Sanekuni (加藤真国), and Miyairi Akihira (宮入昭平), and also worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō The stamped serial number at the end, with a katakana - ク - in your case, is only seen (with few exceptions) on blades made by RJT smiths. This kana was used in the Gunma prefecture, which neighbors the Nagano prefecture of Tanaka Yoshimitsu, so I suspect your smith was the first one.

The mark on the blade is the top horizontal line and the first 'box', left side under that line of the "TO" stamp. I doubt that the Kobe stamp will add to the pricing value for most collectors. It would have to be someone that is specifically trying to collect examples from each arsenal and contractor. to make a difference. As for the paint, we have had many discussions about wartime second paint-jobs. No one really knows, but there are plenty of examples making it clear that it was done. Nice 95, John! Beautiful blade and paint in decent condition.

Sorry Thomas! I'm only online during breakfast, these days. Lisbon, The guys have it. It's a souvenir produced by the Tenshozan Factory for the 8th Army PX (like a military Walmart) from 1946-7, sold by both the PX and the Japanese Sword Shop, but also seen in the PX in Korea during the Korean conflict. Over 8,700 were made. It is not known why they mixed Army and Navy parts, but my personal opinion is that they wanted a sword that could not be considered a war trophy, or military sword, in any way. Shipping of war trophies had been outlawed after the war, so they likely mixed the parts which is something an active Army or Navy producer would have never done. We now have 2 Army PX certificates of sale stating they were "souvenirs."

Noshu Seki ju Hattori Masahiro Saku Beautiful blade, good luck with the sale!

That's quite a unique habaki! Too bad it's not in better shape. Still would enjoy a clear shot, or two, of it.

Richard, I really enjoy my Takayama-to. Short, but surprisingly heavy. I can see how the design would fit Masayoshi Takayama's idea of "One strike, one kill."

Vincent, The bolt through the tsuka is unusual. Looks like the ito (cloth wrap) around it is worn? Does the wear look old? My first thought was that it was something added later by a collector (and still could be), until I noticed the worn ito around it.

Perfect, thanks George!

Chris, Any small stamps up above the mei (signature)? No date on the other side, I presume? The file marks are called yasurime. You can see the different styles on this site: Sword Blade Terminology - Japaneseswordindex.com

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.