jeep44

I have a "Leatherneck" magazine from the postwar period (late '40s) with a long article about a Japanese swordsmith making USMC Officers swords, hammering out the blades in the traditional way. I would think one of these would be a very interesting addition to a collection.

Maybe these photos will help?

I posted this in the wrong forum before, but here is the surrender tag on a sword I picked up today.Any help would be greatly appreciated!

The verdigris around the scabbard rivets tells me this was done a long time ago-maybe some creative Seabee or a soldier with access to a machine shop? It was probably just a fragment of an NCO sword to begin with.

A couple more photos of the fittings. The rubber band is there on the blade to hold all the bits from falling off and getting lost.

I just picked up this nice Naginata-I've never seen one "in the wild" before (although I do have a Wakazashi with a probable cut-down naginata blade), and this one is a nice, complete example.

I'm sure the seller is happy, though. This is a rare sword, in very good condition. Maybe he paid a bit too much now, but in the future, even poor examples may go for more.

Study the close-ups of Type 95's in this album, and compare them to this fake: https://www.flickr.com/photos/58451159@N00/albums/72157634646684020

I saw the thread about the Samurai knives, and thought this might be of interest. I found this knife in an antique shop. It was stamped as being made by Sakai Kaneyoshi. I wonder if he were perhaps a swordmaker who turned to knives after WW2?

I'd need a lot more than one blurry photo before I'd send off $4000......

There's really not much to see with the blade-it's in pretty good condition. Isn't this an "otsu" by virtue of its serial number?

I just picked up this type 32 today. It seems to be a very late one, with a serial number of 129763. It has a blackened finish, including the Saya. By the sharpness of the cross-hatching of the handle, it seems to have seen very little use.

I was at an Antique Arms show today, and spotted another one of these swords, and took a few photos of it. I don't know if it will add anything to the discussion, but I guess it's apparent that this pattern of sword is not rare. The only real point of interest on this sword was the Tsuba-not the usual plain iron one.

You can see the worn effect pretty clearly in the second photo of post # 7-whatever this coating is, it's very thin. I used the term "paint", but I really don't know.

One last photo

Here's a couple of close-ups. I notice that the sword you posted a photo of has Army menuki. My blade has the anchor stamp, and it has Naval menuki. I suppose we will never know, but this pattern of sword sure seems to be made too well and too consistently to be merely a souvenir intended for customers who knew nothing about Japanese swords.

This is my sword. My question is... was there another military sword that had a fuchi with an integral seppa? I've never seen one, so I doubt these would be "left-over" parts-they were made specifically for this pattern of sword. As for gilding, I have my sword here, but I really don't know how to tell-it has seen a fair amount of handling, and to me, the parts look to be made of brass, with the gold paint wearing off. I'll post a couple of close-ups.

My copy came today from Mr. Doffin.

Nothing that I have read firmly establishes WHEN these were assembled-just that they were sold as souvenirs postwar.

I don't know-were they wartime-assembled swords that were in storage when the war ended, and then acquired by this "Japan Sword Co.", or assembled post-war? They weren't assembled haphazardly-they are very consistent in their specifications, and made with care and skill. Who knows? Anyway, I don't mind having an example of one of these.

Here is the thread I referenced at Wehrmacht-Awards: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=907917

A couple more photos:

I was just over at Wehrmacht-Awards, and read a thread about these swords. Bob Coleman described this sword to a "T", and made some very interesting statements about it. The sword in question had some subtle differences from mine-Army-style menuki, and no anchor stamp, while mine has Naval menuki, and the stamp. Mine has the "snapped-off" tang, and a black lacquer saya, as described. Here's some pics of my recently acquired sword:

I bought all my NCOs back when they could be found at just about any gun show or militaria show for about $200. I really can't recall the last time I saw one at a show for any price. In my area it would be tough for someone just starting out to gather a good collection of these any more, and the prices I see on ebay just leave me shaking my head. As for the machine-made aspect of them, they were still carried into combat by Japanese soldiers, and as such, deserve respect. I value mine as much as any other Japanese sword I have, manufactured or Traditionally made.

I see you are in Michigan. On Sept. 17 & 18, go to the Michigan Antique Arms show in Novi, Mi. You will see at least one seller with genuine Japanese swords there, but better plan on spending around $1000.