IJASWORDS

One of mine has the usual blue ito and tan saya. Another has brown ito and shark skin saya. So no similarity here.

Close ups of a couple of short gunto with different securing straps.

Wow, thanks Piers.

I am stumped with this, thanks.

Dave, interesting attachments. I favor a short sword may be the result of a full length forging failure, where a wakizashi is preferable to no sword at all. I can remember reading some where the shorter swords were given to desk bound administrative officers that through rank required a sword, and the longer swords issued for field use. Can't remember seeing anywhere a Banzi charge with little swords being brandished.

Brian's post #7 finally puts the last nail in the coffin of the so called "crew or tanker or pilot" sword. If a short crew sword was required, then they would have been made by an arsenal for standard issue or sale to officers during the war. They are all old blades remounted when the standard length for family blades sold to the war effort was reduced to 21 inches. And yes, you will find short blades in full size koshirae as well .

Dave, can I be cantankerous and suggest that the koshirae is a cut down '98, that at sometime it was modified to fit someone's wak? Evidenced by the out of proportion shape, and no hanger. Just my opinion of course.

Blade is a Kanetsuna Saku, 1400's Bunmei.

Older wakizashi in Kai Gunto mounts.

There seems to be a trend here..... Blue wrapping of the tzuka.

Dave, of course not 100% certain, but the nakago was cut and modified some time between when it was made and WW2 mounted.

How many military sword collectors have Kanbun blades? Here are two Kanbun (1660-1670) swords compared to the usual curvature example. Swords of this period were almost straight. Thought it may be interesting to show the difference.

Here is a '94 double hanger, blade is a bo-hi, dated Eiroku 3rd year (1560), signed Taira Moritsune, pretty longish blade at 28 inches. Old but good polish, my guess is was probably in a kyu-gunto mounts pre war, and remounted for WW2. Not bad for its age.

Are you for real?

Hi Matt, that is very interesting, it would be good to find out if Amahide used Silver fittings on regular swords, or only made to order specials. Does yours have a date? Some photos posted here would be appreciated.

Here are a couple of my pattern 5's, only a few hundred numbers apart. Notice the differences in the drags.

No idea of its history, so I will file it with other mysteries of the period.

So here is an unusual one, similar in many respects to the sword in post #11. But in this example, mumei, the mune has been modified (filed down) to fit a hard wood handle. But in other respects, looks like a genuine late war Japanese made blade. There are 2 mekugi ana that fit the handle. Habaki is well made and perfect fit. The kabutogane and sarute look like the one in post #11. This is not a war time repair, in my opinion, as the rivet holes are small, made for this handle, and the corrosion is the same all over the nakago. Unless undrilled blanks were sent out to repair swords, or to make them in the field. The combat cover is machine made, not hand sewn by someone in a grass hut. Thoughts?

What is best way?

Greg you did say blades not swords, and you did mention flowers. So here is my contribution. I think hand forged, crazy sharp, and carbon steel that rusts quickly if not oiled.

I prefer Dawson. A lot can also be discovered by reviewing previous posts here.

Yes, N156 is my one that got me thinking.

Bruce, as you point out I have 1944 and 1945 examples of the MRS swords with Mantetsu blades. I also have one with a 1938 SMR stamped blade. This early blade got me chasing down rabbit holes thinking that the MRS started production in 1938, which is now proven not to be the case. So, as this '38 example fits perfectly, and is original to war time, there are two possible reasons for its existence..... 1. A refitted blade for some reason during the war, but why one with the rare SMR stamp? 2. The factory/arsenal had kept blades as standards or production examples for reference purposes. As desperate times and shortages were occurring late in the war, all available blades were pressed into service. Even retained examples. I favor the second example, as most logical, but speculation of course.

Congratulations Bruce, as long as we all now realize that they are post war put together souvenirs. But, they are an interesting artifact of that period to own. I think some immediate post war "Jeep Springs " made in the Islands are interesting to militaria collectors.

George, you are correct.