robinalexander

Hello Edgar, If you post clear close ups of both sides of the full tang, you may receive a little more information. Im sure a couple of shots of what's written inside the saya (scabbard) would also be of interest. Rob

Thanks for posting this Ferry, wakizashi is not normally what I collect but I do love your blade

PPS ... just search 'kamon' or 'mon' on this forum and you will quickly have a wealth of knowledge on your screen

PS...im trying to be good, so I won't post a picture of a family moon.

Looks ok to me Alaen, but others will comment in due course. It's 'kamon' or Mon for short.

Hi Chris welcome, Get some light machine oil on the blade of the Type 95 (2nd pic). Dont try to take the handle (tsuka) off. Search NMB forum "Type 95" for more info on this issued sword and just ask if you need any help or further info.

so they never get sold? ....what happens to them when the owner passes?

Bruce @Bruce Pennington ...not uncommon as you would know given years of tropical weather or the heat and cold of China (/Manchuria). One of my first tassel was found 'in the wild' as Douglas said (nice!). It was the second version and had two breaks which I accepted, but I didn't realize until I got it that it was quite fragile all over (newbie)...this has also been carefully glued back together with flexible bonding craft glue and is fine for display. Of course the condition was reflected in the price. I learned that if you want one, research the market, be patient and get a reasonable (genuine one). Ive just got to apply that thinking to my involvement in the sword market .... such a sucker for history over nihonto sometimes!

Ahhh Thomas ... thanks for pointing that out. I need a good flogging for missing that one. I wasn't aware of the odd reverse stamping , educated yet again...tks for the link.

Kenneth, given their relative rarity, your probably not going to quibble and if comes down to having one or not, then it dosent really matter but as an observation only....the locking mechanism appears to be protuding from the tsuka a little more than normal....similarly, the clip seems to have a bend that normally is not there. Could just be the angle or as a result of missing seppa. Just things to keep an eye on but given their age and arduous service life it's probably all par for the course. Nice find

its missing the top seppa.

Yes I know ..very weird paintjob, thanks for posting.

Chris I don't mind the black saya but I have a real problem with the 'baby yellow' tsuka. Looks like thick house paint Pass the acetone and some cotton balls!

Better than Bitcoin

For your interest...this knot sold on Ebay yesterday..... a very nice original Pat. 1 & 2 knot but the price has got to be a record.

Red tassell from JC Militaria website UK .... notes mention " with non regulation rank tassel (looks old)."

Kyle, as I said earlier 'I wouldn't buy it' and my reasons for that are similar to others observations but to be clear, and this is my opinion only....... From your initial pics what I didn't like...... 1. the lack of clarity in seller pics .....sometimes done on purpose just to 'get things over the line' but seller may just be newbie(?) 2. the colour of the paint on the tsuka ....really dark brown and reminiscent of recent 'aged' fakes. But again could just be the tint in the particular picture. 3. the apparent difference in the colours of the saya between pics.. first full length shot of sword and saya it looks ok and used but later pic of saya looks like a repaint.... misleading and again, I wouldn't post pics that differ so much if I was trying to sell it. 4. the kissaki appears too elongated for Ijima. 5. I just dont like the look of the Kokura stamp on fuchi (but I accept there are many variations in distances, arrangements and striking of stamps) 6. the seppa is way different from my Ijima T O and doesn't appear to have any scalloping around the edge as is so common on these earlier 95's 7. although the blade numbers and inspection stamp look ok, they are so far down the blade and I cant say I have seen that before. 8. the bohi looks particularly wide, especially at the kissaki end and gee, its roughly cut. 9. the top of the saya throat and number just look weird...repaint or just bad light and photography.....again is the seller trying to sell this or covering things up .... If it's been 'aged' then it's an excellent job ....I wouldn't go so far as to call it out as a fake BUT, I would never be happy with it and therefore wouldn't buy it unless it was so cheap it didn't matter. I have posted a couple of pics of my Ijima T O hopefully to better explain my comments.

If i was looking for a Type 95, I would definately not buy this.

Yes @Bruce Pennington it's a '1' ... sorry for delay.

Hi Ed welcome. I can't comment on the 'territory made sword' apart from noticing the dyed 'same' ray skin on the tsuka. Interesting. The Type 95 has three stamps on the fuchi (see righted pic below).. first is the Kobe Shoten Co., then Tokyo 1st Arsenal inspection stamp and lastly, the Kokura Arsenal stamp. Interestingly, the first stamp has a single stroke (ichi) through it and its one you don't see that often from the Kobe Shoten Co. Your blade number 48556 is in the correct range for that Company. Can you post a clear picture of the number on top of the scabbard (saya) throat. Hopefully it matches your blade number. Mal, @mecox re the wrapping of sayas...my gut feeling is that they are both wartime and postwar and each needs to be speculated on individually, but if there was an argument for a wartime copper wrap, then I think Ed's would be a great candidate. Picture of my Pattern 1 copper saya below which clearly had some form of wider wrapping on it for many years. Ed, my opinion...leave it wrapped. I would never try to remove it if it were mine. Also, don't try to take handle (tsuka) off the 95...nothing to see ... only damage possible. As far as removing the handle (tsuka) from the 'territory' sword..be careful if the wood is weak...remove mekugi (peg) first ....just google removing tsuka on NMB search or YouTube...or ask. Rob

)Maybe we should have a dedicated thread for 'Island Swords' ...that would make collection and comparison easier plus, any documentary proof could be recorded. But on this sword though, I just don't believe its anything close to WW2. If I was going to dress up a fake to look WW2 then this is the way I would do it. What has caused that (all over) 'wear' on them ito and yet the fittings are 'good' ? .....the tassell...really ? ....and so many problems with the nakago.. more than a few things gone astray here. Personally, I like historical prices that have 'been there, done that' .... particularly with some form of provenance but even I wouldn't waste my time on this.

Jay, a couple of more links for you but NMB Military Swords section is full of threads on Type 95's of all patterns .....great holiday reading Non-commissioned officers Gunto - Ohmura site https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/ija-type-95-nco-sword-info-228172/ Rob

Jay, Tokyo First Arsenal inspection stamp on the blade. More often than not, the iron fuchi's did not have maker's, inspection and arsenal stamps. From your pics I can't see any under the black paint but that is Ok. 300 is bargain basement price for a matching Type 95 of any pattern and this one appears to be in quite reasonable/average condition. Just do it! Rob

Ahhh thanks Jean Collin...of course Koichi san and you, are correct......I've been so many other places...just frustrating sometimes. Thanks again. Rob

Hello Koichi san, @Nobody Re Kunitsugu, I'm making absolutely no headway trying to find any similar kanji for 'kuni' (so different) let alone tsugu (as shown). Is it possible it's Kunitsuna as per picture below ? Rob