robinalexander

Doesn't look like it but close.

I also have no expertise in regard to your question. My opinion only, I would have though that the sunray pattern on kai seppa would have come about as a direct result of WW2 design and subsequent regulations. Assuming for a moment that is true, its feasible that the sunray pattern itself could have been based on some earlier historical design that happened to appeal to those deciding on the design for the complete IJN. Just thoughts. Rob

Vittorio, Good smith, Gendaito and overall, nice piece of militaria. You will enjoy it. Maybe not a bargain price, but it was quite reasonable and you will not loose money on it Rob

I tend to agree Bruce, only human that some will want something a little different and it might have been possible with the right superiors, in the right location and with the 'right' favour. The colour reminds of of the 'red' that is so prominent on uniforms of British/Australian staff officers. A clear colour differentiation from other military types. I have no problem considering the possibility that some 'staff' officers' may have had more of bent on impressing others than those actually in the field. Rob

Bring it on Tony.

Bruce, @Bruce Pennington maybe this is not the full answer to your question but by chance, the message below just popped up on another current thread. Different-species Gunto & Civilian army employee swords (ohmura-study.net) ----- Army civilian employee Gunto by Bruno

Barrett.....now I'm being serious....i have someone very close to me with Bi-Polar that I have been struggling to help for over a decade ...your messages remind me so much of his unmedicated hypomanic bouts....and NO I am not saying you have Bi-Polar or NO I am not saying you are hypomanic, but your messages remind me way too much of this type of behaviour. Very sadly. I have said this in the past and I can not speak in behalf of the NMB but it may be better if you locate a forum that is better suited to your interests. I wish you all the best Barrett. Rob

"Cannot make out any hada due to someone using what I suspect as never-dull. " Hello Dan, I very much doubt that Nevr-Dul on its own would cause that. Rob

Very interesting theads thanks Thomas.

Hi Stegel, Glad to see your detailed post and valued opinion. Would have liked to respond earlier but in fact, I have been madly packing the car to head to Melbs at 0430 tmoz for a week. In regard to the above quote, I'm glad you did include the scabbard colours/varations...good post...its the only way we can learn So the common thread here is both sayas (of the same colour variation) came from Iijima. That is something to look out for in future. In regard to serial numbers identifying (saya) arsenals, could you direct me to a thread on that info? What a good resource! Well the blue 95 is a little 'special'...do you belive it is a period repaint? It looks to be, but I suppose a lot can happen in 80 years. So we can probably safely discount the the issueing of 95's to navy NCO's. That only leaves the mysterious grey and I will have a keener eye out now for saya colour variations particulary Iijima (numbers would be needed 😊). Rob

Good eyes John...of course there is no fuller either.

Chris the figure in the first picture is not real.....its the Samurai Monkey But seriously, it could be an officer in SNLF or IJN The second picture/figure has rank badge of either 2nd Lieutenant or Corporal (very similar in black and white picture). But if you take the sword & tassel into account, he would be a corporal in the IJA. Not IJN. I scoured the web for hours today looking for any signs of grey 95's and also any naval NCO's with swords.....no luck with either.

Wikipedia 'says' SNLF uniforms ended up being greenish for most of the war years but there seems to be a fair amount of info suggesting they were more grey in colour. At least some SNLF or associated units seemed to have grey uniforms, ships were grey, so I suppose it's not beyond the realms of possibility that some SNLF NCO sayas were period repainted grey to differentiate. Pure speculation.

Interesting thread. John I reckon that would close to the mark in that it was only Officers/cadets that carried swords in the IJN. That is based purely on the fact that there are thousands (many) IJA NCO's in the world today and an equal number of references pictures of the same. BUT what evidence is there of junior ranks swords in the IJN???????? none. No swords, no pictures and no written references. Therefore they probably didn't exist (until proven otherwise )

Steve, when you say you have a few swords with the undercoat, I suppose that means the two coppers as shown but do you have any 95's that are all grey (undercoat) ? Thanks Rob

Thanks Steve....seems a mystery still but as an aside, does anyone know if swords were issued/held hy IJN non-coms as was the case with the IJA? Hopefully Stegel will have some more info or thoughts on the grey 95 saya.

Thanks Thomas...pic of mismatched serial number 56750 (saya) attached. @Bruce Pennington The number font is ok but the varying size of individual numbers is a bit 'unusual'. The saya is genuine...from the pic you can see the remnants of one side if the saya insert still in the saya. (Looks like I'll have to revisit the 'carpentry shop' for one or two inserts 😕) Thanks for the link...I will get into that later today when more time. Trystan, I just dont know if there was a 'navy' version either....or whether at some time/place in the war, some ordered that certain Type 95's should be repainted this colour. As I said, in original post, the actual colour of mine is identical to the one in Stegel's picture (despite the difference in my pics).

Couple more pics. (Sorry about the toes )

I recently came across Stegel's @Stegel pictures of the colour variations on Type 95 sayas (see first picture). As I recall, the one on the extreme right, was believed to be a IJN 'repaint' or origjnal grey paint? I have a similar Type 95 that I thought had been given a 'bubba' job (that word still cracks me up Bruce 😊) but after seeing Stegel's great post & pics I am hoping mine is a 'naval respray'. You can still see some remnants of original olive drab. The colour of mine is exactly the same grey/with just smidgen of green, as that shown in Stegel's, picture. Unfortunately, my pictures may not reproduce it's actual colour. So my questions are, how common are these 'naval' Type 95 grey coloured sayas? I just havent seen any. Is there a back story on them and did every IJN rating have one? Thanks Rob

I have one (Showa-To) Jonathon and definitely no core.

The blade, saya and mounts look authentic to me as well but that NCO leather knot looks to be in VERY good condition if its original?

Bruce, @Bruce Pennington in regard to the pattern on the habaki, maybe this is the thread you were recalling.

The existence of this saya kanji is so interesting, and provides a 'new' opportunity to establish some provenance that many collectors probably didn't know they had. I can see everyone pulling their saya's apart before a tsunami of translation requests

ahh Kunihiro...thats tricky. Went right through Slough's and Nihonto Compendium Stoke Count Kanji (Sesko) without success. Nice one Steve.