robinalexander

Nice one Thomas .... cleared up a few things in that lot. Picture as per Thomas' comment above, for posterity

Ahhhhh..tks Ernie (and again, Thomas) ... yes, full bottle now.

Yep thanks Thomas, got all that and totally agree. Large seppa under tsuba and small seppa on top of tsuba (touching fuchi) However, I am still a little confused, or missing something about those pictures (above) which appear to show a copper 95 with a large seppa/with hole on the top and and another identical on the other side of the tsuba...i.e. there is no small seppa on that particular sword. As it was advertised for sale using those pictures, they would have been taken at the same time without any disassembly. Just saying that that is weird.

Thanks Thomas @Kiipuso just to be clear in my mind (forgetting the above pics for a moment) you are saying that the correct standard for a 95 regardless of the Pattern, is a small seppa above and a larger seppa with hole below?

I've been looking at seppa for the Pat. 1 copper Type 95 and saw this one (sold) from Antique Swords in UK. https://www.antique-swords.com/v04-ww2-Japanese-type-95-copper-hilted-army-ncos-sword.html Its interesting that it has exactly the same larger seppa on top and bottom ...being a holed version to accommodate retention clip/chuso. All others I have seen, in my limited experience, have had a smaller matching seppa on top and larger 'holed' seppa on bottom. Has anyone seen or own one similar to this? Rob

What looks to be an embossed mon (?) on one side of the kabutogane of a Type 94 currently going to auction on Invaluable (USA).

Well it's lucky that David (Virginia) only wishes to make a knife and therefore preserve, in a practical sense, what little is left of Kanetatsu's work. I don't think David OP mentioned anything about Nihonto. Nice one David. Rob

Thankyou Koichi san

Greetings, While mucking around tonight I came across this old picture in a folder and would be interested to see what the notions on the back said . I'm sure others would have a better idea about the location of the soldier but I would guess at Manchuria? Tks Rob

Hi Keaton, I'm with Bruce (at least) and will even go out on a limb and say that your initial thoughts were well founded. I think its post war make-up from some WW2 parts. My observations...... 1. Semegane is missing. 2.Bottom Ashi is missing ..although this is not entirely unusual and is often missing from WW2 blades particularly when they were fitted with a leather combat cover. BUT, its just another tick against for me on this particular koshirae. 3. Canvas Same...possible late war but also quick and easy for post war make up 4.The sarute and ito both look very new i.e. maybe not WW2 5. Kabutogane dosnt match other Kai fittings...in fact I don't think it is regulation maybe not even for late war (I will wait on others views on that) but in any event, it doesn't match. and as Bruce said the Dai seppa have definitely been removed therefore it is incomplete So in all, your decision not to bid was a good one in my view. Have a gander at the site below, you will probably find it interesting particular given your recent 'foray' into the Gunto world Military Swords of Imperial Japan (Guntō) (ohmura-study.net) Rob

Bit of good background on the Type 95 https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/ija-type-95-nco-sword-info-228172/

That should read 1,5,6 and 8 ...for some reason I'm getting an emoji in place of an '8' . Rob

Welcome Bruno, The IJA NCO sword (pics 1,5, 6, is authentic and looks like a nice example. Rob

Hi Benjamin, Just for my interest, would it be possible to post a couple of clear pics of the (sword bag?) tassel? Tks Rob

Well Chris according to Wikipedia....... In August 1945, Brauchitsch was arrested at his estate and imprisoned by the British at Camp 198 in South Wales. He was charged at Nuremberg with war crimes related to his command of Operation Barbarossa.[46] However, he died, aged 67, on 18 October 1948 of bronchial pneumonia in a British-controlled military hospital in Hamburg before facing trial for conspiracy and crimes against humanity.[ So it probably ended up in Britain (maybe in a 'private' collection ....albeit with far less Customs 'import' requirements than Tony C has experience in recent times. Just speculation. Rob

Nice one Colin. First pic looks like IJA leather combat covered gunto and IJN Kai Gunto on the right. The allied soldier with the 'tommy gun' at the door certainly looks like something has startled him. Second pic. all offcers seem to have leather combat covers. Rob

Bruce….you’re not alone there. The UK is fast becoming a borderless over-populated lawless shambles where the majority don’t give a damn and hardly anyone does their job properly. I’d better stop there but I feel I’ve got that off my chest!!! All the best. Colin Bruce and Colin you are not the Bobbsey Twins.. good old OZ is the victim of failures by successive governments (Ministers and MP's) at all three levels ....Local, State and Federal. Stuffed up everything from EV's, childcare, health and education, military expenditure, Electricity/gas, carbon emissions, the environment, Indigenous Affairs, policing, infrastructure, privatization, dog signs...parking signs...snake signs...dont do this signs...do this signs... (ohh I'm gettin petty now, better leave it alone as well). With a handful of exceptions all the clever people that you would wish were running the country (at all three levels) are in private enterprise....no surprises there! Rob

Steve here is a ''W' stamp from the tang of one of my mid 95's....the only 95 I have ever removed the tsuka from. FY interest. Rob

Ahhhh good eyes Bryce, I can't argue with that, tks mate.

Hi Bryce, I thought the opposite re the saya, but I'm always learning. Would you mind pointing out the 'fake details' you refer to? Rob

Welcome Frank ...my observation only. If the mekugu was under the menuki (both sides I assume), then that....... 1. Tsuka is incorrectly wrapped as one menuki should be high on the tsuka and the reverse menuki should be set low. I know sometimes the sides differ but it is always one up and one down. This one shows both menuki at same level. 2. If the mekugi peg is hidden by the menuki.....then the peg dosn't go all the way through the blade and tsuka......meaning....either.... a. The tsuka was slid/jammed onto the tang after a short peg had been inserted through the blade ......or ....more likely... b. The tsuka was bound with menuki virtually holding the mekugi pegs in place at that time. ....either way....not good. My thoughts on the blade?...the shinogi is completely shot....non existent.....quality of the steel does nothing to encourage any 'pure' thoughts. I'm with Brian on the saya = real. Most NMB members are more knowledgeable than myself, particularly on blades, but on face value it seems to be a melting pot of pieces and to be sure (to be sure) the only piece I have confidence in being genuine is the saya. The tang may tell a lot more. Feedback is MO only 😊 Rob

I'll second that. On plain steel it works fine Try it first. Rob

Grev, I can't help feeling it was put together out of practical necessity (for any number of reasons) rather than being custom but either way I agree with Bruce that it appears a WW2 period alteration. I don't want to keep this going any longer than you are happy to, but my mind now turns to the question of restoration/conservation (not embellishment) and I would be very interested to see a few clear pics of the 'electrical taping' that has been done to the saya. Also the split in the saya. Depending on the result, I (and others ?) may have some ideas and happy to talk about them here or PM your call on that. Rob

Sorry folks, I threw the word "heirloom' in there but only as a an 'cover-all' to suggest to Grev to simply establish its bona-fides before he offers it for sale. I know as much about tsuba's as a hog does about sunday. Didn't intend to imply it was ...... [what I referred to it as]