robinalexander

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]

Yes Trystan, Im now in agreeance with that too....others eyes are better than mine. Blade numbers are certainly good.

Der....thanks Trystan. Clearly dosn't take much to confuse me Have you seen many sideways? Or is that something that is more prevelent on late war blades? Rob

Also forget to mention...no need to "dismantle" the tsuka from tang (unless you firmly believe its a fake). There is nothing to see on the tang of a 95, the screws/sarute might suffer and it might not go back together as well as it is now. Rob

Grev, I would hazzard a guess and say that it is authentic WW2 combination. That view is based on the existence of the seppa/retention strap which looks period and it is broken which is also common for an original item. I just dont think someone would add that post war but who knows. Hard to make any call on the WW2 authenticity of the saya itself apart from saying it is unlikely to be a 95 saya. So for pics I would ask for ....... 1. clear pics of the entire saya with a couple of close up of top and bottom. 2. Pics of the number and inspection stamp on the blade, and finally 3. I would like to see a close up of the 'same' on the tsuka ..... just to make sure its the real McCoy. The tsuba guys on NMB may be able to make some sort of comment on the tsuba (rough possible age whether it may be an heirloom) All that should put you in a better position to establish a price and have some confidence in wording of an advert. Rob

Bruce & others will have this question done and dusted pretty quickly I imagine. I'm in the process of cataloging and I came across this stamp on the blade of a late war Type 95. I dont know if its been badly struck or not....its seems clear but I cant see it in Bruce's great 'Stamps' download and couldnt readily find it in the Arsenal Stamps thread. Any clues? Tks Rob

Thanks Grev, Some confirmation would be good. On a closer look the tsuka (nice paint!), fuchi and blade look genuine however you would need to check number/inspection stamp on the blade. The saya appears to be a 'ring in' thus the retention strap/tsuba hole...if this is correct, IMO you may have to lower your sights on the price .....significantly. Rob

Grev 1200 GBP would be well above my budget for mid 95. Unusual tsuba dont think its regulation. With retention strap hole as well? Could we get some pics of the saya and throat ? (from what I can see also looks a little alien to the sword) Tks Rob

Tks for the follow up Steve...I will keep an eye on the post.

Hi Tyler welcome. @Shamsy Sham there are a couple of things that I find interesting about this sword and you might be able to enlighten me. Pic 1. The centre stamp is quite strongly and clearly punched and I thought it would be a Nagoya Inspection mark, however it looks more like 'G' . I know there is a very general similarity between G shape and Na stamp but this just looks quite different. Also appears to be a flat head brass screw holding the throat. Nothing too weird about that as could be a war time replacement but again, I'm just used to seeing round head brass screws in that role. Pic 2. @Fallout420 Tyler would it be possible to get a clearer pictures of the saya throat number and the kissaki (tip of blade)? In this particular picture, if you look at the 'scew' holding the saya throat, it actually looks more like a small nut (???) ...cant work out why it looks like that because its on the same side as the pics that show a flat head screw. Pic. 3 The Bo-Hi certainly gets off to a wonky start but my main question is....where is the inspection stamp? Just observations, but would appreciate any clarification. Rob

Hi Steve .. I apologise in advance if you already know this but 'suriage' means the tang has been shortened at some point, and as a consequence, the full mei is often lost. Rob

Then in this case, no date unfortunately David. Rob

to answer a question with a question....is there anything on the other side of the tang? Rob

You know Jack....I have never been a fan of repainting saya's....a bad/rough original is WAY better than any repaint job. That said........in this case I would definately make an exception. The stripping of this saya would surely have to be post war and if that is the case then nothing about the finish (only the finish) is genuine. In repainting, the biggest challenge is getting the correct colour/shade and the second biggest challenge is producing a finish that doesn't look like it was painted yesterday (and no paint brushes). Some experimentation I imagine....slowly, patiently and know when to stop. If you were to go down that path, the current rust could work to your advantage. Although it would still need to be neutralized at some stage of the process but necessarily at the start of the project. Would be an interesting and probably enjoyable project. Just thinking out-loud. Rob