robinalexander

Hi Bruce, Well as luck would have it, this may answer your question as to who put the numbers/scratchings on it. Seems the fitting shop would be my best guess. There are identical (pencil) markings/numbers on the end of the tsuka and directly under the numbers on the koiguchi. 1435 (tks Dan C.) ....so it appears to me to be assembly numbers as Dan C. said. Pretty crude manner of marking though....maybe they were in a hurry to get them out the door and into the field! ( blade is a Nobumitsu, Showa 20th year, 3rd month (Mar. 1945)). George, The other character (katakana) is still a mystery (albeit a very small one now). I dont quite follow your lead with phonetic 'a' sound in terms of it relationship here...it dosnt appear on Tsuka though. I (nievly) thought it was an arrow with a large tail pointing in a specific direction for mounting purposes???....but unfortunately I can easily see such simple signs in real kanji and that just makes it harder for me :-) Rob SORRY IT WONT LET ME LOAD 1 X PICTURE 2.9 mg SO WILL TRY TO SEND IN ANOTHER FOLLOWING MSG.

Hi Bruce, Now that you mention it, I recall some markings just inside the tsuka and will have another look at those tmoz....apart from that no other markings. Strange though, (in my limited experience) that the above markings were seem to have been crudely scatched into the outside surface. Will get back to you. Rob

Thanks Dan, much appreciated. Rob

Hello, Was maintaining a Type 0 (Type 3) and noticed some scratches on the face of the fuchi. On closer inspection it looks very much like kanji? Strange place to have writing unless some IJA Officer decided to put his own mark or message on the face of the fuchi (unlikely ?) More likely to be something I am just not aware of yet. One particular long line (scratch ?) seems to go from the 'kanji' right around the top of the fuchi and then finish with an arrow head. Really no idea but they just seem too deliberate to be scratches, thus my post. Two angles tk try and get the 'message' across. Any ideas would be appreciated.....and no hurry, I will have it for some time :-) thanks Rob

Hi Dennis, Just to add to Ed's note, I have a Kai Gunto with the same finish on the saya (called Ishime). I asked a very knowledgeable sword guy here is Oz and I'm glad to be able to share the information (below) Ishime is a type of lacquer work which during the war was time consuming and expensive. Perhaps not so much on Kai Gunto as they already had a much higher quality of finish overall than Shin Gunto but this type of lacquer on Army swords is associated with better quality fittings. The downside is it's very fragile, especially after 70+ years of temperature changes, wear and tear etc etc. Rob

Wow Neil....that is so nice....I was looking at the blade and completely forgot what the question was :-)) Rob

Hi Kaz Nice collection. Agree with Bruce and Chris re buffer for blades to 'avoid metal on metal' . I've always had a soft spot for late war NCO's and yours are nice but what catches my eye is the 3rd from the top shin gunto with bohi and maybe pierced tsuba....any story there? Rob

Tks Steve havent heard of that one but looks good on face value and will certainly check out ....love any product that preserves and restores and in that respect it dosn't come much higher than leather bound books. Rob

Sticky to start with...use rubber gloves...apply and leave overnight 'to soak in'...i have tried on at least 3 combat sayas with different smooth finishes and it just disappears by next day. Test on small portion first if yr not sure Rob

Hi Matt, I provided some info on this subject a couple of days ago to Jesse.......earlier response copied below (bit messy cut and paste sri)............... Hi Jesse, I researched the same thing a few years ago and finally came up with a product called 'Renapur' Leather Balsam. I also wanted to give my knots and combat sayas the best and while products like Dubbin are very good, I focused more on a product meant for conservation rather than one used for operational reasons. My recollection is that this product was used by more than one large museum for leather conservation. I hestitate to recommend any product to be used in someone else's collection but I will say that I am very happy with it and will certainly buy it again when I need to. By the way you dont use it on the suede side...its only meant for the smooth/treated side but it will soak in. Apply with cotton buds (knots), or the sponge supplied jn the jar (sayas). Good luck. Rob

PS I agree with John's comment. Rob

Hi Jesse, I researched the same thing a few years ago and finally came up with a product called 'Renapur' Leather Balsam. I also wanted to give my knots and combat sayas the best and while products like Dubbin are very good, I focused more on a product meant for conservation rather than one used for operational reasons. My recollection is that this product was used by more than one large museum for leather conservation. I hestitate to recommend any product to be used in someone else's collection but I will say that I am very happy with it and will certainly buy it again when I need to. By the way you dont use it on the suede side...its only meant for the smooth/treated side but it will soak in. Apply with cotton buds (knots), or the sponge supplied jn the jar (sayas). Good luck. Rob

Hello Brian, Yours is a simple message that is both fair and reasonable. Good on you for posting it. Regards Rob

Hello Grev, Along similar lines of Matt H. not peoms, but in my research I have read quite a number of 'final' letters from IJN and IJA officers and NCO's convicted of war crimes at Rabaul, New Britain immeadiately after WW2. Most written on the eve of their execution. Moving. They provide an insight into certain aspects Japanese culture (particularly) at that time. If you, or anyone, was interested I could dig up the link. Rob

Oh well ...tks for looking...seems like this particular 'tassel' remains a mystery. Rob

Hello all, Just wondering if anyone can shed some light this tassel. Came as part of a job lot but despite my best efforts and references, I have not been able to work out if its real or fake or what type of sword it may attach to. It came from a legitimate (passed) gunto collector and no reason to believe it is fake or even that it may have come from a country other than Japan. Seems to have previously been attached to a sarute judging by the discoloration, stiffness and shape at the end of the tassel. Any information or ideas would be welcome. Thanks Rob

Thanks Bruce, Thanks for the insight..glad its not mine. Was the first one I came across on Google pics. And wouldnt Steve to race off and spend hard earned $ on the incorrect knot. Quicker and easier than taking a pic of my two. All good. Rob

Hi Steve, Nice example. In regard to the leather NCO sword knot, to the best of my knowledge (and I am newish) the sword knot you included is meant for the later iron tsuba sword as per your picture. I believe the knot to match your brass tsuba is the earlier NCO knot that includes a small brass buckle and actually threads through the tsuba. Pic attached. From my experience they are harder to find and more 'expensive' than the later version you have shown. If I'm wrong, ( but I really dont think so) I am sure we will both read about it very soon. Regards Rob

Do I see brush marks? If so, was that normal practice rather than spraying? Maybe not? Also, is the (variation) reddish brown colour normal .... rather than the 'olive drab' which I realise comes in different shades but its still olive drab colour. Rob

For the interest of members, an article from 'Morning Bulletin' Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia 15th Feb 1946 titled "Jap Sword Makers Unhappy" https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56434572?searchTerm=Jap Swords Regards Rob

I must be blind...civilian tsuba with hole for leather retaining clip? Rob

Hi John, Just saw this myself, very different all right. The paint markings look in very newish compared to most I have seen. And the hot stamp....again very diffefent and very clear/clean. Tsuba could be late war configuration ? as I cant make out the normal rising sun karge seppa. Do you believe it is all genuine? Rob

Job done. I have decided that the 'prototype' will become the permanent inserts for my (sad but loved) 95. They fit well and are functional although the final fit was way (WAY!!!) more in-depth and time consuming than the lead up work. Im happy with the result. In the end this turned out to be a custom made job (sand, measure, fit...sand, measure fit...etc etc etc)..... I really think that a complete saya (as per Jean C's video) would be easier and maybe more fun....easier anyway. What I have leaned..... The final stage can take a long long time to finalise My expression "how hard can it be" is now a known thing Correct/good tools can make or break a job But onwards and upwards...still loving it and have a job copying an 'actual' insert so we will see how that goes. Decided on Australian Red Cedar (different from Western Red Cedar). Regards Rob

Meant *Bruce* not Brian sorry. Rob