Kiipu

If you want, post pictures of the Chinese characters and Trystan can possibly discern something we would overlook. I have learned the hard way not to ignore him! FYI, he is my official Chinese translator and occasional consultant on those very old Japanese characters long since dead. @BANGBANGSAN Old news for most, but see Joseph Needham's book. Bibliography of Early Japanese Firearms

Oddly, I was just reading a few days ago about Japanese knowledge of these before the arrival of the West. I seem to recall from the 1990s that the Japanese called them something different and Western scholars were uncertain what it was the Japanese were talking about!

Speaking for myself, I rather like it.

Yes, unless someone saved the pictures when listed on eBay. It does have a cavalry look to it and the pointed tip would be for stabbing. Read the WRF thread John mentions in the OP. Let's see what Trystan has to say.

A Japanese Type 95 NCO sword and it is real. Made under Nagoya Arsenal supervision sometime in late 1942.

I remember reading this one back in 2021. Metallurgy of the Traditional Japanese sword

I spent some time looking into this and I am uncertain exactly what this sword is. It could be a European sword or a Japanese prototype. The construction is unlike the final form taken by the Meiji 25th Year Cavalry Sword 明治二五年騎兵刀. However, the Meiji 25th went through several design changes before adoption. There is just not enough factual information available to make a judgement at this time. Ran across serial 5297 over at Worthpoint. Pre WWI Japanese Army Type 25 Cavalry Sword ... Cross-Reference Sword Identification Help Needed

An unidentified sword spotted by @John C. What caught my attention was the blade. 1892 Type 25 survey assistance needed

Thanks for checking the translation. I cheated and used "Google Translate" for the English text! Google Translate I have updated the translation to include the corrections above and added English Imperial units.

Polish to English Translation OPIS OSTRZA [BLADE DESCRIPTION]: Sygnatura [Signature]: Koa Isshin Mantetsu saku kore 興亜一心　鍛錬作之 Data [Date]: Showa koshin Aki 1940r. Jesień [1940, Autumn] 昭和庚辰秋 Nagasa: 54,5 cm [21.45 inches] Motohaba: 28 mm [1.10”] Kasane: 7 mm [0.27”] Hamon: Suguha Hada: Nashiji Nakago: ubu, 1 mekugiana Sori: 8 mm [0.31”] Ostrze: konstrukcja Shinogi zukura, grzbiet iori mune. Chu kissaki. Blade: Shinogi zukuri construction, iori mune spine. Chu kissaki tip. Typ miecza: Wakizashi w oprawie katany Sword type: Wakizashi in a katana mounting. Czas powstania: 1940 wiosna. Świetnie zachowane ostrze z okresu drugiej wojny światowej. Klinga doskonale odkuta I zahartowana, posiada doskonale proporcje. Klasyczne ostrze w typie miecza wojskowego gunto wykonane w fabryce kolejowej w Mandżurii w Chinach ze stali mandżurskiej (mantetsu). Z tych powodów wymyka się terminowi “nihonto” mimo, że jest wykonana zgodnie ze sztuka. Sygnatura Koa Isshin nie wskazuje na konkretnego kowala, ponieważ wszystkie ostrza z tej wytwórni byly tak sygnowane. Datowana metoda zodiakalną, tu Koshin (lub Kanoe) tatsu – rok smoka, wskazuje na rok 1940. Aki – wiosna. Na mune nakago widnieje sygnatura montażowa Sai 166 [オ一六六] Made in 1940, spring. A well-preserved blade from the Second World War. The blade is perfectly forged and tempered, and has excellent proportions. This classic gunto-style military sword blade was crafted at a railway factory in Manchuria, China, from Manchurian steel (mantetsu). For these reasons, it defies the term "nihonto," even though it is crafted in accordance with the art. The Koa Isshin signature does not indicate a specific smith, as all blades from this factory were marked in this manner. Dating using the zodiac method, here Koshin (or Kanoe) tatsu – the year of the dragon, indicates 1940. Aki – Spring [Autumn]. The mune nakago bears the assembly mark Sai 166 [オ一六六]*. * It is actually the katakana character オ O and not the kanji character 才 Sai.

This one started out as a katana and was later shortened to a wakizashi 脇差.

@Mark posted this for sale back in November 2022 and the thread is now gone. To the right is what a spare hilt looks like.

Interesting, I always thought it was the width that was meant and not the height. Your measurement clarifies that matter. Increasing the height there would indeed strengthen the part and reduce bending.

Yes, that is it.

The chū kan 駐環 is the piece that the latch is riveted to. The chū kan is then soldered to the ferrule. The U-shape comes from the groove that runs the length of it. See your picture number 1 above.