Kiipu

Blade　刀身　Tōshin Blade Notes Blade Note 1: The early blades had the notches for the habaki aligned. This is the traditional style used on Japanese swords. The lowest observed blade is serial number 857 and the highest is 6320. In addition, there was only one hole for a grommet screw toward the rear of the tang. Blade Note 2: About the time when the handle was changed to aluminium, offset notches for the habaki were introduced. The lowest observed blade is serial number 7249. The lower blade notch engages with a built-up dam inside the lower part of the habaki. Also, a hole was added behind the habaki for a brass or steel mekugi. Blade Note 3: The nakago [tang] can be found either marked or unmarked. Occasionally arsenal symbols or company logos are seen. Serial number 6320 has a Kokura Arsenal symbol, while serial 209247 has a Seki Tōken KK logo. The most common marking encountered are army inspection marks. The following army inspection marks have been noted on the tang: 東, キ, ホ, 名, 関, M. Blade Note 4: Some of the early Type 95s were used by officers and have kanji numbers chiseled into the lower tang. Blade Serial # The Kokura serial number is read with the blade edge down while Nagoya & Jinsen Arsenal is read blade edge up. Some Jinsens have the first digit overstamped with a 3. The overstamp can be faint or partial, making the first digit hard to read. Blade Inspection Marks The early Suya made swords did not have a visible blade inspection mark by the serial number. Instead, it was stamped on the tang and thus covered by the hilt. This occurs early on in two distinct blocks of serial numbers. Kokura & Nagoya used a final inspection mark, either before or after the serial number. On Kokura, it comes after the serial number, while on Nagoya it comes before. In the Nagoya two hundred thousand range, the final inspection mark is occasionally stamped behind the serial number. Jinsen used the Heijō Factory inspection mark. In addition, Jinsen sometimes used an extraordinary inspection mark that will appear either before or after the Heijō Factory inspection mark. The individual inspection marks can be seen in the “Inspection Marks” section above. Blade Fullers Blade will be either fullered or unfullered. The original design was for fullered blades; but, late in the war some arsenals and civilian companies omitted the fuller.

It there a way to select a different time zone for my account? I would like to use UTC across all forums for standardization.

No, just on unserialized Type 99 Short Rifles. All the rest have been observed on Type 95s.

Inspection Marks　檢印　Ken’in The following inspection marks have been observed on the Type 95 Military Sword. They can be found stamped on most of the major parts. Arsenal Final Inspection Marks 小 = Supervisory Section of Kokura Army Arsenal 小倉陸軍造兵廠監督課. 東 = Supervisory Section of Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal 東京第一陸軍造兵廠監督課. 名 = Supervisory Section of Nagoya Army Arsenal 名古屋陸軍造兵廠監督課. 関 = Seki Supervisory Section of Nagoya Army Arsenal 名古屋陸軍造兵廠関監督班. 仁 = Supervisory Section of Jinsen Army Arsenal 仁川陸軍造兵廠監督課. Factory Inspection Marks ホ = 1st Factory of Kokura Arsenal 小倉陸軍造兵廠第一製造所. キ = 2nd Factory of Tōkyō 1st Arsenal 東京第一陸軍造兵廠第二製造所. ヘ = Heijō Factory of Jinsen Army Arsenal 仁川陸軍造兵廠平城製造所. 社／社 = Old/New characters. Each civilian/private factory under army supervision 各民間工場. Complementary Inspection Marks Can be used by any factory. M = Interim or partial inspection mark. X = Failed inspection mark. Extraordinary Inspection Marks Can be used by any factory. ◯ = Adopted based upon special incident specifications. ㊁ = Adopted as a clause 2 item. This means it was downgraded but still usable.

Ron, mind posting a picture of the signature side?

Your Type 95 was made by Suya under Tokyo 1st Army Arsenal supervision.

The Variation #2 introduced the offset machi along with an internal change to the habaki. Per a private conversation with Bruce, the lower inside of the habaki was built up to make contact with the machi. aquired/inherited type 95- questions

See "Japanese-made sword for Australian military use" on pages 276 to 277. Fuller, Richard, and Ron Gregory. Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks. Howell Press, 1997.

Yes, both replies are correct. 昭和一五年三月吉日 A lucky day in March 1940

John & Trystan, those Australian swords were made to a British pattern. See the 2nd edition of F&G way towards the back. Will get a page number later on.

Time to call 1-800- @BANGBANGSAN.

The Meiji 25th Year Cavalry Sword was made by Tōkyō Hōhei Kōshō 東京砲兵工廠 [Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal]. I strongly recommend everyone reading this thread to take a look at this book. (Mod Scogg says I can use bold, italics, and underlining at the same time for dramatic effect!) Military Industries of Japan

When I first looked at it, I thought it could be 檢. The reason I hesitated was because the left side of the character had a vertical line with two Vs towards the top and bottom. Normally in Japanese, the lower V would be upside down; however, this character had both upright. I agree and the rōmaji ローマ字 pronunciation of ken is the same. They are one and the same. I also agree it just means inspected. Wiktionary 檢 [See under Chinese alternatives] @Markus

I think this is just a case of using an older character instead of a misstamp. @SteveM

No, it is not the 小 stamp. It kinda looks like 未. Would need more examples to determine exactly what character is being used.