Kiipu

Some additional photographs of 80442 can be seen via the link below. "custom Nco"

The handle is a replacement part that an armorer/armourer would have at the divisional level and above. While this part is not common, they do occasionally make an appearance. As you can see, the spare part is not drilled for the mekugi. The area that is not pebbled indicates the approximate position of the mekugi. It is likely your sword was damaged while in service and the armourer had to replace the handle. The most common damage to Type 95s was as follows. Dent/bent scabbard (26.97). Scabbard tip wear & tear (13.48) Blade bent (11.24) Scabbard throat screw lost (10.11) Hilt grommet screw worn-out (8.98) Hilt grommet screw lost (8.98) By far the best source of information about the Type 95 is via the late Nick Komiya. Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto

Does this sword have a star stamp by chance? Maybe Niigata Prefecture タ２１９７?

The only thing I see is yellow paint. Not much more I can do with this one.

A Kanenobu made blade that is engraved on both sides of the blade. 濃州関住兼信作 Nōshū Seki-jū Kanenobu saku. Translation Help With Kanji On Both Sides Of The Blade Itself

Not exactly a military sword, but I think everyone will like looking at it nevertheless. 甲子大黒天 Kinoene Daikokuten (translation courtesy of Edokko). Engraving on Samurai blade?

Hi Daniel, welcome to the forum. I always like it when these swords make an appearance. They are thought provoking and divisive at the same time. Best case scenario, a wartime "tourist" sword, like the dagger my father bought in Karachi, India, in 1944. Worst case scenario, it was made some twenty to thirty years ago in China. Who is right, only you can determine as you have it in hand. All we can do is provide a learned opinion. No matter what, I like it and am glad you shared pictures of it. All the best and hope to hear from you down the road.

Nagamitsu used the character to the left that Jean shows above. This a variant of the character to the right and has the same meaning. It is just a little different. Names sometimes used variant characters that differ from normal ones. I posted the above more for the translators on the forum than the collectors. It does not affect your sword by any means and can be safely ignored.

Another Inami kantei-sho, which helped with the translation above, can be seen at the link below. Special acknowledgements to Geoff & Guy over at WRF. Help with Old Tanto and Papers

Kantei Hakusui 鑑定白水 [Seal of] Kantei Hakusui Kantei-sho 鑑定書 Certificate of Appraisal Tōkō-mei 刀工名 Name of swordsmith 　Jidai 時代 era/period: 前 before 　Nagasa 長サ length of blade: 尺寸分 Oshigata 押形 　PROVINCE 　MAKER’S NAME 　ERA 右正眞也ト相認メ申候也 　昭和年月日 　Nihontō Kenkyū Hakusuikai Kaichō 日本刀研究白水會會長 President of the Hakusui Sword Society of Japan 　Signed: Inami Hakusui 伊波･白水 [kao]

Dan-The-Man is overlooking the obvious blade damage that occurred during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600! FYI, that is not rust, but blood stains. No doubt about it, extremely rare and priceless. Even Markus Sesko is in agreement. YOSHICHIKA (吉近), Shōō (正応, 1288-1293), Bizen – “Yoshichika” (吉近), Ko-Bizen school, jō-saku

Kawasaki Nagamitsu 川﨑長光 used a variant character for kawa 崎. It shows up on all his mei except for the shortened Nagamitsu 長光 forms. He was admitted to the Seki guild in 1941-0228. 濃州住川﨑長光作 Nōshū-jū Kawasaki Nagamitsu saku. 﨑 vs 崎

Mistranslation On The Book The nickname for Okayama Castle 岡山城 is Ujō 烏城 [Crow Castle]. The first name 龍起 can be pronounced several different ways, including Tatsuoki as used below. 備前国於烏城下市原龍起作 Bizen no Kuni oite Ujō-ka Ichihara Tatsuoki saku.

Placing a collect call to our resident Mino man. @mecox Kanenao, Ishihara Kanenao (兼直 石原 金直) KAN 1733 Born on 25 May, 1908 (Meiji 41), registered as a Seki tosho 27 October, 1939 (S14.10.27) age 31, and was living at Miagi, Tomioka-mura, Kamo-gun. Said to have been trained under Amaike Masatsune. He made some naval swords early on but later mostly worked in Seki on shingunto; Seki stamps. Cox, Malcolm E. Japanese Naval Swords, WW 2: Swordsmiths & Workshops. Part 1. 2021.

sarute (猿手) – Lit. “monkey hand.” Ring on the pommel opening of a tachi to which a cord could be tied. From page 378 of Sesko's Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords.

For another example, see the NMB thread below. Looking to find out what this Sword may be - type, value From Korean War Time Period

Oddly enough, sarute 猿手 can be translated as "monkey hands" and hence the depiction of monkey hands on your sarute. Clasped Hands Sarute

It was rather difficult to find but below is the thread. Leather hanger for Type 95 Cavalry 騎兵用?

Hi Scott, Tenshōzan made blades are dated up until about October 1943. As your sword is undated, it was likely made after October 1943. At an even later date, the blades are completely unmarked with the exception of the anchor stamp. So I would say your blade was probably made in 1944. 天照山作 = Tenshōzan saku. There are only two reported swords with this signature style. The other one can be seen at the link below. http://cb1100f.b10.c...p/collection2_m.html

I am told the color is gold. Some early swords did have a brass finish. However, I think there are two types of brass/gold scabbards. One is electroplated while the other is painted. See the link below for an early brass colored scabbard courtesy of IJASWORDS. Brass Scabbard NCO Copper Handle @Stegel

Zi, what color is the paint on the scabbard 鞘?

The sword was made by Kōbe under Kokura Arsenal supervision. There is a slight mismatch in the numbers though. I have seen this type of mismatch before and think it could have happened while still at the factory. Blade: 141089. Scabbard: 141039.

I'll just have to take your word on this one! Looks like chicken scratches to me.

That is one of the sword patterns that can be seen in the surrender pile at Sword Capture Pile - Japan 1945. @Jareth

Lets flesh out this translation a little bit more by adding some additional information that is not in the inscription. 伯耆国住吉幸 = Hōki no Kuni-jū Yoshiyuki = This sword was made by the swordsmith Yoshiyuki 吉幸, a resident 住 of Hōki Province 伯耆国. Hōki Province