Kiipu

The other John, you had it right the first time. Rotate the picture counterclockwise 90 degrees. Yours is written from top to bottom while Bruce's is written from left to right. フ三四 = FU 34. FYI, I had to edit my posts above as I was getting scabbard and wooden handle markings intermixed. All sorted out now.

Hi John, I would say ヤ/YA for the top and 五/5 for the right. The left, as you already know, is 六六/66. FYI, the handwriting is reducing the strokes to a minimum. Another comment is that the subassembly numbers can be painted on either side of the tang. I wonder if this was deliberate to alternate the location of the subassembly numbers on the tangs. This would help reduce confusion when reaching 99. Switch to the other side of the tang and start at 1.

Your brilliant Conway! The kana characters have an origin in kanji characters. For example, Japanese submarines used the iroha order for numbering. In formal documents, 伊 is used instead of イ. However, the conning tower would use an イ followed by a number. 伊 = い, イ = I. 呂 = ろ, ロ = RO. 波 = は, ハ = HA. 仁 = に, ニ = NI. For the rest, click on the characters at the link below. In the column to the right, find the characters 字源 [character source] and the source character will be shown. いろは順 Now, back to swords. You answered something that has been nagging me for awhile. I remember seeing a black painted 呂 prefix on a sword tang and was wondering why they would use that character. I thought maybe it was the first character in the name of the shop or the fitter. I now think one of the swordshops could have used the kanji source characters as a prefix. What do you think Conway? cc @SteveM

In the picture above, it is 2 with the 55 stamped upside down. So maybe the 2 means something different compared to the 55?

I have also noticed marking(s) inked inside the scabbard mouth. Below is a link to one of these scabbard markings. In this particular case, it looks like the katakana character ホ HO. Japanese sword signature!

I think the single digit handle number on yours is an Arabic 3.

Maybe YA ヤ?

This could be the only indicator of the sequence in which the souvenir swords were made. In this particular case, it is the katakana character FU フ. It is just an idea but worthy of comment nonetheless. フ六五 = FU-65.

A Murata cane sword with the number of 5/237 can be seen at the link below. 明治廿六年十月一日 = 1893-10-01. 村田刀 兼正 = Murata Sword Kanemasa. Muratato Kogarsu-maru style sword

Not sure what the assembly number is on that souvenir sword. The only way to find out would be to look at the parts. Alas, no pictures were posted of them. It is not unusual to see older numbers removed or two sets of numbers on the souvenirs. I guess there would have been hundreds of swords in various states of completion when the war ended. Then some months later production resumed for the PX contract. One thing I am sure about is that the blades were wartime surplus and had already been inspected by the navy. Gives some idea how many were in the pipeline.

If you ain't cheating, than you're not trying hard enough! Japanese Sword Questions

Here is one I ran into today. What is "Willie Pete" damage? Weird Idea, A question On blood rust, Post #11

This really muddies the waters. Picture courtesy of "Yann81" over at GBF. Vintage Pics, Post #653

My comment was based upon the Suya logo being upside-down. What do you think is wrong with it?

@Nobody & @xiayang Many thanks for the correction and translation. I have updated the GBF thread and given you both credit.

Oops! Mistakes happen from time to time. Obviously a Chinese fake as Japanese craftsmanship is sooo perfecttttttt. Chinese/ Japanese saber id help

Help Wanted! Watcha think so far? 明治二己巳年三月吉日 A lucky day in March 1870. 己巳 1869-02-11 to 1870-01-31 (note the offset 己 to avoid confusion with the preceding 二). 近江国住人藤原永？？？ Ōmi no kuni jūin Fujiwara naga ???. Need help in translation of Japanese sword tang

Sorry Lex, it is a reproduction.

Hi Richard, click on the link below and then click on the bottom link called Yasukuni PDF. JSSUS Articles

Calling Mal & Co., Ltd., thee resident Mino man as old as Peking Man! (One has to prod to get his blood pressure going this early.) @mecox

I don't think it is a 6 per se. Note the 909 is in kanji while the "6" is not. Usually they used a character prefix and this is what it could be. Could be the 6th set of the series? Very unusual whatever it means. Now, lets get back to Toyosuke, the man, the myth, and the legend?

昭和十四年八月吉日 = A lucky day in August 1939.

靖徳 Yasunori.

Make that two! Japanese Navy Officer Shin Gunto Sword

See post #8 above and read the quote at the bottom. Post #8