Kiipu

I have noticed small inspection marks on that side of the Type 32 blade; however, they are usually centered on the blade and not off to the side like yours. What model is your Type 32, 甲 or 乙? 甲 Blade Length: 832mm 32.75”. 乙 Blade length: 774mm 30.5”.

Very little documentation about this forge or the swordsmiths that worked there. Gendaito Kanetoshi (伊奈波鍛錬場兼利作)

Grenade Launchers All three books below for US$190 including shipping to States. Babich, Gregory A. Imperial Japanese Grenade Rifles and Launchers. Dutch Harlow Publishing Company, 2004. Dust jacket, hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 248 pages, color illustrations. Weight 3 lb 6 oz, printed in USA. US$99. Japan. Rikugun-shō 陸軍省 [War Ministry]. Tenage-dan’yaku Kuku Shiki Shu-ryūdan (Kō) oyobi Dō (Otsu) Tori-atsukaihō 手投彈藥九九式手榴彈(甲)及同(乙)取扱法 [Method of Handling Hand Thrown Ammunition Type 99 Hand Grenade A and B]. General Order 7471. October 06, 1941. Reprinted in Japan in 1998. Beige softcover, 6 x 8.25 inches, 16 pages, drawings. Weight 0 lb 2 oz, printed Japan. Japan. Rikugun hohei gakkō 陸軍歩兵学校 [Army Infantry School]. RoTa-hō kyōren no sankō ｢ロタ｣砲教練ノ參考 [Training Reference for ROTA Rocket Launcher]. May 1945. Reprinted in Japan in 1998. Beige softcover, 6 x 8.25 inches, 54 pages, drawings. Weight 0 lb 4 oz, printed Japan. This was the Japanese army’s version of the American Bazooka. This weapon was later renamed as the Experimental Type 4 7cm Rocket Launcher.

Rifles (Type 99 7.7mm) #2 All three books below for US$185 including shipping to States. Luer, Jon. Collecting the Type 99 Arisaka Rifle. Waffenhaus, 1997. 1st edition, first printing. Softcover, comb bound, 8.5 x 11 inches, 33 pages, printed on one side only, B&W illustrations. Weight 0 lb 9 oz, printed USA. Sasse, Douglas Allan. “A Historical Review of the Japanese Arisaka Type-99 Rifle with an Emphasis on the Quality of Manufacturing and Material in Relation to a Time Line of Major Allied Campaigns during 1939–1945.” Master’s thesis, California State University, Los Angeles, 1997. Softcover, 8.5 x 11 finches, 212 pages, printed on one side only, tables, drawings, B&W illustrations. The velo binding changed to 3-ring binding. Weight 2 lb 7 oz, printed in USA. US$115.

That greenish-blue ito wrap was popular for civilian swords. See my comment below about these swords, many of which got drafted during the war. Inherited Sword, looking for help Identifying maker.

The highest serial number that I have with a picture is 217291.

兼元 = Kanemoto. versus 兼則 = Kanenori. 兼式 = Kanenori.

The blade and hilt is from a Type 95 Military Sword while the scabbard is from a mass produced Type 100 Sword. Sometime in fiscal year 1943, Nagoya Arsenal started mass producing the Type 100. They were made in large numbers and production even exceeded that of the Type 95. The veteran removed the scabbard retaining assembly from the handle so that the scabbard would slide all the way to the crossguard. The Type 95 locking latch protrudes beyond the crossguard and would prevent the scabbard from closing all the way. This sword is the earliest known Type 95 from Nagoya Arsenal with an unfullered blade. 関202446 Fullered blade. 関203348 Unfullered blade. Thanks for sharing Dev and good luck with the sale.

Below are some examples of the signature style as used on yours. Keep in mind, this forge used several different styles depending upon who the smith was that signed. Anchor Mon On Rinji (Type 3) Translation Help on Kai-Gunto

The mei is Inaba 伊奈波. I have some recorded with the exact same style of signature. The signatures vary considerable with these blades.

Ditto what David said above. Place the blade, sandwiched between wood blocks, in a vice near the bend and gently pull the handle toward you. Might not need to remove the handle to do this. No need to use force on this, just leverage it gently. (This only applies to blades of one-piece construction, such as bayonets or Type 25/32/95 swords.) Good luck and keep up posted.

Taylor, what exactly is that black material that is under the ito wrap on the handle made of? Is it cloth, paint, paper, electrical tape, etc.?

Rifles (Type 99 7.7mm) #1 All three books below for US$175 including shipping to States. White, Doss H., Bill S. White, Frank A. Knapp, and George H. Taylor. The Japanese Type 99 Arisaka Short Rifle. Shoestring Publications, Ltd., 1985. Autographed by Doss White. First edition, first printing. Softcover, centerfold stapled, 8.5 x 10.5 inches, 80 pages. Copy 291 of 300. Weight: 0 lb 8 oz, printed in United States. The cover is detached from the top staple while the center sheet is loose. See pictures below. Can be fixed by restapling but will leave that decision to the new owner. This was the forerunner of the Banzai Special Projects. I purchased this directly from Doss back in 1991. Team Arisaka. Arisakas Tables: Type 99 and Type 30. Banzai Special Report 3. Lodestone Publication, 1999. Softcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 46 pages, tables, no illustrations. The side-stapled binding converted to a 3-ring binding. Weight 0 lb 5 oz, printed in USA.

The source of the pictures you posted of Type 95, serial number 71, can be seen via the link below. Hope this helps. Type 95 Nco Copper Hilt

Rifles (Imports & Exports) All three books below for US$140. including shipping to States. White, Doss H., and Francis C. Allan. Japanese Contract Rifles: Arisakas Produced Under Contract for Foreign Military Forces & Rifles Purchased from Other Countries for Japanese Military Use. With Historical Research by Thomas Keep and Stanley Zielinski. Banzai Special Project 8. Lodestone Publications, Inc., 2004. Softcover, unbound, 8.5 x 11 inches, 54 pages, B&W illustrations. Weight 0 lb 6 oz, printed in USA. The stapled & tape binding converted to 3-ring binding. Allan, Francis C., and Roger L. Wakelam. The Siamese Mauser: A Study of Siamese / Thai Type 46 Rifles & Type 47 Carbines. Edited by Joseph P. Koss, Jr. Banzai Special Project No. 1. AK Enterprises, 1987. First edition. White softcover, unbound, 8.5 x 11 inches, 29 pages, drawings, tables, B&W illustrations. The folded & stapled binding converted to 3-ring binding. Weight 0 lb 5 oz, printed in USA. Japan. Rikugun gijutsu honbu 陸軍技術本部 [Army Technical Headquarters]. MO-shiki shōjū dai (I, II, III)-gata setsumeisho ｢モ｣式小銃第（Ⅰ､ Ⅱ､ Ⅲ）型説明書 [Instructions for Type MO Rifle, Models (I, II, III). September 1939. Reprinted in Japan in 1998. Beige softcover, 6 x 8.25 inches, 58 pages, drawings, pictures. Weight 0 lb 4 oz, printed Japan. This manual was expensive because of the exchange rate at the time.

Rifles All three books below for US$175 including shipping to the States. Honeycutt, Fred L., Jr., and F. Patt Anthony. Military Rifles of Japan, 1897–1945. Lake Park, Fla.: Fred L. Honeycutt, Jr., 1977. Dust jacket, red hardcover, 6.25 x 9.25 inches, 224 pages, B&W pages. Weight 1 lb 6 oz, printed in USA. Comes with the letter from the author that was included with the book. This is the 1st edition of MRoJ which is smaller in size compared to later editions. It does not have coverage of Murata rifles like the later editions. The pictures in some cases are larger than later editions. Most advanced collectors will have this edition along with a later edition in the reference library. US$99. McCollum, Duncan O. Japanese Rifles of World War II. Latham, N.Y.: Excalibur Publications, 1996. Autographed by author. First edition, first printing. Softcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 64 pages, B&W illustrations. Weight 0 lb 8 oz, printed in USA. A nice little primer on Japanese rifles. US$35. Team Arisaka, Victor Soto, and Linda Soto. Articles from Banzai on The Japanese Sniper Rifle with Sniper Rifle Serial Number and Telescopic Sight Manufacturer Tables. Banzai Special Project No. 7. Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Lodestone Publications, Inc., 2001. First edition, first printing. Softcover, unbound, 8.5 x 11 inches, ii/50 pages, tables, B&W illustrations. The comb binding converted to a 3-ring binding. Weight 0 lb. 7 oz., printed in USA. US$60.

Some more that I found on an old NMB thread. Odd Mon Left Column 進藤 江副

The Bamban WWII Museum near Clark Field, Philippines, has some Japanese swords in the collection. Note the picture of a naval sword with a unique hilt. Looking for relic condition type 38 wood for museum

Maybe a poorly written ㋩海軍拵え?

The previous owner even wrote his name on the blade along with an ID number in case it got stolen. I think I will do this with all of mine as well. Great minds think alike! 小田一郎

The closest it could be is a katakana SO. The tsuba also has a 63. More than likely it is a subassembly number. ソ63

John, you never cease to amaze me. 九八式軍刀拵　山本軍刀店製作

Nagamitsu? Note the 2 instead of a 1. See this GBF thread. WTS Nagamitsu sword Edit: Must be signed in as it is in the "Japanese Trader Board." The seller had this to say and will also attach the nakago mune picture for those that do not have access. X

It is not a serial number but a utility model registration number. Looks like the 用 was stamped upside down? 實用新案 = jitsuyō shin'an = utility models.

Handguns Honeycutt, Fred L., Jr. Military Pistols of Japan. 3rd ed. Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.: Julin Books, 1991. Used, dust jacket, hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 168 pages, B&W illustrations. Weight 2 lb 2 oz, printed in USA. US$130. This book is one of two that is recommended for collectors of officer's swords. This book will provide an overall view of Japanese ordnance, from arsenals to inspection marks to subassembly methods. Book is out of print and the author has no plans to revise. Brunner, John W. The Colt Pocket Hammerless Automatic Pistols. Williamstown, N.J.: Phillips Publications, 1996. Used, dust jacket, hardcover, 8.5 x 11 inches, 224 pages, B&W illustrations. Weight 2 lb 15 oz, printed in USA. US$350.