Kiipu

@MarcoUdin Below is the link to the tsuba that Bruce mentioned. Shodai Kawashima Tadayoshi Gendaito Hozon - Kai Gunto for review

This is to supplement the information provided by Slough san on page 211. On this page he mentions a 1943 book by Hagio Takahashi entitled Nihon Kendō oyobi Tōken. Below is the citation for this 255 page book. Hagio Takahashi 萩尾･孝之. Nihon kendō oyobi tōken 日本劍道及刀劍 [Japanese kendō and Swords]. Tōkyō 東京: Tōkyō Kaisei-kan 東京開成館, 1943.

Has anyone ever seen this Type 100 variation before that has holes drilled into the crossguard [tsuba]? It can be seen in img_1094. Nagamitsu Army Officer's Sword

@Ganko Another early Type 100, serial number 470, can be seen at the link below. This is the earliest Type 100 I have seen which includes a picture of the fittings. To date, the serial range for this "upside down" serial number is a low of 106 by 宗利 Munetoshi and a high of 798 by 昭久 Akihisa. Pawn Shop Gunto @kotachi If this sword is still at hand, can you check it for any markings on the top of the tang (nakago mune)?

This is what I have so far. Anyone have any ideas about the unknowns? 東一造 忠彰　? 東一造 道義　? 井口昭貞　Iguchi Akisada. 東一造 忠和　Tadakazu. 東一造 國隆　Kunitaka. 東一造 勝信　Katsunobu 東一造 尚武　Naotake. 東一造 行範　? 東一造 正武　Masatake 東一造 守國　Morikuni. 東一造 國紹　?

Two more Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal swords to report, serial numbers 105 and 218. Serial number 105 looks to have two star stamps. Special thanks to @Jim Manley and @Bencld for providing the information linked to below. Kuniie’s

I had to use Microsoft Edge browser to view the webpage and it took awhile to load. Upon downloading the pictures, there is no star stamp.

I found some additional pictures of this sword and they can be seen at the link below. 九八式軍刀拵入.東京第一陸軍造兵廠.正武.昭和十九年六月吉日.644.

Below are the last two observed prefixes. 関東 Kantō Area ク KU = Gunma Prefecture　群馬縣. The katakana character グ GU is based upon the katakana character ク KU. In this case, the KU was substituted for GU. 中部　Chūbu Area タ TA = Niigata　新潟県.

Can you post a picture of the entire tang, either side, from top to bottom? This is just to verify the number of mekugi-ana (tang holes).

I posted the first draft over at WRF. Any comments or corrections welcomed on this end. Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey/Study, Post #84

Below are the dictionary references for 満鉄 Mantetsu. The 1974 edition of Kenkyusha's considered the word obsolete, probably because SMR no longer existed. Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary, 4th edition, 1974 Mantetsu 満鉄 n. ((o)) [鉄道] the South Manchuria Railway ; [会社] the South Manchuria Railway Company. ((o)) < Obsolete The New Nelson, 1997 満鉄 Mantetsu South Manchurian Railway

A 1:22 minute YouTube video was posted by @ww2shingunto that shows a black painted Type 95 handle. He mentions seeing another one with a black painted handle. The metal-scabbard color kinda eludes me as how best to describe it, a rusty looking brown? WW2 Japanese Type 95 Shin Gunto late war NCO sword

These are the transcribed kanji characters on Tim's sword. As seems to be the case on early blades, the star stamp seems to indicate acceptance by the army. Obverse: ☆　富士山麓住平川昭光　2128 = ☆ Fuji Sanroku jū Hirakawa Akimitsu 2128. Reverse: 昭和十八年癸未年辰鬼宿月 = 1943-04-11. Nakago mune: No markings. Tang holes: 2. Fittings: Type 100.

Slough on page 49 illustrates a star-stamped Kanemitsu with the same style of sideways placement of the number. In this case, the number is 118. Obverse: ☆　竹内兼光　118 = ☆ Takeuchi Kanemitsu 118. Reverse: 昭和十九年三月 = March 1944. Nakago mune: Unreported. Tang holes: 2.

Not sure if this helps but I did locate a YouTube video about this sword. No images of the tang though. WW2 Japanese Type 3 Shin Gunto made by Hiragawa Akimitsu, 1943

@Jiro49 Matt, if still at hand, are there any numbers on the tang toward the bottom?

Professor BangBangSan, thank you for the additional 東京第一陸軍造兵廠 nakago pictures. There was a NMB post from 2013 that pictured the Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal swordsmiths from the 1943 exhibition. Notice anything interesting???, Post #7

Just a quick link to Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal sword, serial 283. A rather interesting looking Type 100. Hi all its ammad again . I bought a new sword . Plz let me knw if ita real or fake .

Hot stamp alert! Help with a gendaito mei

There are four swords of interest in Modern Japanese Swords by Leon & Hiroko Kapp, and Leo Monson. One is an early serialized Type 100; two are unserialized, star stamped 98s; and one is a prefecture marked Type 100. The last one has been mentioned already and the details are at the link below. Arsenal Mark on RJT sword Fittings, Post #12 Early Type 100, Serial Number 798 Pages 76-77. Obverse: 昭久 = Akihisa. Reverse: 昭和十七年一月　798 = January 1942　798. The serial number 798 is upside down. See post #136 above for additional examples. Nakago mune: Unknown. Tang holes 目釘孔: 2. Masatsugu Star Stamped Type 98, Unserialized Pages 82-83. Obverse: ☆　肥前國正次 = Hizen kuni Masatsugu. Reverse: 皇紀二千六百二年八月吉日 = A lucky day in August 1942. Nakago mune: Unknown. Tang holes: = 1. Hiromitsu Star Stamped Type 98, Unserialized Pages 136-137. Obverse: ☆　筑前住梶原廣光作 = Chikuzen jū Kajiwara Hiromitsu saku. Reverse: 昭和十八年八月吉祥日 = An auspicious day in August 1943. Nakago mune: Unknown. Tang holes: = 1.

Below are the characters for those that do not have access to the book. Obverse: ☆　継延作 = ☆ Tsugunobu saku. Reverse: 昭和十九年七月日　ク705 = A day in July 1944　KU 705. Nakago mune: markings unknown. Tang holes 目釘孔: = 2. Edit: It can also be seen over at Ohmura's website. 無銘・「継延」(群水刀)・池田國忠

The following is coming from pages 114-115 of Military Swords of Japan, 1868-1945, by Fuller & Gregory. It has a serial number of 383 which might be unique to the star-stamped blades made by the Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal. Obverse: ☆　東京第一陸軍造兵廠　勝信 = Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal　Katsunobu. Reverse: 昭和十八年八月吉日　383 = A lucky day in August 1943　383. Nakago mune: unknown.

Cross Reference 昭和十八年癸未年辰鬼宿月

I'll let Bruce figure it out!