Kiipu

Early Period Swordsmith's two character name followed by the character(s). 作 = 0167 SAKU = work, a production. tsuku(ru) = make, create, manufacture. 造 = 6061 tsuku(ru) = make, create, manufacture, build, fabricate. 鍛 = 6318 kita(eru) = forge, temper. 謹 = 5688 KIN tsutsushi(nde) = respectfully, reverently, humbly. 之 = 0048 kore = this. Often SAKU & kore or tsuku(ru) & kore. The character numbers are coming from The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary by Andrew N. Nelson and John H. Haig. The "on" 音 or Sino-Japanese readings are in CAPITAL LETTERS while the "kun" 訓 or native Japanese readings are in italics. The concept and format is coming from pages 13 to 21 of Frederick A. Fimio's 2002 book, Swords and Swordsmiths of the Gendai Period, 1868–1989. I have always liked the way he presented this information and imitation is the highest form of flattery!

If the sword came with a scabbard, can you post a picture of the scabbard mouth, that is the section where the blade is inserted. There should be some numbers stamped in this location.

The column on the right looks like 昭和十七年. 昭和十七年 = 1942.

Bruce & Trystan, when time permits, take a look at this 2008 thread. Maybe @k morita will swing by and take a second look, and let us know what is going on. almost there The sword dated as 端午日 can be seen below. 商品 No. KA-0392

Cross-References Start at the link below and read the next 10 posts or so. Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey This is the Chinese article quoted by Trystan on several occasions. 日本军国扩张罪证：“满铁”军刀 And finally, a Japanese language book entitled 軍刀組合始末: 陸軍受命刀匠の周辺 also discusses swordsmith Shigetsugu. Rikugun Jumei Tosho (RJT) Star Stamped Blades - Documentation?, Post #45 The End!

With the help of @wiktor69, the owner was contacted and he still owns the sword. Videos were provided of the top edge of the tang (nakago mune) and there are no visible markings to be seen. With the translation assistance of @SteveM and @BANGBANGSAN, the following summary can be provided of the nakago markings. Nakago mune: No markings. Obverse: 昭和己卯年 = Shōwa Tsuchinoto-U-nen = 1939. Reverse: 興亜一心　満鉄若林重次作之 = Kōa Isshin　Mantetsu Wakabayashi Shigetsugu saku kore.

The single kanji character 梶 could simply be the surname Kaji. 梶 = Kaji.

I know of several swords of this style that came from the Netherlands East-Indies that are in Australian, Indonesian, and Dutch collections. It must have been a popular style to imitate during the war years. There are plenty of accounts of Indonesians carrying Japanese style swords after the war. These young officers were trained by the Japanese Army and the sword carried the same meaning to them. It was a badge of rank and authority. Below is a link to just one of the swords I have recorded. This one is coming via Indonesia. My Katana Sword From Pembela Tanah Air/PETA army veteran WW2 in details

The older swords are hit or miss in regards to company logos. If they do have one, it is usually located at the front of the brass crossguard. See link below for an example. I do not have access to my reference books at the moment so I can not comment further on the sword. Arsenal Stamps., Page #11 The picture is dated 大正十五年十二月二十一日 = 1926-12-21.

I had not thought about that and it is an interesting observation. I think @Stegel would like to mule it over as well.

Wow, the sword cleaned up nicely! As indicated by Trystan above, it is a factory inspection mark used by civilian companies working on army contracts. The appearance of this inspection mark indicates the scabbard was made by a civilian company and not an army arsenal. Arsenal Stamps., Page #14

Search JACAR for 長剣 and you will find plenty of Taiwan & naval references to this. 短剣 = for the navy, translate this as dirk. @BANGBANGSAN To search JACAR, convert the older characters to the new versions using this link. The character 劍 becomes 剣. Old Japanese Kanji to New Japanese Kanji Converter

Trystan, while looking at the Wikipedia page on Izumo-taisha, I spotted a picture with a similar logo off to the left. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-taisha#/media/File:Izumooyashiro03.JPG

That is a first for the letter M. It looks like Mantetsu was only using two (2) digits in the beginning? Starting with the N-series, they went to three (3) digits? This could indicate that other letters such as A, B, D, E, ... , could be encountered in the future. C17 to C30 H14 M61 N1 to N408 @BANGBANGSAN, are there any other pictures of M61 available? Sorry Bruce, I just had to ask first!

Trystan, I only have one on file and it was reported by @Brian. Below is the link so that you can compare it to the one above. If possible, have the owner look for a 江 on the nakago mune. Keep us informed of the results of your investigation. 隠岐國住沖光 = Oki kuni jū Okimitsu. 昭和二十年六月 = June 1945. Links Iwami Yoshikoyo Gendaito and Arsenal Stamps., Page #15

Tenzoshan Tarenjo ... but more?

Yes and I can narrow it down to late 1942 and early 1943. By early 1943, I mean prior to April 1943. I have never seen this marking before but it does look like 関 as Trystan indicated. Hard to tell what the second character is though without having another example to compare to. The other character on the wood handle liner looks like 大 which means "large". Victor, below are two links about Type 95s that you might enjoy looking at. Start with the first one and then move on to the second one. IJA Type 95 NCO Sword Info Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto

I compared it to the other Kasuga that is dated May and I agree that they are the same style and cut. The sword in the OP then is dated May 1945 昭和二十年五月. For those that would like to look at the auction photographs, see the link below. I would like to extend my thanks to Trystan for locating the auction photographs. Japan -Harumoto - Type 98 -IJA WW2 officer katana, Shin gunto, gendaito - Sword

Thank you for the photo-essay. As you already know, it is a mid-production Type 95 Military Sword that was made by Iijima, one of the main contractors for Kokura Arsenal.

There is a 1965 book entitled Yasukuni 靖国. The National Diet Library (NDL) states it was authored and published by the Yasukuni kenshō-kai 靖国顕彰会 and is 248 pages long. I compared pictures of your book to others and this is the book you have. However, one book was dated 1964 so there could be different editions or printings of it.

Visually, the dimensions of these two swords are totally different. Would it be possible to get nagasa and nakago measurements of the two swords on the right, serials セ2430 and い1170? Also, what is the blade width and thickness at the ha & mune machi? It looks like the fittings and scabbards are of different measurements as well. Almost as if they are not interchangeable. Not interested in measurements but would like your opinion whether they are or not.

@Stegel & @Shamsy The leather handle cover has been taken off and pictures taken. Strange type 95 gunto.

The goal was a nice, shiny souvenir sword for sale by the PX. Back then, the United States Army used the term "war trophy" or "war trophies" for military items acquired from the enemy. Hence the wording used to describe these swords after the war. Whatever parts that could be sourced were used so long as they could be made to look good. Once all the wartime parts were used up, then newly made parts were used. The contract would not have specified a certain pattern of sword to be made, just that it had eye appeal and was saleable. These swords are as stated by another collector the book end to an era. The last swords made in Imperial Japan, not as weapons, but as souvenirs for the occupationaires. After reading hundreds of pages of archive documents, only one company was making swords after the war, Tenshōzan. The Japan Sword Company did not make these swords and could not get involved in any form of production until the peace treaty was signed in 1952.

As this is not an army contract blade, a simplified date format could be used, in this case, 昭一七 [1942]. Mal, Sesko san specifies the gendaitō source material he used at the link below. New: Swordsmiths Of Japan – 3 Volumes

Good show Dan! Feel free to start a thread on your wood handled NCO. We will be more than glad to give you our learned opinions about it.