Kiipu

While I was aware the Type 100 was inspected from the beginning in 1941, I was puzzled why some 1940 to 1941 dated Type 98s also existed that had army inspections marks. The answer as to why could be in an old translation done by George Trotter back in 2010. In his translation, a reference is made to a trail beginning in "Sho 15" [1940], prior to the advent of the 1942 RJT program. The link that George Trotter provided in his original post has since changed and below is an updated link along with some text. A link to the Type 100s being inspected from the get-go. Arsenal Mark on RJT sword Fittings, Post #71

Here are some corrections for the book entry 昭和刀剣名物帳 [Shōwa tōken meibutsu chō]. The author's first name is Takasuke and not Kōsuke. There are various rōmaji titles given for this book and I have used the one that the National Diet Library provides, namely ショウワ トウケン メイブツチョウ. Below are some links to English language descriptions of this book. Japanese Sword Books and Tsuba B512. Showa Token Meimono Chiyo by Murakami

Maxein, Otto. Samuraischwerter für die Materialschlacht: Gendaito der Taisho- und frühen Showa-Periode (1912 - 1945). 2021. ISBN: 3753454265. 224 pages. German language. Maxein, Otto. Samurai Swords for the Material Battle: Gendaito of the Taisho and Early Showa Period (1912 - 1945). 2021. ISBN: 3753471410. 212 pages. English language. BIG has located the above books, available in either German or English, and has opened a thread about them. Book recommendation: Samurai swords for the material battle

Kolekt-To: Here is a link to help you with your research. NLF Gunto Discussion, Post #17

I ran across this letter yesterday and I will quote the exact text below. Note that part of the name of the company includes "Japanese Naval" and this would seem to indicate the type of sword the company was manufacturing.

I do not know if it is prewar, wartime, or postwar. The characters on the cartridge case are 錦城會. However, if you plan on researching this item I would suggest using these characters 錦城会 instead.

The characters that were cut out were 記念. 記念 = kinen = memorial.

trans. = translator.

Another one of the better known sword shops. During the war years, the shop went by the name of 若瀬軍刀製作所 [Wakase Guntō Seisaku-jo]. For your information, the picture is upside down. 若瀬 = Wakase. 東京 = Tōkyō. See this post by "k morita" for another example. Gunto -Tsuba, Post #5

Kokura Arsenal had oversight of "NCO" sword production up until September 1942. Could this Kokura Arsenal oversight have applied to officer's swords as well during this same time period? It is known that with the advent of the Type 100, that arsenal inspections were carried out by the army. I am thinking that maybe prior to the RJT program and the September 1942 relinquishing of control that the officer's swords were sent to the 1st Factory and from there forwarded as necessary. One last final comment is that the 1st Factory of Kokura Arsenal also made a small batch of Type 95 sword blades during the copper, technically bronze, tsuka time period and were marked accordingly.

While not directly related to swords, the Premier is probably referring to some variation of tamahagane (玉鋼). Rikugun Jumei Tosho (RJT) Star Stamped Blades - Documentation?, Post #31

During the war, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) monitored Radio Tokyo and affiliated stations. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) would then assemble these intercepts into various topics, such as industry or agriculture. I have transcribed the text as it appears in the documents. The exception is the date which I have changed to the international standard. For example, 2/4/45 is changed to 1945-02-04 per ISO 8601. From studying the documents, I believe the abbreviations at the end of the intercepts are as such. Tok. = Radio Tokyo. See the Wikipedia article NHK. Jap. = Japanese language broadcast.

Make that three. A "star" stamped 源盛延 [Minamoto Morinobu] dated September 1942 with number 94. This sword also uses this number as a subassembly number. Note that the nakago mune is marked twice with ホホ. Star stamped blade I also found another Morinobu with a double marked ホホ nakago mune which is dated August 1942. This one does not seem to have a number stamped on the tang. Minamoto Morinobu Gendaito In Gunto Koshirae Maybe vajo could check his Morinobu to see what markings it has. (Minamoto) Morinobu

Another one for the record books. SJ-191. WW2 Japanese Navy Katana late war.

The logo is unidentified so far.

The "rocking star" is a logo that shows up on Japanese bayonets and I think that is what BangBangSan is referring to. A long Syracuse, NY Gun Show report & Rocking Star bayonet find WTS Rocking Star Bayonet Nice Condition

Is this one of the postwar made souvenir swords?

Looks like these nakago mune inspection marks are older than I thought. This one is dated October 1941 and the nakago mune is marked as 名ホ. Kanenobu Help

Dated 1942 only and no "star" stamp. Nakago mune markings are 名 & ホ. Muto Hidehiro

It is a Nagoya 名 inspection mark.

This statement now appears incorrect. Some of the blades that I linked to in post #43 are "star" stamped (and some are not?). The document 昭和１９年度鍜錬刀軍刀生産計画表 that I linked to above indicates that Kokura Arsenal did not supply finished military swords [完成軍刀]. They did transfer sword blades [刀身] though to the Tōkyō 1st Army Arsenal. Presumably, Tōkyō would then farm out the blades to the sword shops to be fitted out.