Kiipu

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.

Hoanh, are these "star" stamped blades by chance? Also, are either of these two dated?

If you are referring to page 13 of Stamps (v.5.5), I did the translation and created the table which you are talking about. It is based upon the 1943 inspection mark regulations. The citation can be found in post #6 in this thread. I forwarded the table to Bruce so that he could include it in the stamps document. Are you aware of the fiscal year 1944 planning document entitled 昭和１９年度鍜錬刀軍刀生産計画表? If not, see frames 2 and 3 of the document for 鍜錬刀 [tanren-tō]. １５．昭和１９年度鍜錬刀軍刀生産計画表　昭和１９年４月１５日 For those that prefer English, Nick has already translated the document and it can been seen at the link below. Why did the army revive the Samurai sword design in 1934 for officers?, Post #16

Here you go Bruce. 重房作 皇紀二千六百二年

You can read more about it at the link below. Update On The Gendaito Project

I tracked down the sword in question and it is a strange one for sure. It is an early "star" stamped blade coming via the RJT program. Unfortunately, little is known about the early days of the RJT program. It has only one marking on the nakago mune, a katakana ホ. I think it is safe to say that the blade was not made by the 1st Factory. It could well be that the finished blades from this region were simply forwarded to Kokura for inspection. In which case, the 1st Factory could have carried out the inspections. Kokura Arsenal did have a sword making forge, as did the other arsenals as well; but, I do not know the location of this particular forge. I would stick with what you have written for this one with the exception of changing the translation from KO to HO. Help with Star stamped shingunto please. Looking forward to seeing your next missive about sowrdsmtihs.

The First Factory of Kokura Army Arsenal only made blades that were shipped out to the various swordsmiths for finishing. These blades will normally have two inspections marks on the nakago mune. The top one is the final inspection mark and the bottom one is the factory inspection mark. ホ = 1st Factory of Kokura Army Arsenal. One can see how these blades were distributed for final finishing and assembly by looking at this post linked below. Arsenal Stamps., Post #384

All I can say is that the sword is located in Japan and anything beyond that is speculation.

You may want to double-check the sword with serial number 203544 and see if there are any faint markings on the ferrule. Some do have markings in this location and they are usually faint. If the scabbard is matching, it would help to state that in the sale or post a picture of it.

Bruce, please read the fine print below. My comment about you being fired was located here but I deleted it just to be on the safe side!

I would like to see a separate volume covering the time-frame of the 廃刀令 [Haitō Edict] to the end of the 大正 [Taishō] era (or possibly to the founding of 日本刀鍛錬会 at Yasukuni]. It was these craftsmen after all that kept the art alive and made the rapid expansion of sword production possible that occurred after 1934. I for one would rather not see some of this material left out of the book and hence the suggestion for a separate volume.

BangBangSan reported it in post #639 of this thread. He also included pictures of it as well. Attention Mantetsu Owners: A Survey, Post #639

This is the first commercial 39th (ユ) series to surface. The 39th series low is YU 115 and the high is YU 543. Of the six reported, three are army contracts, two are unknown, and one is commercial. What are the fittings for your sword: Type 94, 97, 98, 100, CV, SS, or SMR? 四三二 = YU 432 昭和癸未春 = Spring 1943.six report, 興亜一心 = Kōa Isshin. 満鐵作 = Mantetsu saku = Made by SMR.

This is the only known 42nd series Mantetsu reported so far. I guess that makes it one of a kind! シ三〇四 = SHI 304. 興亞一心 = Kōa Isshin. 満鐵作 = Mantetsu saku = Made by SMR. 昭和癸未春 = Spring 1943.