Kiipu

Well this is a start. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23862-timeline-type-3-gunto/?hl=komiya&do=findComment&comment=241712 In the post above they are using the navy designation of Type 0 and not the army designation of Type 100. Since this is an army sword, it should use the army designation. Imperial Japanese Navy = 1940 = Type 0 Imperial Japanese Army = 1940 = Type 100 In the last few days I also came across another 1941 dated Type 100 Gunto in one of the other forums. I will keep my eyes open for it again. Thank you for the information about the earliest date for a star material stamp. This information will be useful down the road. What is the latest date that you have seen for a star stamped gunto?

1938 "Type 100" Contingency Sword design started. Disposal of manufactured saber for equipping warrant officers 将校准士官軍装用軍刀製作払下の件 https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/imageen_C01001632300?IS_KEY_S1=C01001632300&IS_KIND=SimpleSummary&IS_STYLE=eng&IS_TAG_S1=InfoSDU& 1940 Introduction of the "Type 100" Gunto. Selling manufacture of sword for officer and warrant officer 将校准士官用刀製作払下に関する件 https://www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/meta/imageen_C01002426200?IS_KEY_S1=c01002426200&IS_KIND=SimpleSummary&IS_STYLE=eng&IS_TAG_S1=InfoSDU& This sword was introduced in 1940 and should be called Type 100 to distinguish it from the Type 94 and Type 98. See this article by Nick Komiya for more details. http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/deflating-another-myth-type-3-army-officer-s-sword-expanded-version-584796/

Below is a chronological listing of books about modern Japanese edged weapons from 1868 to 1945. Any comments, corrections, or criticism welcomed. 大日本刀剣商工名鑑 Japanese Sword Business Directory. 東京: 日本刀剣新聞社, 1942. [Japanese language only] Gregory, R. Japanese Military Swords. 1971. Gregory, R., and R. Fuller. A Guide to Showa Swordsmiths: With 106 Oshigatas. 1978. Fuller, Richard, and Ron Gregory. Swordsmiths of Japan, 1926–1945. 1983. Fuller, Richard, and Ron Gregory. Military Swords of Japan, 1868–1945. London, GB: Arms and Armour, 1986. Johnson, Larry. Japanese Bayonets: The Definitive Work on Japanese Bayonets, 1870 to the Present. Broken Arrow, Okla.: Cedar Ridge Publications, 1988. Imai Akio 今井昭夫 and Ikemori Masato 池森正人. 日本の軍用刀剣1868-1945年 [Japanese Military Used Swords, 1868–1945]. Army edition 陸軍編. 2 volumes. 全日本軍装研究会, 1990. Dawson, Jim. Swords of Imperial Japan, 1868–1945. Newnan, Ga.: Stenger-Scott Publishing, 1996. Fuller, Richard, and Ron Gregory. Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks. Charlottesville, Va.: Howell Press, 1997. Wallinga, Herman A. Gendaito Made at the Minatogawa Shrine. 2000. Slough, John S. [Livio W. Cilio]. An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths, 1868–1945. Rivanna River Company, 2001. Fimio, Frederick A. Swords and Swordsmiths of the Gendaito Period: 1868 to 1989. Japanese Sword Society of Canada, 2002. Kapp, Leon, Hiroko Kapp, and Yoshindo Yoshihara. Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths: From 1868 to the Present. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2002. Kishida, Tom. The Yasukuni Swords: Rare Weapons of Japan, 1933–1945. Translated by Kenji Mishina. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 2004. Dawson, Jim. Swords of Imperial Japan, 1868–1945. Cyclopedia ed. Newnan, Ga.: Stenger-Scott Publishing, 2007. LaBar, Raymond C. Bayonets of Japan: A Comprehensive Reference on Japanese Bayonets. Tunnel Hill, GA: RAYMAR, 2008. Kapp, Leon, Hiroko Kapp, and Leo Monson. Modern Japanese Swords: The Beginning of the Gendaito Era. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015.

Introduction of the "Type 98" Gunto. Original script signed by the Emperor Imperial Ordinance No. 392 of 1938: Amending Military Uniform Organization. 御署名原本・昭和十三年・勅令第三九二号・陸軍服制改正. https://www.digital.archives.go.jp/das/image/F0000000000000036084 The illustrations can be found on frames 45 to 47.

Introduction of the "Type 94" Gunto. Original script signed by the Emperor, 1934 Imperial Ordinance No. 26 Regarding Revision of Military Uniform. 御署名原本・昭和九年・勅令第二六号・陸軍服制中改正. https://www.digital.archives.go.jp/das/image/F0000000000000033301

The three markings below were used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War 2. Two of the three show up on military swords. 1. The star inspection mark used for material inspection. It shows up on some military swords. I have not seen this mark used on other items though. 2. The chevron marking (山形 yamagata) as used on swords is a partial (or halfway) inspection mark used by the Imperial Japanese Army. It shows up on army arsenal or civilian factory made ordnance items. This marking is not specific to any one location but can be used by any factory. The stamp was used from 1941 to the end of the war in 1945. This is a common stamp and can be found on just about any item made during 1941 to 1945. 3. The X mark denotes failure to pass inspection. For this reason, it is seldom seen. However, toward the end of the war some of these parts were put to use. I have seen them used on some late war rifles that were unserialized. Works Consulted Japan. Rikugunshō 陸軍省 (War Ministry). Rikugun Heiki Gyōsei Honbu 陸軍兵器行政本部 (Army Ordnance Administration Headquarters). Ken’in oyobi hyōshiki kitei 檢印及標識規定 (Regulations for Inspection Marks and Signs). General Order 2389. 19 October 1943.

The bayonet you pictured above is a Japanese Type Year 30 Bayonet made by Matsushita Metal Co., Ltd., 松下金属株式會社. It is from the 39th series, ㋴90221, and is a variation C, JB-35. The final inspection mark is that used by Ōsaka Arsenal, 阪. The entire 39th series was made by Matsushita even though some only have the Kokura Arsenal symbol on the riccaso. Matsushita began Type Year 30 Bayonet production in 1939 and made bayonets until the end of the war. Thanks for sharing your bayonet pictures.

This is indeed the high number for a Type 32 Ko. The early Type 32's were undated and the earliest dated example I know of is 明四三 (Otsu 75251). I have never seen or heard of a Type 32 that is Showa dated. The Showa era Type 32's have the Tokyo Arsenal mark upside down compared to the Meiji and Taisho era Type 32's. See page 125 of Swords of Imperial Japan,1868-1945, 2007, for an illustration.