MarcoUdin

I'm taking a guess here, but does it say 昭和十九年 兼秀 I'm still learning so wait for Steve to correct me.

Glad somebody from the board got this one, looks super nice Stephen! And even better the dust seal seppa isn't missing

Jimmy Hayashi?

“Higo no Kami Kuniyasu” (肥後守国康) Maybe?? Only combo that came up with me in Sesko's book

A while back I think Chris Bowen said that Hirokuni was actually a smith named Yasukuni and that he used Hirokuni as his RJT name.

The stippling on the Koshirae is super attractive. Congrats

Don't quote me, but I believe Obi-tori as the leather loops from belts used on tachi mounts. Don't believe it has anything to do with the suspension ring. Either way, I use the term Ashi because it's the first thing that comes to mind. If you don't feel confident, just call them suspension rings. Nobody here will judge you.

Here is the link in case you wanted to see their reasoning behind using Haikan. https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/type-94-katana-711219-2/ Ohmura also uses Haikan.

According to Nick Komiya from warrelics forum the correct terminology is Haikan. However, most English literature on the subject calls them Ashi. I wouldn't be too worried about it, every seasoned collector will understand both with no judgement.

I'm not fond of posting links but for the sake of transparency, it's not mine and I'm not interested in buying it either. I was just curious as I've never seen one like this before. https://pre98.com/shop/thu-aug-26-Japanese-army-officers-shin-gunto-sword-very-old-ancestral-blade-from-the-late-1400s-with-family-crest-tassel/

Anybody seen one like this? Not so much the design but how it's been applied.

If I'm not mistaken, the blade is signed Kanenori 兼則

Mark section as read isn't visible on mobile, at least for me anyways.

Ray from Swords of Japan is a dealer who is frequently on this board. I believe he is based in Florida, and I highly recommend reaching out to him.

#15 is a Chinese fake, and you're right 17's fuchi and kashira are very attractive. Overall I would say you did more than well with the money you spent. Congrats!

The two larger families that used the Sakura Mon were the Sakurai and Yoshino family. Hawley has a variation similar to the habaki listed as one of these two families (小出) Koide (西) Nishi

Very nice piece Volker, any pictures of the blade?

Can I get a link to that Bruce? Interested in how the 6-star looks. Thanks

Sorry, when I initially saw the post and their was only one photo uploaded of the scabbard. Now that their are other pictures I can assure you a 100% it's a reproduction. Too bad, because the other green scabbards I've seen have always had nice blades inside them.

Welcome Rob, From the picture provided it looks like a REPRO Gunto. If you're able to take out the mekugi-ana(peg) to disassemble it and see the nakago(tang) of the sword. Added a link for how to do it, scroll down to the part that says care and maintenance. https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/

No offense taken, but I based my pricing off of recent GunBroker sales. This one sold for 150$ in very good condition. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/902841541 This one sold for 82$ in similar condition(but cleaned) to OP https://www.gunbroker.com/item/906021364 I could see 300$ for a type 30 bayonet if it was a Toyoda Loom in excellent condition but not a Mukden blade unless it was being sold by a retailer then prices don't matter. I don't think you did bad, I just don't think you got a deal. Side note: Mukden arsenal was not technically a real arsenal and it wasn't even located in Japan but in China, Manchuria

I wouldn't use any sand paper, only bronze wool or a rag and oil. Nothing else! You'll know when it's enough when there is no longer improvement. It takes time, don't think of it as polishing but just cleaning

Type 30 bayonet with hooked quillion made at Mukden arsenal for imperial Japan during WWII. In terms of value I wouldn't say you got a good deal. Bayonets in much better condition sometimes sell for less than that on ebay. As for cleaning it, might as well touch it with oil and some copper wool. I can't tell if the blade is that rusted or if it's a blued blade and just very dirty. For the leather maybe just use some Ren Wax? And please don't sharpen, it won't enhance it's value but rather decrease it. Don't mean to be rude, my personal opinion it's worth 60-80$ if it cleans up half decent. If I'm suprised and it does clean up real nice though it might be worth somewhere close to what you paid.

Samurai Monkey on ebay is the last person you want to reference for authenticity. No such thing as a pilot's kamikaze sword. While the parts may be real what he's presenting them as aren't. I believe yours is a copy as especially since the nakago looks badly shaped and Japanese did not make Damascus blades.

I think you're confusing this Bruce with a blade from Minatogawa shrine. Yasukuni-to don't typically have kikusui on it