DTM72

Kozuka blade by Masahira to commemorate the 60th anniversary of NBTHK in Fukushima.

So 2 of the four swords I just got are on the odd side. Wonder how the next two will fare. Lol

The look reminds me of the surface as it has been hammered, before the files and shavers make everything on a level plane. It is almost as if it was a rush job ...no one cares about the nakago... it's covered by the tsuka...get it out there where it belongs...hurry hurry!

Due to the condition of the polish, it is difficult to tell. I believe some never-dull has been over the surface. I have the worthless bright white led lights in every room of the house. I would like to check it in a good old dim florescent light or early or late sunlight.

Also just realized this has the celluloid same. So the RS and my Emura both have celluloid same. I've learned something tonight.

Ever see anything like this?

The two mekugi-ana and the machi-okuri are what is really throwing me off.

Just picked up a Type 3 this weekend with a beautiful blade that has a suguha hamon with a tight and thin nioi-guchi. Cannot make out any hada due to someone using what I suspect as never-dull. When examining the nakago, I have never seen one in such rough shape. Large hammer marks and it looks to be a 3" long forging lamination near the mune midway on the length of the nakago. Was this a late war handmade blade or remnants of a machine forge? Dan

I have an undated Emura katana with celluloid. Like @Bruce Pennington mentioned, I thought this was an after war repair. Wasn't sure what I really had. Just got a gunto over the week with sharkskin. Got my own little collection of odd tsuka wrap material. Lol

Medium length kissaki

Slight machi-okuri?

Note the higaki yasuri-mei from the shinogi line to the ha. It is NOT above the shinogi line, only below.

So this past weekend, I both four WWII swords from a gentleman who collected them 30 years ago. In that group of four is a nice looking Type 98 gunto. First thing I notice is sharkskin instead of ray skin under the ito on the tsuka. Cool feature but not a super rare thing. The blade was abused before the previous owner bought it. Looks like it has been stabbed into dirt, bails of hay, etc due to lots of light scratches. Near the habaki, I can see the original polish and make out the key details of the blade. It is a suguha hamon with a very narrow and bright nioi-guchi. As best I can tell, it has a very fine hada, but still not 100% sure on that. The nagasa is 25 1/4" (64.1 cm) width at machi is 1 1/4" (31.75mm) and width at kissaki is 3/4" (19mm). The kissaki is medium length and measures 1 1/2" (38mm) long from yokote to the tip. The nakago is 8 1/4" (20.9 cm) long. And is mumei. There are two mekugi-ana close together and the nakago appears to be machi-okuri. The yasuri-mei is taka-no-ha like a feather with deep angles on the ura. The omote is the same but upon closer inspection it is higaki (checkered) from the shinogi line to the ha. Looking for thoughts, ideas, input, conversation. Is it shin-shinto, Meiji, gendaito, Showato? And thanks in advance!

I'm looking forward to taking the photos and the research. Wasn't sure what to call that one. One of my friends that I started collecting with 25 years ago had one like this. Folks back then called them "Marine Landing" swords. I know now that there was not a Marine force in Japan during WWII. I don't even want to start the arguement of Type 0, type 3, type 44, type 100. Read through that thread just now.....wow!

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I just wanted a Gold Sticker under my avatar. To me, the price of Gold Membership is not even a fraction of the value of the knowledge gained on this site. Just my .02 cents.

I'll try to get some pics of everything tonight, and post tonight or tomorrow. Now trying to figure out which one(s) the wife will let me keep. lol

I passed on this one. Talking more with the seller, it sounds as if he got both swords on trade, thinking they were both authentic pieces. On a good note though, I met a gentlemen at the show who today sold me 4 WWII swords. 1 Type 95 Wood handled NCO with matching numbers. 1 Type 98 that appears handmade, but need closer evaluation. Mumei nakago. Tsuka is NOT same' but sharkskin (tiny gray diamonds) 1 Type 44 Naval Landing with laquered ito. Mumei nakago but appears slightly suriage. 1 1937 pattern Navy Kai-gunto. Black laquered saya with stainless blade. Mumei but has anchor stamp. Not sure if real hamon, but one is present. I will be very busy over the next couple days researching what I just got. Thanks to everyone who commented already, for saving me from the Chinese repro. I am pretty well-versed on Nihonto, Gendaito, and Showato, but know close to nothing about NCO's. Many thanks again!

All set-up at the Lowcountry Military Antique Show in Charleston, SC.