Pippo

Thanks,Kiipu and Matt, hmmm ,where to find someone in Perth to bring the blade back.George!!

Thanks Matt, just remembered i had a copy of Raymond labars Bayonets of Japan and he has it as possibly Japanese or chinese marked Austrian socket bayonet but no record of Japanese being issued them.

Does anyone know what socket bayonets the Japanese carried when modernizing? Thought they just had enfields and bayonet looks austrian ( or are symbols for chinese bayonet who i think were buying off Austro hungarian empire)

New purchase from Australian Auction house, thought the blade was stainless ( which i know alot hate but i dont mind) but its just been biluffed to hell! Signed tang and all fitting roman numbered, nlade actially has remnants of nice wavy hamon just visible through the bright polish, god know who gave it such a buffing but they really went to town.

Just reading an old 2003 Biography of a British RHA officers war experiences against the Japanese in Burma and came across a section towards the end of the war where the Japanese were in full retreat and how in the mopping up the Brits were paying particular attention to grabbing Japanese swords as the Americans were paying exhorbitant money for them, so much so that the Royal Engineers were making them up in Calcutta out of jeep springs. Had anyone else come across knowledge of this? Im wondering if clearly copy old swords ( not the obvious crap coming out of China) could be examples. The books a good read of a horrendous campaign but thought this curious 2 lines might be of interest.

"I only access sites that are of historic and intellectual value."!!!! Come on George, we all know you secretly never miss the 'Bachelorette' or 'The Bold and the Beautiful'. Have a Merry Xmas my Friend.

Think this WW2 general was the Sato Kotoku the fakers were trying to go for, not the anime character . Thanks gents , obviously blades have been copied for a very long time as theres alot of age wear to the metal. Thanks George for the translation. Basically cost me nothing in a group of good blades sovasked the question.

The script im sure is a give away as to whether blades legit or not but beyond my knowledge. Tang has a weld spot im gathering had a leaf spring attachment? NCO??

Ok, purchased with a pile of blades and not sure if a old 1890s early 1900s military blade or just a old chinese copy, certainly got age but possibly a very old copy, just putting it out there just incase.

Lovely gents, always a bit wary when ive seen the very 'chippy' signatures so good to hear it was a WW2 commonality

Chap has his brothers swords he wants to sell, sent a bunch of blurry photos of this navy piiece as blades supposedly mint, the photo of the signature is clear but doesnt look right with all the small thin chisel strokes? Any comments

Thanks. Interesting insight jow to tell ivory/ walrus etc. I had wondered how the blade was fitted as no pwg makes so finding that they were period glued as oppsed to' modern glued' as i have seen one example wear the ivory had been broken in attempt to check for signature. Had already advised owner neber to attempted to remove blade. Did anyone have idea on 2 characters signed on ivory?

Hello, not mine but was a chaps granddads and hes asked me if i know anything about these? I was told they were Meiji made from old or confiscated blades for western tourists? Blades certainly a bit tired. Cant tell if bone, ivory or resin? Any thoughts appreciated, 2 characters at the end of the scabbard.

So have we come to any agreement as to this mark being a W or M ??? inspector stamp?? Back on Tuesday so ill post the requested photos then.

Sure, ill try in better light as 21:04 here in perth and house lights arent that great.

lights bad but tried to indicate with arrow where # are 1. 4. 2 ( last ones quite obscured). ill try tomorrow in better light

Straight machined hamon, 2 W stamps and # 142 matches the tsuba and spacers