Scogg

Woops, I forgot you’re in the UK. That complicates things, and I don’t blame you one bit. Based on your descriptions, and without diving into each individual smith, I think your 1-5 list sounds reasonable. You can always try the wanted to buy section too. You never know what’s out there! All the best, -Sam

Hi George, There is a wartime list that ranks swordsmiths; although condition, length, originality and other factors are also big market drivers. https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/tosho.htm Ray Singer recently had a nice probably Koto, Mumei mino blade in gunto mounts that might still be available if you message him. Nice length and active hamon. Otherwise your question is tough to answer, as so much comes down to personal preference. Personally I’d pick anything traditionally made first. If you want a showato, I’d maybe picked one made by a ranked smith for the paper trail. When I shop for swords, usually one will “speak to me”, so to say. So my advice is to keep looking until you feel that spark. Best of luck! I wish I were shopping for a sword right now -Sam

These fire service swords are pretty cool. A few different ones are featured in Jim Dawsons book “Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 Cyclopedia edition”. I highly recommend the book if you’re interested in military swords of Japan. The author sells them direct via eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/116475828833?_skw=sword+of+imperial+Japan+1868-1945 One of the swords pictured in the book is the same style as yours (pg. 328). Dawson describes it as a “"D" guard fire service sword with folding tobiguchi hook in the scabbard tip”. He notes that of the three he observed from the Fuller collection, two had army company grade kyugunto backstraps, and one had a lieutenant level police backstrap. I’ve never seen one myself. Pretty cool! -Sam

@Dan tsuba I'm concerned too. Here is a link to the thread in the Izakaya section about it. There's some more recent updates there, but still no word from Dale.

Hypothetically, in a modern scenario; if you were to commission a shirasaya for your Naginata, then you could also request the craftsman make a tsunagi for the koshirae. Shirasaya makers often make tsunagi for the corresponding koshirae, so I see no reason why a yari or naginata would be any different - if that's what you want, and have the funds. Cheers, -Sam

Also, I wouldn't worry about the tsuba. Different arsenals adopted the iron tsuba at different times. Your example, with those stamps and #s, is within the pattern2 range like I would expect to see

Thank you for sharing. Its a nice looking example! I always liked the 95s that have that distinct YAKOTE

I will send you a message with the flyer and information for the show. It was rescheduled from February during our “snow” day . So much of the info online wasn’t correctly updated Let me know if you make it! All the best, -Sam

Stunning collection there! Ive grown to really like the rain dragon motif. Thank you @Mark S., I’m going to reach out to them for some advice. Looks like a good group! I’m thinking I’ll have to look into website creation too. Thanks for the encouragement guys! Cheers, -Sam

I am attempting to start a small club for Japanese sword appreciation in the Pacific Northwestern states. I hope to include Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. To my knowledge, there are no clubs or groups out here that do any in-person meetings or discussions. I would like to change that if I can get enough willing participants. Looking for input from members who may have started their own clubs - or are members of regional clubs already that may have advice. I understand the Northern California Club is well established, and I would encourage all PNW members to join their membership, for all their awesome resources and especially the Zoom meetings. @Toryu2020. I need to start attending those myself. The goal is to create a FREE local regional resource for Japanese sword collectors to network, meet, discuss, and share their swords or collections in person. Oregon/Washington/Idaho are pretty small, and even a yearly meet and greet would be better than nothing. Working on creating a private facebook group for the club. I tired this about a year ago, but never followed through. Thoughts? Am I wasting my time ? -Sam (I thought 'rain dragons' would be a good name. Considering how much it rains out here )'

The 関 is a SEKI stamp. Which is an inspection mark found on some WW2 swords. It indicates that the sword was not made with traditional methods Cheers, -Sam

Hi Riley, welcome to the forum! The "Pommel Cap" is what we refer to as the "Kashira". Lacquer covered fittings are not unheard of. Even finding fittings that have received a modern and amateur paint-job is not uncommon. I am not knowledgeable when it comes to sword fittings, so I am hoping one of our more experience members chimes in on the Lacquer covered fittings questions. All I can say is, that i've seen similar things before. Here's a photo, and a link, with some common sword terminology that hopefully helps your searches. https://nihonto.com/...iagrams-terminology/ I am also in Oregon. If you are interested, I'd be happy to look at your sword and offer my non-expert/collector opinion and provide advice. There is a Militaria Sale/show on March 22nd near the Portland airport. If you are interested, I will be there, and feel free to send me a message. Not many Nihonto collectors out here in Oregon. Cheers, -Sam

I think all of Bruce's suggestions are great ones. My biggest reservation is my relative experience and knowledge compared to those on that list! @nulldevice has learned a lot really fast, and is savvy. @Jussi Ekholm has collected invaluable data for us, and is clearly working altruistically for the betterment of the hobby. Both seem very level headed, with good eyes and intentions. I'd add them for consideration. I have no idea if either would be willing or interested. Colin would have been my #1 choice! But I totally understand his reasons. I would be open to helping cover any section assigned, or even generally all sections if asked. I spend a lot of time on the forum and could expand the topics I look into. I agree wholeheartedly with @Stephen, that a group effort in reporting suspicious activity will benefit both Brian, mods and everyone. And always, when in doubt I'd defer to Brian. Cheers, -Sam

I’m flattered to be considered. I have always respected the way Brian runs things here, and if chosen I would do my best to moderate the way he does. I am sorry to hear about your health Brian, and I’ve always been impressed that you’ve been doing much of the moderating on your own for so long. Whoever you choose to help out, I trust in your judgement. -Sam

I don’t mind much as that one is just there to look the part. It’s on a sword I’ll keep forever and maybe someday will switch out the tassel. My other one, with the collar, I’d say is in “relic” condition and I don’t think is salvageable beyond leaving as-is. I’ll PM you about it

Here’s the information screenshotted from that thread. Followed by both my examples. My knot with what appears to be the tightly wound and glued end has the collar (orange background). My knot with what appears to be the punched out end does not (green background). It’s really a tragedy that Nick Komiya is no longer with us. He continues to teach me much, even if it takes me a while to absorb the vastness of it. Cheers, -Sam

I have also not focused on these. But I’ve read a little bit on them, and there was a style change. The earlier versions of the knot had the leather tightly wound in the end, and it was time consuming. If I am interpreting the following thread correctly, the later version of the knot had the end filled with a punched out stacked leather plug, which was a faster method. Read carefully below for your own interpretation as I often question my own : https://www.warrelic...uction-1930s-788442/ So there were changes. Also there’s the versions with buckles on the strap, and the versions without. I have not handled enough examples, or read enough about them, to know about the “collar” feature at the source of your question. I will say, I have one with, and one without that feature... I believe both my knots are genuine, but I cannot be certain. One has what I believe to be a replacement strap. All I can say is that, If either of those are repro’s in your original post, they are good looking one’s

Nice examples guys. I'm enjoying reading along, and it's really incredible how affordable some of these sabers can be. Not to derail anything - but just something I can add. I once purchased what I thought was a parade saber, that had a black horn mekugi, company grade backstrap, and a button lock for the saya. I cannot remember if it had one or two hangers. The nakago was mumei and had a Seki Stamp above the ana. I wish I had taken photos... I ended up trading it at the same event that I purchased it at - for a nihonto wakizashi with green ito in civ gunto mounts. Wish I still had that one, because now it's lost to time . Cheers, -Sam

Well, he's an archeologist with a professor sister, plays high level chess, and regularly emails people from Argentina to Turkmenistan... Something tells me it's not poor translations, and he's telling us exactly what kind of person he is. I commend the zen patience being displayed in this thread

Hi John, I am not so sure that is an outer layer. To me, it looks like when the blade was cut it then had the edges/corners filed slightly. Presumably to make the area less sharp. Hard to tell for certain though. Cheers, -Sam

Just got done reading through this whole thread again. Quite eye-opening! There are a few of those brass handle examples in the earlier pages. One thing that I noticed in some of the early pages, something not otherwise mentioned as a "fake identifier" - is that some of the fake swords have a pretty steep / exaggerated IORIMUNE. And this feature is mirrored on the scabbard mouth. The ^ shape on some of these fakes is steep; while the genuine examples I’ve encountered it’s not. Just an observation that I'm curious if anyone else has noted. -Sam Different fake sword’s saya below:

Much appreciated Trystan, that really helps me wrap my head around this. Amazing that so many swords were made prior to March 1940. A good chunk of the 95's I encounter bear the Kokura Cannonballs I cannot express how much I appreciate your and Thomas's help (Kiipu). I've learned a lot really fast, and I am still digesting it all. I owe you guys one! -Sam

As someone who appreciates and values art, and therefore Nihonto - It's really baffling to me too. I have had a table at the monthly local Militaria show. You'd be amazed how much interested my 'not for sale' Type95 gets, over the Type98 Showato I had, or even my Hozon papered Wakizashi in shirasaya (sudo kunitsugu). Militaria collectors look at the Papered Wakizashi with distain! It's like they scoff at the fact it's been polished after manufacture, and the shirasaya screams to them "not original fittings". Meanwhile they try to offer me crazy money for the 95 (near 2k). Honestly, I just don't get it. I don't host tables at these shows anymore - and instead just attend as a guest. Ray's example with the Tokyo 1 Star, is in really great shape. I'd jump on it, if it were reasonably priced! Just my experience. Cheers, -Sam

I’ve actually seen this fake before, with identical serial numbers. Hard to know if it’s the same exact fake sword, or if there are many out there with the same number. I suspect the latter. When I saw the thumbnail of the whole sword, I clicked to see if it was one I could catalog. So at first glance it fooled me! But only for a moment, until I saw the other photos and saw them full sized. Ive begun keeping a separate list of some of the regular fakes that I see too. -Sam

Thank you Trystan, that's very helpful and interesting. Does that mean every Type95 sword with the 4 cannonball Kokura stamp, was made prior to March 1940?