TomP

Thanks for the illustration, Bruce. I would like to see how that crest "lays" on the hilt of the sword, so to speak. I know these are exceedingly rare, I am just hoping that there is one representative example out there to study. Tom

Does anyone have any pics. of the sword(s) used by the Kwantung Leased Territories (Kanto) colonial administration? I am very interested to see exactly what the colonial crest looks like. Thanks for any help! Tom

Thanks Mike and Grey for the help! Grey, I will be sure to do so. Thank you. Tom

I was hoping to bring in a wakizashi blade for possible appraisal/value info. to the Chicago show coming up in a couple of weeks. I will be attending the Chicago show for the first time and was wondering if there was an official appraisal table that I should go to for the blade, or if I should introduce myself to some of the dealers and have them look it over? What is the "best practice" so to speak concerning appraisals at this kind of show? Any info. would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Tom

It might just be an attempt at filling a hole in a collection(as stated by Brian) until something in better shape comes along. The Hannin level Formosan colonial swords pop up every now and then on Ebay and other websites as well. Same with Korean Colonial Hannin swords. I think this is only the second or third time I have seen a Formosan Colon. dagger in any condition come up for bid/sale anywhere online. Regardless of the condition of the blade, IMO, I would think that one is inching towards the "rarer than hen's teeth" realm of collectibility with this dagger (at least in my experience of being a collector of Japanese colonial/military antiques.) Tom

Thanks to the both of you for the information. I will have to update my reference library big time!

Thank you for the reply. From what I have read, the "Gi" (Gifu?) stamp came into being around mid-44 to the end of the war. My example that I have since picked up is dated December 1944. There is a tiny--from what looks to me--stamp on the other side of the tang that looks like Seki and yet another stamp of unknown design on the ridge of the tang. I read a description of just this type of tang in Gregory and Fuller's sword book: I think it is the Military Swords of Japan (?) the paperback (much less expensive!) reference book. Although the book states that a blade with this type of stamp is very rare, since the book was published 20+ years ago, does that still hold true? I would think several blades with this stamp would have "come out of the woodwork" so to speak since then. Thanks. Tom

Does anyone know how rare the "Gi" arsenal stamped blades are? A handful? Quite a few? I mostly run into the "showa" stamp, "seki" etc. I have come across this kind of stamp for the first time recently and was curious. Thanks for any help. Tom

Ted, Thanks for the pic. I am always on the lookout for a sword with this stamp, so if anyone knows of a guy who knows of a guy who is selling, I am in the market for one. Thanks again! Tom

Looks a little on the scary side to me.

If you have Dawson's reference book, it shows three Minatogawa swords, with all having the kikusui (mum on water) on the habaki. There is also one pictured that has the kikusui on the nakago as well as the habaki. There also happens to be a blade pictured with the kikusui on the blade, but not produced by a Minato. shrine smith. If you do check out the book, it is nothing short of amazing to see that all three Minatogawa swords pictured in the book are in the same person's collection! Amazing! I have yet to find one for sale, and I have been looking for awhile now. Some folks have all the luck. Tom

Thanks everyone for the input. Much appreciated!

Hello, I am a long time reader, first time poster. I was wondering if anyone had a South Manchurian Railways stamped blade in their collection and if they would be willing to post a pic. of the stamped tang? I read in Fuller & Gregory's ref. book that "a few" stamped blades are known to be out there, but there were no pics. of one in their book. Any help would be greatly appreciated with this. Thanks for you time! Tom