montrealfan1986

This is a koto blade with some bends from blocking, 500 year old battle scars.

If a sword blade is from pre 1870, say made in the 1600s and remounted with mounts from the 1940s for WWII, is it still considered Shin Gunto?

Great insight, thank you

In general, if y'all were at a show or flea market or even looking online, what are the top 5 things you would look at in a type 95 to verify authenticity. I'd like to make an informational video that explains what to look for. You all gave good advice for the replica I posted and I can compare it with my real one. Matthew

@DTM72 Thats great, I bid on his swords all the time.

Heres a little video I made with that type I last year. I like the 7.7 type 99 also, mine is almost completed, just missing the cleaning rod (current one is a replica). Think about making some Nihonto videos some day too.

Thank you all so much for the replies. I am learning so much from you all. I've been looking at Sohei swords on eBay, they are listed on this forum and seem to be very nice. I like reading all about them on the other sites mentioned here as well I've used eBay for more than 20 years, used to sell US coins on there all the time and did well, but sellers.and buyers have changed over the years, so thank you for leading me in the right direction. I always allowed returns and would get.items swapped out or stolen,.so like Grey said it's snake pit. Thank you Matthew

I am looking to add a Wakizashi to my collection and came across this one on ebay. The designs and things pretty interesting, looks like a farmer on the kashira, thats what I do down here in South Carolina. This seller has great feedback and says it comes with the export paper, but there is no picture of that. Do you think this is a legit Wakizashi, the Same looks almost like plastic. Thank you for any advice, Matthew https://www.ebay.com/itm/186241962202

Not a bad looking type 38, 6.5. I have a type I carcano which is chambered in 6.5 Japanese. An impressive rifle made in Italy for the Japanese Navy and sent to Japan on submarines in 1938. Still can mark a decent grouping at 200 meters. We even bought the dies to reload the rounds since they re so hard to find.

No worries, we will open up the hilt some time soon. It felt as if one of the bamboo pins was inserted backwards by someone in the past, so we stopped. It was extremely tight and I didn't want to crack anything, since it belongs to my sister in law. Still learning and Dan said he could give us a tutorial in the future. To the best of my knowledge it hasn't been opened since 1945, so anything could be under there. My brother and I are just as intrigued as you and I'll send some pics of we do. Best, Matthew

I didn't realize that it was that old. Impressive skill in making these

Yes, this is the Nihonto message board, the canteen went along with my story about being in Charleston. I will be more careful with my posts in the future. Please accept my sincerest apologies if I broke a posting rule, I'm a newer member. Respectfully, Matthew

Awesome piece, thanks for sharing!

Sounds good. Next time I'm down there I'll see if I can get permission to take it apart with some guidance. There is a show here in Myrtle in February and the Mega show in Columbia in March.

I learned that this canteen was made by Nippon Aluminum with 2601, isn't that 1941 in our calendar?

Perhaps a shidekobushi - rare Japanese wild star magnolia. Kind of resembles on to me.

Wow, that is incredible that it might be from the 1500s. Amazing. Thank you for sharing, Ray.

The copper collar needs replaced, it's cracked. It's extremely sharp still. Thank you in advance for any information on this tanto. Best, Matthew

Hello guys, I got this tanto a few years back and like some of you said, I was able to take the handle off. With the blade wrapped in an old shirt, I gently tapped the handle and it slide off. There is no visible signature on the end but I think it's older than the 1940s. There is a carbon pocket in the one side and I have a photo of the export papers.

Thank you for the responses. The show was good today. Lots of US civil war stuff and WWII. I bought a Japanese canteen with a name etched on it and an Order of the Rising Sun medal. In the box. I also met Dan from this.message board as well, overall a great show

I told y'all I was coming down to Charleston for the militaria show. My sister in law's grandpa was a young marine in 1945 and was at Iwo Jima. He brought back this sword that's been here for the past 80 years. I asked if I could take some pictures and here it is. I put my type 95 next to it,.just to compare. In the handle under the wrap there is paper with writing on it, maybe a personal message or something. I would be nervous to take the handle off since I don't really know how to do it. Anyways, I thought y'all would like to see it. We don't know much about it but are interested in learning as much as possible. Best, Matthew

Yes, I will definitely do that when I get home Sunday. If that can help someone avoid a fake, I will be glad to help out

The type 95 I ordered last week has arrived. You all were right on when you said to check out the caliber / level of quality in which is was made. The details are incredible. Even for a machine made sword, I am beyond impressed. Thank you so much for the advice and steering me in the right direction. Im looking forward to the militaria show this weekend in Charleston, will let y'all know if I find any nihonto related items. Best, Matthew

@DTM72 that sounds great. My brother and I will be down in the morning. I was reading an article that said this might be from the Meiji era, 1870s-1900s. That's really neat.

Usually with antiques, I leave them the way I find them. I bought this sword at a gun show in Columbia, South Carolina - which has sparked a new interest and enthusiasm for Japanese militaria and history.