Newguymike

Order of sepas, starting at habaki and moving from right to left, then tsuba, moving from left to right.

@Bruce Pennington I’ll add some photos of the fuchi, handle, and scabbard to build a complete picture of the sword.

@Bruce Pennington I’ll add some photos of the fuchi, handle, and scabbard to build a complete picture of the sword.

Based on combing through the resources and input from bloggers, it would appear that I have a type98 Gunto. The scabbard that accompanied the sword is not military issue and is hard to place. The scabbard is made of wood and is missing the method of attaching to a belt. I’d like to say thank you for all of the support and help. I’ve attached photos of the tsuba, sepas, 1 leather sepa, and habaki.

@John C thanks for the picture and reference you provided for the sepas.

In terms of the sepas, is there a set number or order that they go in between the habaki, tsuba, and handle?

@John C and @Bruce Pennington, thanks for the assistance on the marks and @SteveM, thanks for the book ideas.

@Shugyosha, thanks for the assist. Again, I appreciate all the help I can get.

Mal, thanks and I see you’re closer to Wedgetail Industries than I am. Thanks for the information. And if I am gleaning everyone’s input, so far. I believe I have a Japanese Army Shin Gunto, that was made somewhere in the early 1940’s, and it was forged by Amaike Reiichiro Masatsune, who was born 1894 and died 1949. He worked under Seki and Sho stamps. The sword I have is a Showa Era sword. Thanks for the file, it helped learn more than I know. By the by, would you happen to know what the 4 diagonal dots on the nakago mean?

Thanks, for the help; but what does it mean? Is HO-72 have a specific purpose?

Are there any specific books that anyone in the thread can recommend? And, I’m adding another photo that highlights the paint better.

Are there any specific books that anyone in the thread can recommend? And, I’m adding another photo that highlights the paint better.

@SteveM- thanks for sharing. Do you or anyone else in the thread have additional information relating to this specific person?

Is Amachi Masatsune an actual name of the person who worked and signed the blade? What does “saku” mean? Or is “saku” = made by?

Hey Bruce, thanks for the information and hopefully we can figure out what the diagonal 4 dot line is. Can you expound a little bit more on what a “Masatsune” blade is?

Good morning, I’d like to say thank you to all who have participated in my initial posting. There is a lot of great information here and I hope it keeps rolling in. I appreciate everyone’s experience, knowledge, and willingness to help me out. r/ Mike

Thank you gentlemen for fast responses, I appreciate it. Is there anything else you can tell me about the pictures? There’s a series of four dots- any idea what those are?

The only thing I am sure of is the Showa Era stamp. Can anyone help me translate the rest of the kanji? My understanding is that it’s a date and signature; but I’d love to know. The red paint, from what I’ve been told is a proof of some kind; again, I’d love some help. Finally, there are 4 dots and I’d love to know what they are.