barnejp Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 Hello Everyone, I've been searching the Canadian market for a copper handle NCO sword. I received a reply. The seller has only the copper handle and said they will send photos. What should I be watching out for? Cheers, Greg Quote
IJASWORDS Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 Greg, Chinese copies use yellow brass on the handles instead of the "red" pure copper that was used on original 95's. The scabbard must have a brass plug in the bottom, the copies most often have a steel drag like the other variants. Look for matching LOW numbers on the blade and scabbard throat. Neil. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 Yes, low as in less than 6,000 (there were a few made over 6,000 but never 7,000). Fakes I've seen have numbers like 13,xxx or higher. Quote
barnejp Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Posted January 8, 2017 Thank you both. Apparently, he only has the handle. So, I should watch out for the color....anything else? Quote
barnejp Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Posted January 8, 2017 BTW, what would one expect to pay for a legit copper handle NCO sword in good condition with all legit matching serial numbers....$3,000US? Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 That's what they are going for these days. I paid $2,400 for mine, but that was a year ago. Quote
IJASWORDS Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 Hi, $3000 is about right for a COPPER HANDLE 95 that meets ALL the criteria listed in the previous posts. BUT the first thing you should buy, is JIM DAWSON's book, Swords Of Imperial Japan 1868-1945. Then you would have answers to ALL your questions. You could make BIG mistakes without the KNOWLEDGE! Neil. Quote
IJASWORDS Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 Hey Bruce, you might know, where there any copper handled 95's made without numbers on the scabbard throat. Have heard this, but no mention in any literature. Neil. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 On 1/8/2017 at 6:00 AM, IJASWORDS said: Hey Bruce, you might know, where there any copper handled 95's made without numbers on the scabbard throat. Have heard this, but no mention in any literature. Neil. Ha! I own one! Quote
Mark Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 real copper handle does not have a screw/nut to secure the handle, the fakes have a screw like the normal NCO's (real ones are secured by the fitting that holds the sarute) 1 Quote
IJASWORDS Posted January 8, 2017 Report Posted January 8, 2017 Hi Bruce, I am glad you could confirm the lack of scabbard number. In your research have you found out why? With out being cynical, could they have been removed by previous owners whose numbers did not match, or an arsenal repair in WW2, or infact just made like this? I am sure it doesn't detract from the piece, but would be nice to know the story behind it. Neil. 1 Quote
barnejp Posted January 8, 2017 Author Report Posted January 8, 2017 Do all the copper handle NCO swords have an arsenal mark next to the serial number? Quote
IJASWORDS Posted January 9, 2017 Report Posted January 9, 2017 Hi Greg, all the ones I have owned/seen have arsenal stamps, Neil Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 9, 2017 Report Posted January 9, 2017 On 1/8/2017 at 11:01 PM, IJASWORDS said: Hi Bruce, I am glad you could confirm the lack of scabbard number. In your research have you found out why? With out being cynical, could they have been removed by previous owners whose numbers did not match, or an arsenal repair in WW2, or infact just made like this? I am sure it doesn't detract from the piece, but would be nice to know the story behind it. Neil. Neil, I honestly don't have enough experience with the copper-handle gunto to say, and I've never read about an answer to why. I have read about the repair ops with Type 32's where it was common at the repair facility to file the ser# off the drag and restamp (I own one and the file marks are clearly visible), but have never heard that this was done to early 95's. Mine does not look like it was filed or modified. All I could say about it would be speculation. One possibility is that as the copper-handled 95's were the first of their kind, maybe the practice of stamping the saya wasn't standardized. I sort of doubt this, though, because they had been stamping matching numbers on type 32's for some time leading up to the 95. Another possibility is that the coppers were in the war the whole time. Maybe damage and/or loss brought in replacement throat pieces that were unstamped. I once saw a chart someone had drawn up of the known copper-handled guntos he had seen and if I understood it rightly, probably 2/3 of them had no number on the saya. So, another mystery! Quote
IJASWORDS Posted January 9, 2017 Report Posted January 9, 2017 Bruce, two thirds!! That is significant. Must also be Type 32 day today, talking to a fellow Aussie collector about the 32. I found one with TWO numbers struck out, and the matching number on the other side of the drag. Neil. 1 Quote
mauser99 Posted January 9, 2017 Report Posted January 9, 2017 There are two real ones for sale right now. One on Ebay and the other on the Pre98 website.. Both are nice but slightly overpriced IMHO. Both have numbered saya's. You might find one cheaper with a non-numbered saya but, there will always be questions. I don't have the $$ to pay close to 4k for just one NCO so I probably will never own one. Quote
mauser99 Posted January 9, 2017 Report Posted January 9, 2017 On 1/8/2017 at 2:20 AM, barnejp said: Hello Everyone, I've been searching the Canadian market for a copper handle NCO sword. I received a reply. The seller has only the copper handle and said they will send photos. What should I be watching out for? Cheers, Greg Don't buy just the handle ! what's the point ??? Quote
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