SwordStudent703 Posted March 13, 2018 Report Posted March 13, 2018 Hey guys, Here's a Star Stamped - Rikugun Jumei Tosho gendaito that I'm considering bidding on but I'm not so sure who the smith is. Can anyone maybe help with the translation? Would appreciate any help. I've tried to translate the date inscription myself but would welcome any corrections :D Thanks. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted March 13, 2018 Report Posted March 13, 2018 Hengu,very difficult to see! Perhaps try better photos like the middle one, but full NAKAGO. 1 Quote
SteveM Posted March 13, 2018 Report Posted March 13, 2018 春日製造所文忠作 Kasuga Seizōsho Fumitada saku This may be the same smith as Harumoto mentioned on the site below. https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/gendai2.htm Would like to see the date side without the boxes on it. I think you have the date right, but the "kore" by itself at the end doesn't make sense. 3 Quote
Stephen Posted March 13, 2018 Report Posted March 13, 2018 huh? i couldn't find a fumitada anywhere, i didnt check Hawley, guess give it a try 1 Quote
SwordStudent703 Posted March 13, 2018 Author Report Posted March 13, 2018 春日製造所文忠作 Kasuga Seizōsho Fumitada saku This may be the same smith as Harumoto mentioned on the site below. https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/gendai2.htm Would like to see the date side without the boxes on it. I think you have the date right, but the "kore" by itself at the end doesn't make sense. Hey Steve, Thanks for the translation!!! I don't know if the date pic is going to be that clear but I've uploaded the unboxed pic up in my original post together with some inspection stamps. Unfortunately since I don't have other pics to upload as I poached these from the auction site Sincerely! Quote
Kiipu Posted January 13, 2022 Report Posted January 13, 2022 On 3/13/2018 at 10:34 AM, SwordStudent703 said: I've tried to translate the date inscription myself but would welcome any corrections. Detective Trystan, AKA @BANGBANGSAN, pointed this sword out to me and I was a bit surprised to see it. In answer to your question, the date appears to be either February or March 1945 but I am leaning more toward March 1945 昭和二十年三月. The swords made prior to this were inscribed with 小倉陸軍造兵廠 [Kokura Army Arsenal]. However, this sword is marked with the factory name as indicated by SteveM, instead of the arsenal's name. Below is a summary of these Kokura Army Arsenal made star-stamped blades. 小倉陸軍造兵廠: used on swords dated May 1944 to February 1945. 春日製造所: used on swords dated March 1945 to May 1945. For those that maintain records, below is a link to one dated May 1945. gunto mei help please As in the way of background, I will quote a March 1946 American intelligence report in regards to Kasuga Factory. Quote KASUGA Factory of the KOKURA Army Arsenal Plans for this factory were started in 1939 for the purpose of increasing the arms output of the KOKURA Arsenal. KASUGABAB, FUKUOKA was selected for the location and construction started December 1942. The factory was completed in August 1943 and the factory head, with 350 employees started production. In November 1943 it was able to produce 31 aircraft machine guns. The decentralization of all facilities of the KASUGA Factory was started in March 1945 because of bombing raids. The new location was TERUOKA, HITA (HIDA) City, OITA prefecture. All facilities were housed in temporary barracks and were to be moved to underground caves in the same manner as the Second Factory of the Arsenal. At the close of the war 95% of the machines had been removed to HITA (HIDA) but no production was started. The following reasons were stated: (1) Because of the non-completed forge shops, stock had to be supplied from the Second Factory and this was limited. (2) Lack of skilled laborers. (3) Lack of transportation to bring supplies and also transport supplies within the factory. 1 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 On 1/13/2022 at 3:13 PM, Kiipu said: Detective Trystan, AKA @BANGBANGSAN, pointed this sword out to me and I was a bit surprised to see it. In answer to your question, the date appears to be either February or March 1945 but I am leaning more toward March 1945 昭和二十年三月. The swords made prior to this were inscribed with 小倉陸軍造兵廠 [Kokura Army Arsenal]. However, this sword is marked with the factory name as indicated by SteveM, instead of the arsenal's name. Below is a summary of these Kokura Army Arsenal made star-stamped blades. 小倉陸軍造兵廠: used on swords dated May 1944 to February 1945. 春日製造所: used on swords dated March 1945 to May 1945. For those that maintain records, below is a link to one dated May 1945. gunto mei help please As in the way of background, I will quote a March 1946 American intelligence report in regards to Kasuga Factory. Thomas, You just popped all my Circuit Breakers with this overload!!! Ah! First, I'd go with "May" Now this post-war report is confirming, clearing up our question as to the meaning or right translation of the Kokura 1st Factory inspector mark and 2nd Factory inspection mark. Right? Which also blows the Collectors' Urban legend that Kokura Arsenal didn't make swords, they were just an Administrative overseer for Tokyo 1st and Nagoya. Or are we distinguishing a difference between an arsenal making swords within the arsenal itself vs an arsenal that has 2 factories specifically made for them and making swords for the arsenal? Either way, we now have the actual name of the Kokura Arsenal 1st Factory! Ok, and now we have Star-stamped blades with a shop mei - Kasuga Workshop + Smith - and we have 2 of them, one by Fumitada (not listed on the RJT pages, Slough, nor Sesko), and Yasunori (also not on the RJT list). Now, Yasunori. Slough lists 2 - Kajiyama (High to Superior Gendaito) from Tokyo; and Kotani (Med to High grade Gendaito) from Hiroshima. Both used the kiri yasurime style found on Yasukunito. He doesn't mention the Yasukuni shrine operation for either of them. Any idea which Yasunori we might be seeing here? @mecox @george trotter - any help? Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 On 1/13/2022 at 3:13 PM, Kiipu said: 小倉陸軍造兵廠: used on swords dated May 1944 to February 1945. 春日製造所: used on swords dated March 1945 to May 1945. Thomas, Can I get links or photos? I don't have these in my files. Quote
george trotter Posted January 15, 2022 Report Posted January 15, 2022 Can't help much Bruce...I also think the month is GO (5). First I've seen of this star stamped arsenal signed tang. Sorry, G. 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted January 16, 2022 Report Posted January 16, 2022 On 1/15/2022 at 7:01 AM, Bruce Pennington said: Can I get links or photos? Below are the links to the three that show both sides of the tang. May 1944: Mei Translation December 1944: Interesting Late-'44 Gunto February 1945: Kokuri Rigun Zōheisō Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 17, 2022 Report Posted January 17, 2022 14 hours ago, Kiipu said: Below are the links to the three Thanks Thomas! I had the 2 '44s, but they aren't star-stamped. I've added the star-stamped '45. Interesting that they were making these earlier, but no star. Maybe someone at Korkura thought their blades deserved the recognition (i.e. his career portfolio) and submitted some blades to the RJT people for qualification? Or maybe it was someone distributing the tamahagane and realized the Kokura factory blades deserved the star? Wish we knew. Quote
Kiipu Posted January 17, 2022 Report Posted January 17, 2022 @md02geist & @Nihonto Chicken If either of you by chance still have the blades linked to above, can you check to see if they are star-stamped? The star is usually high up on the tang, sometimes under the habaki. Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted January 19, 2022 Report Posted January 19, 2022 @Kiipu Thomas Here is my 小倉陸軍造兵廠 gunto, date 昭和十九年六月，no star. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted January 19, 2022 Report Posted January 19, 2022 Rechecked files. The '44s I have are "Kokura" mei. The '45 I have on file with star is also a "Kokura" mei. And I didn't have Trystan's which is a '44 Kokura. This is the first one I have marked "Kosuga". Quote
Kiipu Posted January 19, 2022 Report Posted January 19, 2022 On 1/15/2022 at 6:47 AM, Bruce Pennington said: First, I'd go with "May" I compared it to the other Kasuga that is dated May and I agree that they are the same style and cut. The sword in the OP then is dated May 1945 昭和二十年五月. For those that would like to look at the auction photographs, see the link below. I would like to extend my thanks to Trystan for locating the auction photographs. Japan -Harumoto - Type 98 -IJA WW2 officer katana, Shin gunto, gendaito - Sword 1 Quote
Nihonto Chicken Posted January 30, 2022 Report Posted January 30, 2022 On 1/17/2022 at 11:33 AM, Kiipu said: @md02geist & @Nihonto Chicken If either of you by chance still have the blades linked to above, can you check to see if they are star-stamped? The star is usually high up on the tang, sometimes under the habaki. Checking in late, sorry. No star stamp on my blade. 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted September 14, 2023 Report Posted September 14, 2023 Sorry to drag up an old thread, but I just learned I had filed the Kasuga blades under the wrong name. It was made by Yoshinori, not Yasunori. Does anyone know if the Kasuga Workshop was located with the Kasuga shrine? Quote
Kiipu Posted September 21, 2023 Report Posted September 21, 2023 See post #8 above and read the quote at the bottom. Post #8 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted September 23, 2023 Report Posted September 23, 2023 On 9/21/2023 at 11:58 AM, Kiipu said: See post #8 above and read the quote at the bottom. Post #8 Ah, thanks Thomas. I actually had Oita province on file with 2 blades made in May of 1945, the Yasunori and Fumitada blades, which fits the discussion you've linked. For future reference, it states the original location was Kasugabab, Fukuoka in 1943. It moved to Oita, underground in March '45. Quote
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