Pre-December 1941 Seki Stamp

[Yukihiro]

Hello,

 

I have read on the forum that the Seki stamp is normally seen on blades dating from December 1941.

 

Could you tell me what is the meaning (or the absence thereof) of a Seki stamp on a 1940-dated blade?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Didier

 

 

 

[vajo]

Where did you read it?

[Yukihiro]

Top right on the second picture - am I mistaken?

[Geraint]

Dear Didier.

 

I think Chris was asking about the source of the information, not the location of the Seki stamp.

 

All the best.

[vajo]

Didier this is what i know the government ordered about 1938 that a stamp to be put on ALL non-traditional swords

[Yukihiro]

This is the thead I was talking about : http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/563-seki-stamped-gendaito-i-dont-think-so/?hl=%2Bseki+%2Bstamp+%2B1941&do=findComment&comment=4284

[Yukihiro]

Didier this is what i know the government ordered about 1938 that a stamp to be put on ALL non-traditional swords

Would you, by any chance, know when that Seki stamp was recorded for the first time?

[Yukihiro]

Dear Didier.

 

I think Chris was asking about the source of the information, not the location of the Seki stamp.

 

All the best.

Oops! Sorry!

[Yukihiro]

Here is another input I was able to find on this very forum : "The general rule is that because in the 1930s quite passable non-gendaito swords were being made (ie. western steel, non traditional forging and quenching) and were deceiving even experienced collectors, especially as even shinshinto mei possibly shinto? mei was being cut on them to deceive, the government ordered about 1938 that a stamp to be put on ALL non-traditional swords (called gunto and showato). This was the "sho" stamp. from about 1941 the Seki swordmakers factories banded together in an association and insisted that they put on their own mark, "Seki". This was done...it is technically not an acceptance mark, but an ID mark for showato/gunto quality produced by the Seki Association." (http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/7476-use-of-the-seki-stamp-and/)

 

Could it be that a number of 1940-made blades were kept in stock only to be released and stamped at Seki after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when the demand for such blades must have risen dramatically?

[Jussi Ekholm]

According to Ohmura's site it is the acceptance mark of 関刃物工業組合

 

http://ohmura-study.net/211.html

[Bruce Pennington]

Didier,

 

It is my understanding that the stamp wasn't widely used before late '41, but that implies that it WAS used to some degree before that. All of the stamping wasn't widely done at first. I see this in other areas where an official order, or we'd call ops spec, is issued but we don't see it in the field until a couple or 3 years later. The "Type 3" or Rinji model gunto is such an example.

 

I'm glad to see your example, because it simply supports the idea that stamping was beginning to be used. I personally haven't seen a date earlier than yours, but others may have.

[Yukihiro]

Thank you, Bruce. As always, your clear and concise explanations help me understand the why and how of things