Kiipu Posted December 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2020 On 11/20/2020 at 4:52 PM, Kiipu said: Nakago Reverse 新折衷和洋之刀制爰謹令我東京砲兵工廠小銃製造所鍛冶造焉 Page 181 of Slough's book gives the translation as "By order of the new Japanese-European combined sword system, I respectfully forged this at the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal & Small Arms Factory." A minor correction is in order though in regards to this translation. The characters 東京砲兵工廠小銃製造所 translate as "Rifle Factory of Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal." I located a second correction by Morita san to Slough's rendition of 新折衷和洋之刀制爰謹令我東京砲兵工廠小銃製造所鍛冶造焉. This concerns the last character 焉 which merely means the end of a sentence. Mr.Slough's Oshigata book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted March 3, 2021 Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 Thomas, John @PNSSHOGUN just found a beauty that I think might be a zoheito. Uniquely has the Suya Shoten stamp on the nakago by the number "14" Is this Yoshichika? And what is the single kanji at the top of the mei, cut by the ana? Update: After talking it over with John, the Suya stamp likely indicates this blade had been previously fitted by the Suya Shoten Co. and the blade is likely traditionally made. found HERE. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted March 3, 2021 Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 Another potential one, though munei and no stamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted March 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 (edited) 15 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: And what is the single kanji at the top of the mei, cut by the ana? I like the picture of the Suya stamp. As to the characters, the white piece of paper pictured above shows what they are. In this case, they are 二代 源良近作之. 二代 = second generation. 源 = Minamoto. 良近 = Yoshichika. Edited March 3, 2021 by Kiipu 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted March 3, 2021 Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Kiipu said: second generation. How interesting! I didn’t know that was a practice, to indicate that they are second generation. But that would certainly clear up any confusion if both father and son were making swords at the same time and using the same name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNSSHOGUN Posted March 3, 2021 Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 Many Yoshichika swords, Shodai & Nidai, are found in Suya mounts but I have never seen the stamp on a sword before. Could this mean they were making swords for Suya directly at some stage, or at least contracted? As Yoshichika made swords for the Imperial Guards as well perhaps they are all connected somehow. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacificRim Posted September 9, 2021 Report Share Posted September 9, 2021 Greetings, it’s been a while, I hope everyone is healthy and safe during this pandemic. I recently purchased a kyu gunto and I believe it is a Murata Do in Mukade Giri Maru style. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacificRim Posted September 9, 2021 Report Share Posted September 9, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted September 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2021 I did not have a Murata sword recorded for that year so it is a nice addition. Obverse: 明治廿四年八月 = August 1891. Reverse: 小銃兼正 =Shōjū Kanemasa. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted September 10, 2021 Report Share Posted September 10, 2021 Thomas, What would say is below the "6"? Maybe "173"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted September 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 This is the first one with a 6 and then a number underneath. It does look like 173; but, it would be best to ask @PacificRim what the number is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacificRim Posted September 16, 2021 Report Share Posted September 16, 2021 Bruce and Thomas, The number underneath is 173. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted January 28, 2022 Report Share Posted January 28, 2022 A nice zoheito found by @mecox, thanks Mal! https://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=134007324527&category=165599&pm=1&ds=0&t=1643389175924&cspheader=1 I’m away from home at the moment. Will post some pics when able. Note the copper mekugi the seller apologized for damaging during removal. I have seen a couple of these come up recently, and I had mentioned to the owners that I thought it was post-war because I did not know they made copper ones during the war. But this one sure looks like it was original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario_Archaeology Posted May 10, 2022 Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 (edited) I recently bought one from the Plimpton collection... Here are some photos of the tang. Sorry this might be a murata to. I'm not sure if these are the same or not. Edited May 10, 2022 by Ontario_Archaeology Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Bleed Posted May 11, 2022 Report Share Posted May 11, 2022 Matt, I am not sure what there might be to say about you new swords. BUT! I am very glad that you revitalized this thread. It really is very good. I wonder of folks in Tokyo - and at the National Museum are following this discussion. It really is good research! Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted May 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2022 That sword actually dates from 1933 to 1945, more likely earlier rather than later. The logo is that of Kokura Arsenal along with a Kokura 小 final inspection mark. Below is a link to a drawing of a jig used in the manufacture of your sword blade. As of 1934, the location of blade manufacture was Kokura Kōshō Tōkyō Heiki Seizō-sho 小倉工廠東京兵器製造所 Tōkyō Ordnance Factory of Kokura Arsenal. This factory formally belonged to Tōkyō Arsenal but was transferred to Kokura Arsenal when it came into existence in 1933. System Kaizen behind the Type 32 Gunto production of the 1930s 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ontario_Archaeology Posted May 11, 2022 Report Share Posted May 11, 2022 The blade is in this koshirae, its interesting that the 1930s era blade would be in 1880ish mounts. This came out of the Plimpton collection. Thanks for the information! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted May 11, 2022 Report Share Posted May 11, 2022 The Type 8/19 'kyugunto' was officially replaced in 1934, so there is a year overlap with what Thomas stated. But even though the 'official' army sword after 1934 was the shingunto, officers were known to carry the kyugunto through the entire span of WWII (Dawson and Fuller both state this). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave R Posted May 12, 2022 Report Share Posted May 12, 2022 A mix of swords.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 (edited) Katana: Shoju Kanemasa (Kogarasumaru shape) 小銃兼正 = Shōjū Kanemasa = Rifle Kanemasa. 明治二十四年六月 = June 1891. Courtesy of @MarcoUdin. Edited July 23, 2022 by Kiipu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 This is an update of Post #27 of 2020-11-27. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 3 hours ago, Kiipu said: 明治二十四年六月 = June 1891. Photos for the future when the link above goes dead: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNSSHOGUN Posted July 23, 2022 Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 Almost certain those fittings are modern reproductions, similar ones have cropped up on yahoo.jp auctions before. Here is a stated replica dagger with the same style. A good reminder that not everything coming out of Japan is automatically original. https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/w1041773928?conversionType=service_page_search 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted July 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2022 The prefix rifle 小銃 used by Kanemasa 兼正 is most likely the location where the blade was made. In this case, the Rifle Factory of Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal 東京砲兵工廠小銃製造所. The first two blades are actually marked with the full name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNSSHOGUN Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 One of the replicas: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p1059575293 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted August 22, 2022 Report Share Posted August 22, 2022 On 5/11/2022 at 7:46 AM, Ontario_Archaeology said: I recently bought one from the Plimpton collection... Here are some photos of the tang. Sorry this might be a murata to. I'm not sure if these are the same or not. This is a 造兵刀，"ホ" is Kokura Army Arsenal First Factory inspection marks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty_Gaijin Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Adding to this. One my father Imported recently from Japan. Purchased from 刀剣開陽堂 (token kaiyodo) in Kyoto Japan. A little mistranslation in the slide. According to the owner of the shop, Mr. Yokota, says the blade was signed off as a pseudonym of Murata as "shojyu Kanemasa" as per his book. Made at akabane arsenal in June of the 22nd year of Meiji. 1889. Authenticated on June 8th, 2001 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted December 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Welcome to the forum Ryo. I ran across your father's sword over at GBF and have the number down as 5/95 as shown in the list above. The 小銃 is probably referring to the location, in this case the Rifle Factory of Tōkyō Artillery Arsenal. Our Murata Collection so far! Rifles and a rare sword! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNSSHOGUN Posted December 30, 2022 Report Share Posted December 30, 2022 Here is one signed Kanemasa: https://www.ebay.com/itm/404081400989?hash=item5e1520dc9d:g:vJMAAOSwJ~tjrlT2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted December 30, 2022 Report Share Posted December 30, 2022 10 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said: Kanemasa Nice one John! The blade tip doesn't look like a standard zoheito. Maybe a Muratato? Can anyone make out the date? I see Meiji (1868) [?] 4 year, 8 month. It's that one kanji I don't recognize: The fittings are really well made, too bad about that wire wrap. Also numbered "4 59" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.