what does this say on scabbard

[rickyfig4]

I have a Japanese WWII army/tank crew katana with a 1550 era made blade o-suriage. The scabbard is leather covered and has some writing under the leather strap that i'm having a super hard time identifying. any help would be appreciated.

[rickyfig4]

[rickyfig4]

[rickyfig4]

[BANGBANGSAN]

Most of the writing very hard to read.I got few

軍曹？Sergeant

島本保雄（owner's name)

和歌山市（City WAKAYAMA)水X 一四一一（1411）

備前助宗(Sword smith)

[rickyfig4]

thank you sooo much!

would wakayama be where the scabbard/katana was made or where the owner was from?

[BANGBANGSAN]

5 hours ago, rickyfig4 said:

thank you sooo much!

would wakayama be where the scabbard/katana was made or where the owner was from?

I think is where the owner from

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

備前助宗(Sword smith)

Trytan,

Is that the swordsmith's name?  If so, I don't see it on the Seki tosho list.

[Bruce Pennington]

Edgar,

Can we see pics of the nakago (tang)?  Do you know if it is signed?

[rickyfig4]

it is not signed, it could have been before but the sword was shortened at some point.

[Bruce Pennington]

2 hours ago, rickyfig4 said:

the sword was shortened at some point.

Then it's quite possible your blade is something old.  Have you had the guys look it over?

[BANGBANGSAN]

On 1/1/2021 at 12:20 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

Trytan,

Is that the swordsmith's name?  If so, I don't see it on the Seki tosho list.

Bruce

助宗 is not Seki smith.He is 備前國（備州）sword smith.I think he also called 備州長船助宗。

[rickyfig4]

is there anyone i can send the bade in to get it verified?

[Bruce Pennington]

2 hours ago, rickyfig4 said:

verified?

Edgar,

There are some nihonto guys here, at the Military thread, that may be able to answer that for you.  If not soon, post pics of your blade, full length, plus clear shots of nakago and blade tip, on the Nihonto forum.

[Jean]

It reads : Bishu Osafune Sukemune - Bizen smith

[rickyfig4]

thanks everyone!

 

I will try to put the blade up tomorrow to see if anyone can verify if it is a Sukemune blade

[rickyfig4]

Can anyone take a guess at what the rank could say,

I can try to put up better pictures tomorrow. It would answer if it was a navy or army personnel.

Ive tried looking over and over at the ranks and without one more kanji its hard to put a finger on it.

all the way to to the right.

[Bruce Pennington]

I can't answer the rank question, but the gunto is army.

[Shugyosha]

See post number 5 above. 

[rickyfig4]

Ill just look as close as possible to army ranks then, all of the officer ranks have that specific kanji identified and only 1 enlisted ranks has it.

So i'm guessing its in the officers then. On another note i did see the kanji for water on the second line, thats why i thought navy.

[BANGBANGSAN]

Rank is 軍曹 Sergeant。It dose have kanji 水上 ,it could be name of place or like what you think-Navy. 

[Bruce Pennington]

20 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Rank is 軍曹 Sergeant。It dose have kanji 水上 ,it could be name of place or like what you think-Navy. 

I'm not very educated on Navy ranks.  Do they call their enlisted NCO "軍曹 Sergeant?

 

On 1/4/2021 at 8:56 PM, rickyfig4 said:

better pictures

Edgar,

I would like to see the kabutogane (the end-cap of the handle), please.

[BANGBANGSAN]

Bruce

IJA use 曹長 Sergeant Major 軍曹 Sergeant 伍長Corporal, those guys  normally wearing NCO sword.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_Imperial_Japanese_Army

IJN use 一等兵曹 Petty officer first class 二等兵曹 Petty officer second class 三等兵曹 Petty officer third class

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_Imperial_Japanese_Navy

 

[rickyfig4]

in coming pictures!

[rickyfig4]

and some of the blade

 

[rickyfig4]

On 1/5/2021 at 11:25 AM, BANGBANGSAN said:

Rank is 軍曹 Sergeant。It dose have kanji 水上 ,it could be name of place or like what you think-Navy. 

 

if it was an army Sergeant, where they known for carrying a scabbard like this with a shortened blade? it measures 23+3/8" cutting edge and 34+3/4" in mountings.

 

Also I want to say thank you for every ones help! I feel like the more research I do on this Shin-Gunto the more down the rabbit hole I go, and the more I have

questions about stuff

[Bruce Pennington]

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!!! Ha!  You have a nice, old family blade, remounted for the war.  Civilian kabutogane (end-cap) and saya (scabbard), with Army menugi, tsuka, seppa, and leather cover.  Classic. 

 

And yes, NCO's were officially authorized to carry family swords (both short and long) at the end of the war, but they unofficially carried them all the way back to the Sino-Japanese war of the 1920's.  Yours seems to have been fitted close to the end of the war based on the nice condition of the leather.  You're lucky to have the leather strap with snap.  They are usually broken off.

[BANGBANGSAN]

Your sword looks like 軍属刀(Army civilian employee sword). This style of Gunto shows up all the time, nothing special about the fitting(wood saya with leather cover), unless the blade is special.

later war NCOs allow using their family blade due to the shortage of Arsenal issue NCO sword. Your sword may be one of those.

http://ohmura-study.net/728.html