Inquiry - Type 95 Copper Shin Gunto?

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Hello!

Going through my small war collectibles stash during break and started looking deeper into this one.  What im reading is potentially a Type 95 Shin Gunto with copper Tsuba.

I welcome the boards thoughts on if I am off or not.  Just starting my journey with this piece, even though it has been in storage for 20 years.

Thanks!

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

More pictures of numbers

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Suya Shoten Trademark

Four Cannonball

Tokyo Factory

[Bruce Pennington]

Nice one Jesse!  Close on the assembly line to mine!

 

 

If you haven't already read these, start with Ohmura:http://ohmura-study.net/957.html

 

Stu W at Warrelics: https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/ija-type-95-nco-sword-info-228172/

 

Trystan's thread:

 

And Steve, Shamsy, has an excellent history, which I'm not finding right now, if someone could post a link?

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Thanks Bruce!  I have been through Ohmura but hadnt seen Stus page

What did you identify yours as?  Likely the same as mine, given their manufacture timeline

Do you prefer Choji oil?

Jesse

[Bruce Pennington]

These are the first run of the Type 95 NCO gunto.  They made less than 7,000 of the copper handled, officer-style saya Type 95s.  So ours were made in the first third of the nearly 1 year production (going by memory here, but roughly mid-1937 to early 1938ish). 

 

I use a standard Japanese cleaning kit that comes with uchiko ball and choji oil.  I've tried 99% alcohol and it does put a bit of a shine to the blade, but it doesn't remove the permanent stains.

[vajo]

5 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

 

Trystan's thread:

 

And Steve, Shamsy, has an excellent history, which I'm not finding right now, if someone could post a link?

 

 

 

Trystan's thread? 

 

 

Nice sword! Jesse. 

[Bruce Pennington]

7 hours ago, vajo said:

Trystan's thread? 

HA!  Sorry Chris!  Was in a hurry and had a "senior moment."

[BANGBANGSAN]

There are some copper handle added second Mekugi hole like yours.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Thanks Trystan!  

Another collector who reached out to me from my linkedin profile wanted me to get a picture of the tang for a signature.  I didnt think machine made blades had signatures?

[BANGBANGSAN]

2 hours ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

Thanks Trystan!  

Another collector who reached out to me from my linkedin profile wanted me to get a picture of the tang for a signature.  I didnt think machine made blades had signatures?

There is no signature on the tang of the NCO sword.

[Shamsy]

Listen to the people here, steer well clear of that collectors advice and you'll do well!

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Sage advice Sham!

[zook]

I see a lot of NCO swords popping up on Facebook militaria forums and folks tell the owner to examine tang for signatures .... !! Goodness .  (Nice copper BTW!) 

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Thanks Dan!  Super excited about it.  Trying to determine if I should work to restore it or not..dont want to decrease value.  Needs a Sarute at the least

[Bruce Pennington]

I added a sarute and NCO leather tassel to mine.  I wouldn't do much more as it's real easy to "clean" off the original patina, paint, and coatings from the various parts (seppa, tsuba, tsuka, etc).  Warm, soapy water on a rag gets most of the grime.  Oiled rag gets most of what's left.  Might be tough to find a barrel screw to replace that wooden mekugi, but it can be done with enough time and searching.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Roger that Bruce, thanks!  Saw a sarute on eBay for $70 - ouch!

[Bruce Pennington]

9 minutes ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

sarute on eBay for $70 - ouch!

I know there is a guy at NMB who says he carries all sorts of parts, but I don't recall who that was.  You might try posting a "want to buy" in the Want to Buy forum.

[b.hennick]

Try Mark Jones. He has a dealer section on the forum.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Thanks B!

[BANGBANGSAN]

6 hours ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

Roger that Bruce, thanks!  Saw a sarute on eBay for $70 - ouch!

It's kind of hard to find  Nco Sarute .You might use the wire Sarute for Type 98 if you can't find one for type 95.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Thanks Trystan!

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Oiled this guy yesterday, man. Feels introspective touching the blade of something so old and historic.  Used a microfiber cloth and mineral oil (seems that choji oil is just mineral oil plus clove oil)

Not sure how to polish out slight blackening - rice paper?

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

slight blackening

I haven't found anything that removes that.  I have black spots on several blades and it seem permanent.  I've removed the liners on some and found matching black stains on the wood, which I buffed with copper-wool, but it's not known if something in the wood is staining the steel or something in the steel is staining the wood.

 

BTW, I couldn't check inside my copper liner as it is super-dooper sealed up!

 

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

thanks Bruce!  ill live with it!  Its not bad.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Hi Everyone.  Wondering if any of these sarute are correct for this sword? What ya think?

[Bruce Pennington]

I like these 2, but the fat one is better.

 

The 95 specialists are the ones to ask though.

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

Thanks Bruce! Those two look like what is on yours?

[Bruce Pennington]

Mine

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

fat one indeed!  you the man Bruce!