Kaikōsha (偕行社) Guntō

[kyushukairu]

I came across an interesting signature on a guntō today. The sword was posted on FB by someone who supposedly inherited it from his grandfather. My attention was immediately drawn to the engraved cherry blossom, which I have never seen on a gunto before. Below which is written ‘Tōkyō Kaikōsha (東京偕行社). After a little research I discovered that Kaikōsha was an ‘old boys‘ club of sorts for retired officers. However, it also seems that they manufactured and sold military equipment, though I was unable to find any other examples of the cherry blossom or organisation’s name engraved on guntō. Has anyone else encountered one of these before?

[Kiipu]

At least two that I am aware of.  The Kaikōsha had a store, sometimes called a counter, where pistols and swords could be purchased.

Officer Swords & Enlisted Men, Post #4

Please Help With Mei Translation

[Bruce Pennington]

Man!  I've never seen a sakura that big before!

3 hours ago, kyushukairu said:

The sword was posted on FB

Kyle, any other photos?  Nothing on the other side?

[BANGBANGSAN]

9 hours ago, Kiipu said:

At least two that I am aware of.  The Kaikōsha had a store, sometimes called a counter, where pistols and swords could be purchased.

Officer Swords & Enlisted Men, Post #4

Please Help With Mei Translation

Thomas

Add one more, not mine.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

6 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Add one more,

Cool, Trystan.  Can I get that smith's name for the files?

[BANGBANGSAN]

36 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Cool, Trystan.  Can I get that smith's name for the files?

濃州関住後藤兼廣作

[Kiipu]

Here is a link to an older blade.

刀　東京偕行社 (指揮刀型軍刀 兼用刀) 懸賞論文優等賞

 

Link to a sword care box with hanger.

旧日本軍　軍刀の部分と刀手入用具　陸軍偕行社軍需部

[BANGBANGSAN]

Colonel uniform from 偕行社特約 中本洋服店（ 松山）

 

[Stephen]

Ha ha I just got done sending to Bruce.

Guess I should have read here first.

[Bruce Pennington]

15 hours ago, Kiipu said:

Here is a link to an older blade.

Wow, wish I could have bought that one!  Am I reading this right that it was made in 1929?

 

Here are some pics for posterity:

[Bruce Pennington]

Any chance this is a Kaikosha stamp?  If not, any ideas?

 

[Bruce Pennington]

15 hours ago, Stephen said:

I just got done sending to Bruce.

Thanks Stephen!  That makes 2 Kanehiro out of 5 Kaikosha blades, so far.  And only one with the large sakura.  That thing is going to plague me for a long time.

[BANGBANGSAN]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Any chance this is a Kaikosha stamp?  If not, any ideas?

 

Not likely.It's 鋼 for Steel.

[BANGBANGSAN]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Am I reading this right that it was made in 1929?

 

Here are some pics for posterity:

 

昭和四(十)叁年十二月贰拾九日  Showa 43 years(1968)12.29

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

昭和四(十)叁年十二月贰拾九日  Showa 43 years(1968)12.29

I think that must have been the registration date. This blade was clearly made long before that.

 

 

 

[BANGBANGSAN]

2 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I think that must have been the registration date. This blade was clearly made long before that.

 

 

 

yes,it's the  registration date.

[Bruce Pennington]

6 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

It's 鋼 for Steel.

Now, I'm sure the Japanese Army didn't think it necessary to let the soldier know that his saya was made of steel.  So, I'm betting this is either an Army inspector whose mark is saying "Made of Army supplied Steel", similar to the role the star stamp played in later years, or it's a shop logo, which says "steel" in the design.  We also see several ways makers of officer blades sort of put "bragging rights" mei, or hotstamps, that state the type of steel used (Kobuse, Yasugi, etc), and maybe this is in that category. 

 

My gut says it's an arsenal inspector.  MOST stamps I've seen on drags are of arsenals, so maybe it's an approval of the steel used.  Though, I do have one with "Sha" stamped on the drag, which is possibly a contractor stamp:

 

Hrmph.  Just another mystery to add to the list.  Thanks Trystan.

[BANGBANGSAN]

3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Now, I'm sure the Japanese Army didn't think it necessary to let the soldier know that his saya was made of steel.  So, I'm betting this is either an Army inspector whose mark is saying "Made of Army supplied Steel", similar to the role the star stamp played in later years, or it's a shop logo, which says "steel" in the design.  We also see several ways makers of officer blades sort of put "bragging rights" mei, or hotstamps, that state the type of steel used (Kobuse, Yasugi, etc), and maybe this is in that category. 

 

My gut says it's an arsenal inspector.  MOST stamps I've seen on drags are of arsenals, so maybe it's an approval of the steel used.  Though, I do have one with "Sha" stamped on the drag, which is possibly a contractor stamp:

 

Hrmph.  Just another mystery to add to the list.  Thanks Trystan.

Bruce

It's possible contractor stamp.But not likely for 偕行社 though.

[Bruce Pennington]

Noticed this while proof-reading the Stamps of the Japanese Sword document.  Could this large sakura be the logo for the Omura Token Kogeisha?  It is rare to find shop logo on nakago, but not unheard of (Suya Shoten and Yasugi Steel come to mind, even the Goto Tanren jo "5 measures").