Yoshimichi Posted August 29, 2021 Report Posted August 29, 2021 Dear NMB member: I recently acquired this with other swords from a collection put together in the 70's and 80's. In reviewing a previous topic, I am wondering if this is an Emergency late war sword produced in China or Korea during the War. It appears to have the correct Japanese foul weather covered saya, similar looking tsuka, but a stamp on the tang I am not familiar with and do not recognize. Can anyone translate or identify this mark? Any comments are appreciated. Regards, Bill E, Sheehan (Yoshimichi) Quote
Kiipu Posted August 29, 2021 Report Posted August 29, 2021 There are pictures of Japanese enlisted soldiers in China carrying this style of sword. I am starting to think they may have purchased some of these locally. Eventually, the army cracked down on this and put a stop to it in May 1939. Quote These entitlements for wearing swords got somewhat out of control in the campaigns in China where many non-entitled men also wore private Samurai swords. So on 13th May 1939 an order went out to enforce entitlement regulations. Thus you got into trouble with MPs for wearing swords when you were not qualified to do so. Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto, Post #8 Attention: @Shamsy 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted August 29, 2021 Report Posted August 29, 2021 You might be onto something Thomas. The fuchi looks legit and the kabutogane is well made, by the same shop by the looks of the style. Yet only the fuchi is military. As we have observed over the years, civil swords re-fitted for the war effort come in widely varied combinations. It would not surprise me if this were a Chinese made sword, bought by an NCO, like you propose, and the military fuchi put on. Interesting idea. In the past, these type swords were always labeled as fakes. And in truth, they very well may be. But I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle, where some are fakes, but some are Chinese made during the war; along with all the island-made swords, and POW made swords. Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted August 30, 2021 Report Posted August 30, 2021 @Kiipu Thomas Those swords maybe made at the local smith shop by the Japanese Gunto repair team sent from Japan. 1 1 Quote
Yoshimichi Posted September 1, 2021 Author Report Posted September 1, 2021 Gentlemen: Thanks so much for the comments. Great information! Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi) Quote
Kiipu Posted September 13, 2021 Report Posted September 13, 2021 On 8/29/2021 at 6:03 PM, BANGBANGSAN said: Those swords maybe made at the local smith shop by the Japanese Gunto repair team sent from Japan. Cross-Reference Link Theater-made Gunto 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted September 13, 2021 Report Posted September 13, 2021 On 8/29/2021 at 2:23 PM, BANGBANGSAN said: Maybe 恆 or 悟? I found you a second sword to take a look at. It was posted by @Stegel back in 2018 and the character on the obverse side of the tang could be the same as the one on @Yoshimichi's sword. Could you please look again and see if you can make out the Chinese character? Need Help Identifying Blade And Sword Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted September 14, 2021 Report Posted September 14, 2021 22 hours ago, Kiipu said: I found you a second sword to take a look at. It was posted by @Stegel back in 2018 and the character on the obverse side of the tang could be the same as the one on @Yoshimichi's sword. Could you please look again and see if you can make out the Chinese character? Need Help Identifying Blade And Sword Thomas I think the Kanji on this sword is the same as the other one, either 恆 or 悟. 2 2 Quote
Kiipu Posted September 14, 2021 Report Posted September 14, 2021 Thank you so much Trystan for helping with all the Chinese character identifications over the years. I am kinda leaning more toward 恆 on this one. However, I will need to find you some more examples to compare it to. Quote
Kiipu Posted September 14, 2021 Report Posted September 14, 2021 @BANGBANGSAN I have located the same sword on another forum which has a closeup of the Chinese character. Let me know if this changes anything in your opinion. Senior NCO Sword, Post #96 Quote
Yoshimichi Posted September 18, 2021 Author Report Posted September 18, 2021 Dear Thomas, Trystan, and Bruce: Thanks for all of the additional information and links. Great job! Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi) Quote
Shamsy Posted November 1, 2021 Report Posted November 1, 2021 @Kiipu bit late to the party but I am sure we had a thread with a lot of information about swords that were supposedly made by a Chinese arsenal, which from memory were for collaboration forces. Those swords, however, had a distinct style that could be called a 'pattern'. This sword does not fit that particular style of koshirae. 1 Quote
AlphaRaider Posted September 28, 2022 Report Posted September 28, 2022 What was the conclusion you all have come to with the stamp marking? I have recently obtained a sword with this exact symbol. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted October 17, 2022 Report Posted October 17, 2022 On 9/28/2022 at 12:57 AM, AlphaRaider said: What was the conclusion you all have come to with the stamp marking? I have recently obtained a sword with this exact symbol. Jonathan, The short answer is no one knows. It is definitely from a specific sword maker because it shows up on several swords and they are all the same style. But we don’t know what the character means, nor do we know for sure if it is made by occupied territories for the Japanese war effort or if it is just out and out fakery. I personally lean toward the idea that it was made in occupied lands for the Japanese war effort. Seeing yours in hand, personally, reinforces that idea for me. 1 Quote
AlphaRaider Posted November 14, 2022 Report Posted November 14, 2022 @Yoshimichi I had reached out to Yoshimichi, but he said he was never at the place I bought the sword from while at a show in Arizona. He said he did not sell this sword sword to me. However I currently own this exact sword this post concerns. I asked some additional questions, sadly he hasn't written back since. perhaps when he logs back on in the future. The hunt still continues I guess Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted November 14, 2022 Report Posted November 14, 2022 So he still has the sword in his possession? Two examples of a unique item are always promising! Quote
AlphaRaider Posted November 14, 2022 Report Posted November 14, 2022 20 minutes ago, PNSSHOGUN said: So he still has the sword in his possession? Two examples of a unique item are always promising! I'm positive, I currently own this sword. Perhaps he sold it to some one else before I bought it? The gentleman I bought it from at the show said he was selling it for a "friend" if I remember correctly. He stated his buddy bought it from an estate sale in the mid 70's and has kept it since. He said he couldn't make it to the show so he took three swords for his "friend" to sell. Quote
Kiipu Posted November 14, 2022 Report Posted November 14, 2022 @BANGBANGSAN may have identified the maker of that sword in another thread. Japanese Swords Made In China During World War II, Post #3 1 1 Quote
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