Stamps on Island-made/Late-war Swords

[Bruce Pennington]

I'd like to start collecting the stamps that are showing up on these swords made in occupied territories.  There are 2 that are recurring, that I know of.  One is found on @Yoshimichi's thread HERE.  And look like this:

Yoshimichi's blade:

 

@Stegel's blade:

 

The other is the "KI", which is known to be intended for use by the Second Factory Kokura Army Arsenal.  For now, I feel it's not likely to be an inspector stamp, as it's large, fat, coarsely made, unlike all other known Japanese arsenal inspector stamps.  But it's more inline with the style and workmanship of the first stamp above.

 

Here's one on a Java sword:

 

 

I'm thinking these might be logo stamps of an island forge.  But they could be something @Kiipu and @BANGBANGSAN have been working on, like a field repair team mark.

 

I invite all who have more examples of these, or other stamps not yet discussed, to add them here.

 

 

For comparison, here is one I believe actually is a Second Factory inspector stamp:

[BANGBANGSAN]

  On 9/18/2021 at 4:29 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

 

 

Here's one on a Java sword:

 

 

 

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Smith on this one says 友広（友廣）。 But his handwriting doesn't look very good, maybe that mark is サ(Sa)for Semarang？

[Bruce Pennington]

A 3rd - the "Wa" listed in Fuller & Gregory.  They said "'Wa' stamp.  Probably indicates manufacture in an occupied area, most likely by a collaborating force.  Found on poor quality rolled or hammered blades."

 

Fuller's evaluation may also apply to the first two stamps, as they may be marks put there by Japanese teams supervising forges run by occupied forces.

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Another "Wa" stamp on one of the possible Chinese collaborator swords.  Found on this Warrelics Thread.:

 

[BANGBANGSAN]

  On 2/9/2023 at 4:36 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Another "Wa" stamp on one of the possible Chinese collaborator swords.  Found on this Warrelics Thread.:

 

 

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This is one of the sword made in China for the puppet army .