Strange type 32

[ribendao]

What do you all think about this type 32? It’s shortened and without the fuller. No serial number either. Still has the arsenal stamps like a standard type 32. Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

Thanks

[Shamsy]

Looks like someone jammed a different blade into a Type 32 hilt. Some weird stuff was done by bored soldiers. 

[ribendao]

Well they did a good job. A real snug fit.

[lonely panet]

a type 32 turned into a knuckle knife.???

[Bruce Pennington]

I initially thought it could be a broken 32 turned into a trench knife, too.  But there would be evidence of the original fuller.

 

@ribendao - Jonathan, would you do us a favor and take the handle off?  If it's an original 32 blade, the nakago will look something like this:

[Bruce Pennington]

You will need a tool like these pliers, or a 2-prong MAF bit.  I got both at an ACE Hardware store:

[ribendao]

Ah geez Bruce. As curious as I am, it is so well put together that I don’t trust myself to reassembled it to how it is now. 
 

I suspect it is some sort of European blade. I compared it to my type 32 Ko and it is a completely different blade construction.

 

I think the defining characteristic of the blade is the ridge line. It seems to originate from the spine of the blade instead of straight through the center.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ok.  It is a curious piece indeed.  Can't see the end of the handle, but from the side it appears to have the threaded end of a nakago secured by the standard nut.  Correct?  If so, that seems a tad more craftsmanship than a G.I. trench knife would have.

[ribendao]

[ribendao]

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Jonathan!  It's clear there is a threaded end of a nakago there.  The holes in the nuts, as well as the slot of the screw show a little boogering.  That leaves us at least 2 choices -1. Blade was factory made this way, but sword was disassembled by previous owners, or 2. Handle was disassembled in the field to remove original blade and insert current blade.   No way to know, but I'd lean toward choice 2.  I still don't see a G.I. creating and threaded nakago end like this, but I don't know European blades.  Maybe it's possible they had some with such nakago ends.

[Dave R]

The conversion programme from type 32 to type 95 gunto will have left a lot of hilts spare. I will stick my neck out and suggest that this is a factory made or semi official trench knife/dagger.

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 5/1/2022 at 7:46 AM, Dave R said:

conversion programme from type 32 to type 95 gunto

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@Stegel

 

Dang!  Good point Dave!  Very Interesting.

[Stegel]

Interesting find Ribendao, could you show a picture of the whole sword with scabbard please?

(Or at least a few of the scabbard)

Dave, very good point, there would have been quite a few spare!

 

[Dave R]

  On 5/1/2022 at 1:45 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

 No way to know, but I'd lean toward choice 2.  I still don't see a G.I. creating and threaded nakago end like this, but I don't know European blades.  Maybe it's possible they had some with such nakago ends.

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 Many late 19th early 20th cent. German sabres and bayonets used this type of nut. Pics of a Blucher Sable in my collection, before it was repaired. 

[ribendao]

Hi Stegel，

 

Sorry but it did not come with a scabbard. What you see is all I have. It was just an impulse buy from an online auction. So I really don't have much info on its origin.