Sword identification help request.

[croftonaviation]

Good evening.  Today a gentleman selling things from his dads estate offered this sword to me.  I am coming to you for help on if this is a “real” war time Japanese sword.  I believe the blade to be machine made as there is no Harmon. The scabbard is unlike anything I would expect to see on something like this, but that is why I am here, hat in hand to ask the experts.  I also noticed many of the pieces are marked with a “37”. I have not done anything to the sword other than take photos.  
 

thank you in advance

 

tom

 

 

[croftonaviation]

More photos

[croftonaviation]

A few more,

thank you

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Tom, yes an authentic Japanese wartime sword. The signature reads something like "Noshu Ju Seki Kanemitsu" - there is likely parts I've missed but Kanemitsu is the smiths last name. Very likely to be a non-traditional Showato, there may be a small stamp somewhere on the tang that will indicate this. The fittings are a bit mismatched but nice to have the family crest and pierced Tsuba.

 

As an aside, don't touch the blade with your bare hands - and if you do immediately wipe it clean then use a good mineral oil to lightly coat the blade.

[croftonaviation]

John, thank you for the quick reply.  Glad to know it is a legitimate sword.  I know a lot of collectors don’t like “non traditional” blades but as a wwii collector I am super pleased to add it to my collection.   Would this basically be a private purchase item similar to a type 94?  
 

And thank you for the blade care advice.  It has been properly wiped down and put away for the night.

 

best regards

 

tom

[SteveM]

濃州関住福田兼次

Nōshū Seki-jū Fukuda Kanetsugu (with cherry blossom stamp above the peg hole)

 

http://ohmura-study.net/211.html

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

@croftonaviation

Tom,

Based on the offset holes in the fuchi (handle end-cap) and tsuba (hand guard) it's a Type 98 Japanese officer sword (gunto).  The holes are for a locking latch that retains the sword in a metal scabbard.  Yours appears to have been made for one, but was later re-fitted with a wooden scabbard that would have originally been covered with leather.  The leather covers of WWII swords are quite often gone by the time these gets to our hands 80 years later.

 

The kamon, or family crest on the kabutogane (cap at the top end of handle) says that the officer spent a little more money on his purchase.  Officers had to buy their own swords.  Many were sold by the Army and Navy Officer Clubs, and many were sold by private shops, antique shops, and dealers.  No way to know which one this sword came through. 

 

Please do me a favor and show a clear photo of the sakura (cherry blossom) stamp above the mei (signature), and a shot of the other side of the nakago (tang).

[Bruce Pennington]

To John's thought that the parts are mismatched, I see what he means.  There is no slot in the wood of the handle for a chuso (latch clip), yet the fuchi has a hole for one!  Tom, could you show an angled photo of the flattened round item on the fuchi in this shot:

 

It looks like a flattened chuso button.

[croftonaviation]

Bruce here are the photos.  It looks like as suggested it one had a latch and it was removed.  I can’t imagine why?  It also looks like whatever was done was done some years in the past.  I appreciate your help.

 

thanks

 

tom

 

 

[croftonaviation]

Part 2

 

 

[croftonaviation]

Last part, let me know if any other photos are needed and I’ll get them taken.

 

again, thanks

 

tom

[croftonaviation]

Here are a few closeups of the scabbard.

 

just a thought. Could this have been late enough in the war that the latch was omitted, yet you would still want to present a Japanese Officer with a nice looking sword, hence the plug and the filler in the handle?

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Tom!  Yes, a Showa stamp.  Sadly, for me!, most of these aren't dated.  I have dated examples from 1935-42, and '45.  But most of them are in 1940, '41.  I believe they are an inspection mark of approved, quality, showato by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association.

 

Very interesting on the fuchi.  Seems the chuso (latch) was removed and a plug put in it's place.  To me, this says the change in fittings was done during the war.  Possibly the original saya (scabbard) was damaged and the wooden saya with leather cover was it's replacement. 

[Dave R]

 If you have ever worn a sword for any length of time (reenactor here) they lose a lot of their charm as a fashion accessory. The metal scabbard weighs more than the sword. Any sensible officer going to war would happily swap out the metal scabbard for a wood and leather one. British officers from the 1820's were buying their swords with both scabbards, wood and leather field and metal parade and the boxes and bags they came in were fitted out for both. A bit different in Japan, but I find nothing odd about a sword fitted out for war with a wooden scabbard, but having the potential for a metal parade scabbard when needed.

[Ulrichrudel]

Beautiful sword, would sit nicely in any Ww2 collection 

[Smee78]

Looks like a real nice piece, I would be proud to add that sword to my collection. It is real clean looking and appears to of been well taken care of.