Who was authorized to carry Type 95, Type 98/Kai-Gunto?

[Secondhandstuff]

In researching the type 95 sword, I’ve seen that most collectors agree that the highest serial numbers only run into the mid 300,000s. And that’s generally what I’ve seen looking around even on sold archives on various sites. It raises the question, who specifically was issued an NCO/allowed to carry a Gunto of any sort? I can imagine there were more sergeants of any specialty than swords available at any point during the production run. I guess to simplify, would it be limited to MPs, senior sergeants and the lower ranks in specific arms like infantry? Or say, could an army veterinarian be issued one as well? 

[Bruce Pennington]

Cullen, welcome to Gunto World!  

 

Dawson states (and he's quoting another author) that all NCOs and even some privates, depending on their duty assignment, were authorized to carry.  All Army and Navy officers carried.  As far as I know, there was no limit and all were expected to carry.  As a matter of pride and authority, they would have all wanted to, and did as far as I know.  Either Dawson or Fuller (might have been Fuller) ran some math at the end of their book and estimated that over 2 million swords were made/used during the war.  The Allied forces, alone, collected over 500,000.  

 

Additionally, the civil forces, the Gunzoku, carried.  

 

There was a considerable shortage for swords when they switched from Western-styled sabers back to the traditional styled Japanese swords.  That is why they made at least 2 big pushes to buy & collect donations of civil/family swords.