Type 98 Shin Gunto - Navy arsenal blade

[Whitecap]

I have seen an Army Shin Gunto and the blade is marked to the Toyakawa Navy Arsenal. My question is how common was it for Army swords to be fitted with blades from a Navy arsenal?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Richie

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Richie, do you have photos of the sword? It is pretty uncommon but not unheard of.

[Whitecap]

Thanks for reply, hope this picture is clear enough.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

I have seen it, too, but like John said, not common.  More common is to see Seki stamped blades in kaigunto fittings.

 

I have to say - that must be a record: 16 seppa!

 

Anyone translate the mei?  Is it Takeyoshi?

[John C]

I think the note says Takeyasu. I have seen that handwriting before, though I cannot remember where.

Yes. A record for seppa in order to make it fit!

John C.

[John C]

5 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

stamped blades

It would be interesting to see if this Takeyasu is double stamped.

John C.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Unless they all have matching numbers, the amount of Seppa is rather suspicious.....

[Bruce Pennington]

9 minutes ago, John C said:

Takeyasu.

Thanks John!  I see it now.

 

I only see one anchor and it has the standard tips.

[Whitecap]

Thanks for the replies and yes was interested in the number of Seppa's (still a newbie to collecting Japanese swords but this seemed a large number compared to what I have seen before). Will probably pass on this one.

 

Thanks again for your quick feedback.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here is a Toyosuke, stainless, anchor-stamped in army fittings.  Posted by MactheWhopper:

[PNSSHOGUN]

That looks a little suspect as well, early Type 94 Tsuba with rewrapped handle (maybe new samegawa).

[BANGBANGSAN]

Way too many Seppas...

[Jcstroud]

On 4/21/2023 at 8:54 AM, Whitecap said:

Thanks for reply, hope this picture is clear enough.

 

This koshirai could not be original because the tsuka has 2 holes and nakago only one. Not to mention : the seppamania required to make it all fit.Takeyasu is among a list of souvenir swordsmiths that made swords for sale at Tokyo Px

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, Jcstroud said:

Takeyasu is among a list of souvenir swordsmiths that made swords for sale at Tokyo Px

Good point, John.  I only had 1 Takeyasu on file and it's in souvenir fittings.

[John C]

On 4/22/2023 at 8:24 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Good point, John.  I only had 1 Takeyasu on file and it's in souvenir fittings.

May be of interest - a Takeyasu in Kai gunto fittings. Note the really large assembly number.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305147883374?hash=item470c3b2f6e:g:5HwAAOSwA71kGKm7&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwAJyVVdat78P%2FLcavGGqQTkzxcEDU41MoweMIg6Dpu4FZrDWR5rnOEQm0wJZoG8HJ9KNIYRiLghXe22WlWCFvfyyy%2FVnNepTcF2qoH4HqWkVLG1LTJZZzuW4TquCYXI%2Bc%2Bu98NsZzsA9bx51kl0%2BSg3E9wVVGomN5w1GWg6bnMKUw6MoePJ4ZTEqv05HKZxB%2F12C73iV5dZ8Zcmt5CX05C%2FO2ftLwpA0m0K4El3fOe%2BY%2BwUt15lxoXZ9CcE03WqrmA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5bTtbLaYg

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

I would take this as evidence that the smith had been making blades during the war, and then worked with Tenshozan  after the war.  It has been my experience that the large numbers are seen on wartime blades.

[Jcstroud]

690969096 weird am I reading this right seems almost like secret message code?

[Kiipu]

I don't think it is a 6 per se.  Note the 909 is in kanji while the "6" is not.  Usually they used a character prefix and this is what it could be.  Could be the 6th set of the series?  Very unusual whatever it means.  Now, lets get back to Toyosuke, the man, the myth, and the legend?

[Jcstroud]

Devil blade in disguise.

[Jcstroud]

Found another Takeyasu very similar with curious numbering also

[Bruce Pennington]

To Richard's original question, here's a Tenshozan Forging Shop, stainless blade in full Army fittings:

WW2 Japanese Naval Officers Sword. Nice Markings on the Tang. However, slight damage to the blade (the-saleroom.com)