Type 97 Kai Gunto

[Michaelr]

Hello all and thank you in advance. I have attached pictures of a Type 97 Kai Gunto that I just purchased and am looking for any information about it that anyone would like to share. I believe the dated year is 1942 and it has the large anchor stamp from the Kamakura arsenal (?) which would make it a stainless steel blade. I tried to do my homework on the anchor stamp without the circle but couldn’t really find much information, so any discussion would be greatly appreciated. The blade is exactly 24” long, the Tsuba and all the seppa’s ( missing one) have matching numbers. If anyone needs any other information please feel free to ask. Thank you again.    MikeR

[Michaelr]

The res of the pictures

[Conway S]

Michael, 

 

It is signed 天照山 鍛錬場 作 -Tenshozan tanrenjo saku. Made at the Tenshozan forge. Lots of references on here. You're right about the year (December). Looks like a nice one. Congratulations on the purchase. It has an Army tassel attached to it.

 

Conway

[Conway S]

This is a great reference. If you go to the download tab of this site there is also a Part 2. But this article mentions the Kamakura stamp and Tenshozan workshop. 

 

Conway

[Michaelr]

Thank you very much for the quick response.    MikeR

[Bruce Pennington]

Refresh my memory - Why are we calling this anchor a "Kamakura stamp"?

[Michaelr]

Not sure Bruce, but I thought the anchor without the circle was the mark of the Kamakura Arsenal?

  MikeR

[Bruce Pennington]

Ok, right.  No, it's the Navy's inspector for the Tenshozan factory.  Simply called the Tenshozan stamp.  I can see how Kamakura gets into the discussion, though, as I believe the factory was located there.

[Michaelr]

Ok I see it now. Thank you Bruce

  MikeR