Help identifying my first type 98

[JohnWB]

I have been wanting to start collecting Shin Gunto for the last several years.  I ran across this sword at what I felt was a decent price, so now my collection has started.  Could anyone help provide me with any information you can about this sword?  This is not something I will be selling since anything I collect ends up never leaving lol.  Is this a traditionally made blade? Age? Maker? and any other info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.  It has a lacquered wood saya.  The habaki is a silver color, but wear spots show copper coloring underneath.  I have not seen many with a silver colored habaki, is this normal?  I can provide more pics of the sword or components if needed.  Thank you again.

 

John

[JohnWB]

Also, there appears to be some red rust on the top part of the tang above the pin hole.  Can I use blade oil on the tang to stop the rust as long as I only use it on the active rust or should I leave it alone?  This is on the signed side, not the painted side.

[Xander Chia]

Appears to be 義明, Yoshiaki. Possibly Mishina Yoshiaki? Would wait for someone more experienced and reliable to confirm this. Showa era. Are there any other stamps?

[Bruce Pennington]

Type 98 Japanese officer sword.  The silver colored habaki were not standard, but you see plenty of them around.  Probably an upgrade item.  

Here's what Sesko has on Yoshiaki:

"YOSHIAKI (義明), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshiaki” (義明), real name Mishina Naoichi (三品直市), born July 27th 1909, he worked as guntō smith and died February 5th 1989, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide)"

 

I'm no nihonto guy, so take this with a grain of salt - I don't see the common signs of oil quenching, so seems like this could be a traditionally made blade.  But the nihonto guys will have to check that out.

 

If you haven't already been there, Ohmura's site is a fabulous place to get to know the various sword types:

Military Swords of Imperial Japan (Guntō) (ohmura-study.net)

[JohnWB]

4 hours ago, Xander Chia said:

Appears to be 義明, Yoshiaki. Possibly Mishina Yoshiaki? Would wait for someone more experienced and reliable to confirm this. Showa era. Are there any other stamps?

Xander, Thank you for the translation!  There are no other stamps anywhere.

 

 

 

 

48 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Type 98 Japanese officer sword.  The silver colored habaki were not standard, but you see plenty of them around.  Probably an upgrade item.  

Here's what Sesko has on Yoshiaki:

"YOSHIAKI (義明), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshiaki” (義明), real name Mishina Naoichi (三品直市), born July 27th 1909, he worked as guntō smith and died February 5th 1989, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide)"

 

I'm no nihonto guy, so take this with a grain of salt - I don't see the common signs of oil quenching, so seems like this could be a traditionally made blade.  But the nihonto guys will have to check that out.

 

Bruce, Thank you for all the information! I have already been poking around on that site, lots of fantastically detailed information! Do you think I should repost this over in the Nihonto forum updated with the information on the maker?

 

 

Also, what is the significance of the painted side of the tang?  Sorry for all of the questions guys, I really appreciate all of the help!

[John C]

2 hours ago, JohnWB said:

Also, what is the significance of the painted side of the tang? 

Those numbers are commonly referred to as assembly numbers, however their exact usage isn't clear. Since each sword is individually made, they were probably used to keep individual parts organized. 

 

John C.

[vajo]

That Yoshiaki was a showa-to smith. 

 

It is not Mishina Yoshiaki.

This is Mishina Yoshiaki

 

Another.

 

 

Mishina Yoshiaki was a Gunto smith too. And ranked on the last dish of 7 tables.

 

Looking on your blade pictures i didn't see any gendai-to signs. The sloopy signature indicates more a non traditional blade signed from another person not from the smith. Its a typical showa-to in the lower range. Overall your sword is complete and in good condition. If you like it why not. 

[JohnWB]

@Bruce Pennington @vajo @John C 

All of you, I really appreciate the helpful information.  One last question.  I have read that tang should not be cleaned to preserve the patina, but on the side with the mei, can I use blade oil on the area of the tang between the peg-hole and the habaki to clean up the active rust?  I don't want to do something I shouldn't, but I also don't want to let it deteriorate from neglect.  Thoughts?

[Bruce Pennington]

Active rust - BAD

Old dark rust (patination) - Good

 

Yes, oil the nakago.  Stop the rust.  There are even ways to remove orange/active rust, like using a wooden/plastic hammer; or scraping with a cut deer antler (you can find these at pet stores - dog chewies).  Here's a good page on blade care: http://japaneseswordindex.com/care.htm

[vajo]

I'm on the no side oiling the nakago. Catch it with your bare hands often and the rust will stop in the future. The nakago will not damage from that little rust  

[Kiipu]

On 12/7/2023 at 5:34 AM, JohnWB said:

Also, what is the significance of the painted side of the tang?

 

The white painted characters look like 平二一七一 [Hira-2171].

[Bruce Pennington]

And they are, as far as we know, put there to match up the custom fitted parts during the production process.