Munetoshi

[Leen]

Today I picked up a sword with hozon papers by Munetoshi. I thought I’d share, perhaps the numbering is interesting for @Bruce Pennington. No stamps or nothing, just the number 392.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thank you, Leen!  I know I'm weird, but I really do love these numbered blades!

 

Can you give me a close up of the number?  In 1941, they were stamped and read with the mune down and cutting edge up, so I THINK this is actually 769.  I only have one other of his on record, July 1941, #106, without star (I have 308, but no photo).  His star-stamped blades in '43 and '44, are stamped and read with the mune up and cutting edge down.

 

Quite a beautiful blade!

[Leen]

You might be quite right Bruce. I can make up the 7 and 6 but the 9 also looks like a 3

[Bruce Pennington]

Dang, Leen, now I can see you were right from the beginning.  It is one of those exceptions to the rule, and we have seen a small few exceptions pop up.

 

I checked a couple other "2"s on other blades and they were shaped this way.  The top curve is struck so lightly, it is barely visible, but it's there:

 

Here's another blade with a 2 for comparison.  It comes from a 1943 blade, and is oriented the 'standard' way for that year.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

After looking at the chart, again, you have bragging rights for owning one of the earliest WWII numbered blades.  Not THE earliest, but it's up there:

ND	Unknown	10 3	Civil, Murata-to
1941, Jul	Munetoshi (pre-RJT) – Niigata	106	Slough, RS
1941	Akihisa (pre-RJT) – Niigata	188 “1” on fittings	Michael67, NMB, T98RS
1941, Aug	Tsugukiyo (pre-RJT) – Kagawa	232	Bangbangsan, RS
1941, Sep	Akihisa (pre-RJT) – Niigata	249	Trotter Survey, no pics
1941, Sep	Munetoshi (pre-RJT) – Niigata	308	Trotter Survey, no pics
1941, Oct	Munetoshi (pre-RJT) – Niigata	392	Leen, NMB, RS
1941, Nov	Tomomaro (pre-RJT) – Nagano	470	Kotachi, NMB, RS
1941, Dec	Akihisa (pre-RJT) – Niigata	566	Windy, NMB, RS
1941, Dec	Tomomaro (pre-RJT) – Nagano	535	Tsuba, RS
1941, Dec	Tomomaro (pre-RJT) – Nagano	621	Ray Singer website RS

[David Flynn]

Munetoshi and his brother,  Akihisa, were both students of Shigetsugu.

I have one of each, both, don't have any stamps.

 

[Leen]

Ah it is an early one indeed, how nice. That’s what I love about this field …the exception to the rules 😁

[Kiipu]

I have another early Type 100 by Munetoshi 宗利, serial 394, that is dated October 1941.  Serial number is stamped in the same direction as yours.

[Bruce Pennington]

2 hours ago, Kiipu said:

I have another early Type 100 by Munetoshi 宗利, serial 394, that is dated October 1941.  Serial number is stamped in the same direction as yours.

@BANGBANGSAN

Thomas!  I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a [photo or link to this one] today! (anyone know who that quote I mis-used came from?!)

 

I don't have that one in the charts!

[John C]

 

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

(anyone know who that quote I mis-used came from?!

Wimpy, of course!

 

John C.

[george trotter]

Hi Bruce...Just saw your comment on not having a pic of Munetoshi tang number 308.

Here it is...this is my Type 98 mounted Munetoshi dated Sho 16 / 9 and tang tip numbered 308.

This is  before he went on to become a RJT.

Hope this helps.

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, george trotter said:

Hope this helps.

Certainly does, thanks George!

[Kiipu]

13 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I don't have that one in the charts!

 

宗利　３９４ = Munetoshi 394. [Serial number is upright versus upside down].

昭和十六年十 = 1941 October.

Arsenal Mark on RJT sword Fittings

[Bruce Pennington]

4 hours ago, Kiipu said:

宗利　３９４ = Munetoshi 394.

Thanks Thomas!  I had that one in the charts, but mislabeled as a 1944.  Here's the corrected chart for '41:

1941, Jul	Munetoshi	106	Bottom	RS
1941, Aug	Tsugukiyo	232	Bottom	RS
1941, Sep	Munetoshi	308	Bottom	RS in T98
1941, Oct	Munetoshi	392	Top	RS
1941, Oct	Munetoshi	394	Top	RS
1941, Nov	Tomomaro	470	Bottom	RS
1941, Dec	Akihisa	566	Bottom	RS
1941, Dec	Tomomaro	535	Bottom	RS
1941, Dec	Tomomaro	621	Bottom	RS

[Kiipu]

I prefer to see each side of the tang in separate columns.

[george trotter]

15 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Certainly does, thanks George!

forgot to add...all fittings on Munetoshi 308 are numbered '2'.