Newby Perplexed by Type 95 NCO Sword

[Lookin4answers]

Forgive me, I'm a newby to this forum and hope I don't cross any lines or violate any rules. I have what appears to be a Type 95 NCO sword that was obtained from a retired US NCO in about 1970. He said he had personally brought it back from Japan after the war. I've been reading the posts in this forum and have gleaned some insight into the history of these swords and their manufacture, however, in looking at the sword I have, I am confused. The fuchi has an Iijima makers mark, a Tokyo arsenal stamp, and a Kokura arsenal identification stamp. The tsuka appears to be aluminum, but does not have a second hole or retaining screw, and appears to be retained only by the nut and bolt (both notched) that the sarute is inserted into. You will note that there appears to be a round flat spot in the "pebbling" of the second full diamond between the "wraps" on both sides of the tsuka. They're not filled in, but look like a possible modification in the casting. The numbers on the blade and scabbard do not match, so the scabbard is not the original item that went with this blade. I don't have any idea what clue the serial number (93458) on the blade gives in regard to it's manufacture date. The blade and scabbard are in pretty good condition and fit together very well, although with all of them being machine manufactured I'm sure this is to be expected . I'm also interested in trying to determine if the portepee is original. It came with and has been attached to the sword for the 50 years it has been in my possession and has been kept in a decent protected environment, so it's still in very good shape. I'm reaching the point where I need to become more informed about my collected items since my wife and kids have shown very little interest in them and they'll ultimately have to be sold. Any thoughts on this sword would be appreciated. Thanks for any information anyone can provide.

[Kiipu]

18 hours ago, Lookin4answers said:

The tsuka appears to be aluminum, but does not have a second hole or retaining screw, and appears to be retained only by the nut and bolt (both notched) that the sarute is inserted into.

 

The handle is a replacement part that an armorer/armourer would have at the divisional level and above.  While this part is not common, they do occasionally make an appearance.  As you can see, the spare part is not drilled for the mekugi.  The area that is not pebbled indicates the approximate position of the mekugi.

 

It is likely your sword was damaged while in service and the armourer had to replace the handle.  The most common damage to Type 95s was as follows.

Dent/bent scabbard (26.97).

Scabbard tip wear & tear (13.48)

Blade bent (11.24)

Scabbard throat screw lost (10.11)

Hilt grommet screw worn-out (8.98)

Hilt grommet screw lost (8.98)

 

By far the best source of information about the Type 95 is via the late Nick Komiya.

Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto

[Lookin4answers]

I never would have recognized that as a possible explanation. Thank you very much for the reply and reference.

[Kolekt-To]

If the tassel/portepee has been attached for 50+ years, it is probably original. I don't believe that reproduction tassels were being produced back then. These tassels were probably readily available during the post-war years (and demand was probably not high - soldiers wanting souvenirs were more focused on the sword itself, not the tassels), so repros were probably not a thing. Today, the situation is quite different - original NCO tassels are rare, and they are expensive to purchase. An original NCO tassel in decent shape can sell for well over $300.00 USD, currently. Repro tassels are available and, obviously, cost a fraction of an original. I will also say that it is unusual to find a Type 95 with its tassel attached - normally, the tassel is missing and, if you want one for your sword, you have to hunt for them and/or be patient while you await one to surface on the market. I've seen a huge demand for these things - when they go to auction on eBay, it's like a shark feeding frenzy with intense competition among potential buyers that ensures the sold price will be high.

[Lookin4answers]

On 3/3/2024 at 11:26 AM, Kolekt-To said:

If the tassel/portepee has been attached for 50+ years, it is probably original. I don't believe that reproduction tassels were being produced back then. These tassels were probably readily available during the post-war years (and demand was probably not high - soldiers wanting souvenirs were more focused on the sword itself, not the tassels), so repros were probably not a thing. Today, the situation is quite different - original NCO tassels are rare, and they are expensive to purchase. An original NCO tassel in decent shape can sell for well over $300.00 USD, currently. Repro tassels are available and, obviously, cost a fraction of an original. I will also say that it is unusual to find a Type 95 with its tassel attached - normally, the tassel is missing and, if you want one for your sword, you have to hunt for them and/or be patient while you await one to surface on the market. I've seen a huge demand for these things - when they go to auction on eBay, it's like a shark feeding frenzy with intense competition among potential buyers that ensures the sold price will be high.

I definitely believe the Portepee to be original. The guy who originally owned the sword was a retired Sergeant needing medical care at Madigan Medical Center in about 1970 where my father worked as part of the medical corps and made his acquaintance. The Sergeant fought in the island campaigns and personally took the sword as a trophy. I got to meet the guy and hear some of his stories. One of the many true heroes of that generation. He just brought the sword back and stuck it in a closet. I'm 99.9% sure he didn't modify the sword in any way, including the portepee. I'm now liquidating some of the swords I have in my possession because frankly, my kids don't have the interest and I'd rather see them go to someone who can appreciate them. Seeing Kolekt-To's comments above regarding the relative rarity of the portepee's, I may have to re-think my pricing of the above sword, or sell it as a separate item. Thank you for the information.