New to swords, picked up my first type 95 second pattern. How'd I do?

[GlennP]

Hello!
I'm brand new to swords, but couldn't resist this purchase of what I gather to be a 2nd pattern type 95 NCO sword.  From my research I think it's a Tokyo Arsenal blade with Iijima made fittings, is that correct?  Around what year range would this be in your opinions?  The numbers match on the scabbard, but they are punched faintly.  In my uneducated view I believe this to be original, but please chime in if you're thinking otherwise.  I paid $1,100 USD for it which seems to not be a steal by any stretch of the imagination but probably in line from what I'm seeing online.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you folks all have on this piece.  Thank you!

[lonely panet]

Is that Australia or US dollars 

[GlennP]

Just now, lonely panet said:

Is that Australia or US dollars 

USD, sorry!

[Scogg]

Hi Glenn, welcome to the forum! Congrats on your sword purchase, I think these type 95s are ultra cool. 

I regularly see type 95s sell for between 800 and 1500 dollars on eBay - so I think you did maybe not GREAT, but pretty good . Especially having matching scabbard numbers.

 

Your fuchi has the Iijima stamp, the TO 東 stamp, and the four cannonball kokura stamp, and your blade also has the 東 stamp after the serial number. 
Your Type 95 is the "pattern 2" type - featuring the 9mm brass tsuba, copper fuchi, and aluminum cast handle. It appears yours is missing its sarute (but that's really no biggie). 

I cannot help you with a definitive specific date of manufacture - but I believe it was made between 1940 and 1945.
(the really early ones were made in the late 30s)

Cheers,
-Sam

[John C]

Glenn:

Agree with Sam. It's legit and you paid about what they are going for. Also as noted, the sarute is missing. It would be a brass wire type and would have a leather tassel. Tassels can be expensive for a legit one. One last note, you do not need to disassemble it. These were not signed by a smith. 

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

With the Kokura stacked cannon balls, the date would be no later than 1942, when they stopped being the overall supervising arsenal.  I think Ohmura said 1940, but I recall reading it was '42, not sure on that.   

 

@Kiipu or @BANGBANGSAN could narrow that date down closer for you.

[BANGBANGSAN]

They switch to the Tokyo first star mark from March 1940.

 

 

[Scogg]

4 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

They switch to the Tokyo first star mark from March 1940.

Thank you Trystan, that's very helpful and interesting. 

Does that mean every Type95 sword with the 4 cannonball Kokura stamp, was made prior to March 1940?

[BANGBANGSAN]

3 hours ago, Scogg said:

Thank you Trystan, that's very helpful and interesting. 

Does that mean every Type95 sword with the 4 cannonball Kokura stamp, was made prior to March 1940?

  The Tokyo Artillery Arsenal 東京砲兵工廠 (Koishikawa Army factory 小石川陸軍工廠) used the same cannonball mark as the Kokura Army Arsenal(小倉陸軍造兵廠）. The Koishikawa Army factory began operations in 1871, and on October 10, 1879, it was officially established as the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal by Army Ministry Order No. 74. On April 1, 1923, the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal merged with the Osaka Artillery Arsenal(大阪砲兵工廠)and was renamed the Army Ordnance Arsenal Tokyo Factory（陸軍造兵廠東京工廠）.The Osaka Artillery Arsenal was renamed the Army Ordnance Arsenal Munitions Factory(陸軍造兵廠火工廠).

  On September 1, 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake(関東大震災) caused severe damage to the factory. Since the full-scale restoration of the Koishikawa facility required enormous costs, a decision was made to consolidate its functions and gradually transfer them to the Kokura Ordnance Manufacturing Plant(小倉兵器製造所 ), which was directly managed by the Chief of the Army Ordnance Arsenal. The relocation process began in 1931. In October 1933, the Kokura Ordnance Manufacturing Plant was upgraded to Kokura Army Arsenal( 小倉陸軍造兵廠), with additional facilities for weapons manufacturing(兵器製造所) artillery equipment production(砲具製造所) and shell manufacturing(砲弾製造所). During this period, the Kokura Arsenal also used its cannonball mark.

  By October 1935, the relocation of the Tokyo Arsenal to the Kokura Arsenal was fully completed, marking the end of the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal’s 66-year history.

  Although the Type 95 NCO sword was finalized in 1935, it remained under refinement and was not mass-produced until 1937. As a result, the Type 95 swords bearing the Kokura cannonball mark were produced between 1937 and 1940.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

That was fabulous, Trystan, thanks!  I saved that to my files.  Maybe I can get that date right from now on!

[Scogg]

Much appreciated Trystan, that really helps me wrap my head around this. 

Amazing that so many swords were made prior to March 1940. A good chunk of the 95's I encounter bear the Kokura Cannonballs

I cannot express how much I appreciate your and Thomas's help (Kiipu).
I've learned a lot really fast, and I am still digesting it all.
I owe you guys one!
-Sam

[Kiipu]

The information that Trystan has provided above is about the history of the arsenal.  As for the change that occurred in Type 95 arsenal jurisdictions, see Komiya sensei's post below.

Short Development History of Type 95 Gunto

[Bruce Pennington]

And that would explain why my brain has been carrying around both numbers, 1940 & 1942!  I think I will default back to '42 after reviewing Nick's post and chart page, which I'll post below:

 

"Further on details of interest to collectors, I understood from Stu W's article that there were unknown markings. Production statistics information often help in clarifying such points, so I show you an excerpt of production capacity projections for March and September 1942. You will see a supplier called Mizuno , who is not included in Stu W's thread. They only produced for a few months in 1942 before getting sacked. They had a logo consisting of the character 水 in a hexagon.

Also of note is the switching in arsenal jurisdictions that occurred in Sept. 1942, which would have changed markings, too."