Arsenal Stamps.

[Kiipu]

On 11/22/2022 at 6:02 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

We now have 3 of his, and all 3 were numbered like this, above the mei:

Feb 1943 267

 

This sword has a small 関 inspection stamp and this could have a bearing on the numbers that are being seen.

Last ditch Naval Rinji

[Bruce Pennington]

10 hours ago, Kiipu said:

This sword has a small 関 inspection stamp and this could have a bearing on the numbers that are being seen.

Are you saying that the numbering, and location, might have been done by Nagoya Arsenal inspectors?

[Kiipu]

Depends if the other Takamasa 高正 blades also have a small Seki 関 stamp.

[Bruce Pennington]

20 hours ago, Kiipu said:

Depends if the other Takamasa 高正 blades also have a small Seki 関 stamp

I don't see any on the other 2, however I found a Takamasa, Jan '44, posted by @markc with Na stamps, HERE.  No mention of numbers, and not enough of the nakago shown to see.

[vajo]

 

ebay offer from japan (tokyo) i think it is interesting.

Worldwar2 original imperial japanese army koshirae for type95 military sword 2 | eBay

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

40 minutes ago, vajo said:

 

ebay offer from japan (tokyo) i think it is interesting.

That's the most pristine Iijima stamp I've ever seen!  That's going to replace the one I have in the Stamps doc, in the next revision.

[John C]

@Bruce Pennington

Bruce:

Here is another hot stamp. Very difficult to read. But I think it may be a Masahide based on the shape. 

The sword has all manner of horimono and stylistic writing.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114468413750?hash=item1aa6d96136:g:b6IAAOSwgn5fiv-E&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsIpIHHDoC4ujtsvG1TncUEK9cgWSpTH7KsTxUUZkonGR1rQuyjUeRFlfNuE28ZbVdq64eGSkYTvUAcSFUAz9bMg6nJj3lW6jGMaMer6rSkyRfcpcx06L1zKlujcx9ID6OgvEHz%2FqteItvp0oPXAWxzdrehH%2FjDbTpV8UdqN7%2FOpci2SNlNp9PdOvGphlBcrQLKimiaa3OYoQIOlMA%2BJnrvXgZK5MmUOx1wLPP6tg9Kyx|tkp%3ABk9SR_Tn0IicYQ

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

Good one, John, thanks!  Masahide, Feb 1805. One of the few smiths (only found 2 so far - Masahide and Sadatsugu) that use both kakihan and kokuin.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Can't recall seeing this stamp on Koshirae before: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/l1075151392

 

[Bruce Pennington]

6 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Can't recall seeing this stamp on Koshirae before

Your right! 

@BANGBANGSAN Isn't this one you were discussing recently? It has that "fan" shaped kanji.

[george trotter]

Bruce,

I think that is the first kanji of the name KOBE. There was a sword merchant shop in Yotsuya, Tokyo, owned by Kobe Kazuyuki (not sure of the personal name reading). The kanji KO is the same as the kanji inside your stamp.

I'm sorry that my scanner isn't working or I'd copy their article/advert from the 1942 book "Dai Nihon Token Shoko Meikan" pp.86-87. The shop advert does not show your stamp as a logo, but who knows.

If someone has this book maybe they can post it here for you, with a few words of explanation. While the shop name's first kanji is the same as your stamp, it does not guarantee that your stamp is their trademark, but maybe yes....

Regards.

[BANGBANGSAN]

@PNSSHOGUN  @Bruce Pennington

That's one version mark of 神户商店(Kobe Shoten),yes ,the one making Type 95 fitting. Here are some photos of the mark they used on Gunto.

 

[george trotter]

Yes, that is the one I was speaking about Trystan. Well done.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ditto!  Bing!  Thanks guys!

[Kiipu]

FYI, old versus new, same meaning.

神 = 神.

[Bruce Pennington]

On 12/11/2022 at 1:18 PM, BANGBANGSAN said:

That's one version mark of 神户商店(Kobe Shoten),yes ,the one making Type 95 fitting. Here are some photos of the mark they used on Gunto.

Trystan,

I'm working up a section in the Stamps Doc for these Kobe stamps.  So, to be clear, you believe all 3 of these to be from Kobe Shoten?  Adding to my problem, in my head, is the "K" in sakura and, what we believe, the "Ichi" in sakura.  Are we saying that these 2 are also of Kobe Shoten?  And my final issue is of the "S" in diamond of Kobe Steel Works ...... same company?  If all the same, or related, I'll put them all together in their own section.

[John C]

12 hours ago, Kiipu said:

FYI, old versus new, same meaning.

神 = 神.

Funny. I've seen the newer kanji on fake swords. I wondered what it meant.

John C.

[Stegel]

Here's another strange one, i assume it was respectfully made by (a Navy Koshirae maker??)

Does it read from right to left??

It doesn't look like it would be for a Rinji Spec sword (Type 100 / 0 / 3 / Pattern 44 / NLF  etc etc), as there is no provision for a locking latch. More likely for a Type 97 IMO.

I can't read it and am hoping one of you guys could give a translation.

Thanks!

[Bugyotsuji]

3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Trystan,

I'm working up a section in the Stamps Doc for these Kobe stamps.  So, to be clear, you believe all 3 of these to be from Kobe Shoten?  Adding to my problem, in my head, is the "K" in sakura and, what we believe, the "Ichi" in sakura.  Are we saying that these 2 are also of Kobe Shoten?  And my final issue is of the "S" in diamond of Kobe Steel Works ...... same company?  If all the same, or related, I'll put them all together in their own section.

Kobe Seikōsho still there today. https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/神戸製鋼所

Kobe and IKKO 

神戸一幸 as it says on Trystan’s ad.

 

I see enough of “K, S and I” there already to tie these together. Would need double-checking though. 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

6 hours ago, Stegel said:

Does it read from right to left??

It definitely was written right to left.  The last two are "tsukuru kore" which means "caredully, or respectfully, made this" but I don't know the smith name.   Waiting for @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN or @SteveM for that.

[Kiipu]

10 hours ago, Stegel said:

Does it read from right to left? I can't read it and am hoping one of you guys could give a translation.

 

The characters 馬嶋信之 read from right to left.  This very same tsuba came up recently via @John C.  Just a thought, based upon the placement of the characters, it could be the owner's name.

Tsuba mei translation

[Bruce Pennington]

23 minutes ago, Kiipu said:

Just a thought, based upon the placement of the characters, it could be the owner's name.

Tactfully done, Thomas.  You could have said “Bruce, please stop trying to translate things!” Ha!

[BANGBANGSAN]

14 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Trystan,

I'm working up a section in the Stamps Doc for these Kobe stamps.  So, to be clear, you believe all 3 of these to be from Kobe Shoten?  Adding to my problem, in my head, is the "K" in sakura and, what we believe, the "Ichi" in sakura.  Are we saying that these 2 are also of Kobe Shoten?  And my final issue is of the "S" in diamond of Kobe Steel Works ...... same company?  If all the same, or related, I'll put them all together in their own section.

神户製鋼所 is one of the factory who make Type 90 helmets

 

[fit4life]

Hello, I have been given great analysis and opinions on this stamp but wondering what this thread has to say about it. TY, James

[DTM72]

@fit4life

For clarity, please show where the mystery stamp is in relation to the mei. your other post shows it well.

 

This was posted to your original thread. Help identify writing and info on sword

[EMR516]

Just wanted to add my Nagamitsu RJT Type 3 for the records! (If anyone can translate the wooden tag that would be fantastic!) 

#2352 

Ichi-Ryu-Shi-Saku Mei 

26 & 1/4”inches Guard to Tip

38 & 1/2” inches overall w/ Scabbard 

7mm Thick Mune

30.22mm Wide at the base, 23.78mm wide at center, 20.32mm at the Yokote. 
45mm from the Tip to Yokote. 

Previously I thought the stamp was Noshu Nihonto Tanrenio, but I realize now it is not. 
 

 

 

[EMR516]

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Evan!  Nice Rinji seishiki!  Nagamitsu made some good looking blades, for sure.  And you're right, that stamp is the "Saka" of the Osaka Army Arsenal.  

 

I've added yours to the survey and files, thanks again.

 

We'll need @SteveM @Kiipu or @BANGBANGSAN for the surrender tag.

[Bruce Pennington]

On 11/16/2022 at 8:15 PM, robinalexander said:

Hi Thomas, blade number 4042.  No other marking on tang or mune.

 

十五 so you think it could be 15 ?

 

I have no idea at all but I will throw this is  just in case it means something to someone .... 10 + No/Yuki ? 

 

Rob

 

On 11/16/2022 at 10:21 PM, Stegel said:

It's a shame the mounting hole is so close, so as to make ID harder.

I have an early type 95 with these stamps instead of the W,  and also, some similar scratched numbers on the tang.

 

So, the plot thickens!  Thanks to @John C, we have a third, "97".  But the interesting thing is that it's on a blade in Type 94 fittings.  

For a while, I couldn't remember what thread I had seen similar numbers, but I figured it out.  It's the same style crude numbering as the two posted by @robinalexander and @Stegel.  But theirs are Type 95 coppers.  After Stegel pointed out the offset machi:

I realized we are likely seeing a private purchase NCO blade, by an officer, during the severe sword shortage of the transition from the kyugunto to the Type 94.  The WWI styled sword knot fits the timeframe as well.  The 3 blades were probably made by the same shop (Suya Shoten?) or arsenal team, hence the numbering.  The rest of the blade fits a 95 blade with bohi and tempering, but no real hamon.  At first, I thought we were seeing a zoheito, but with the offset machi, I'm convinced it's from the Type 95 team.

 

[BANGBANGSAN]

10 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

 

 

We'll need @SteveM @Kiipu or @BANGBANGSAN for the surrender tag.

It looks like 松本隊 連/運 緣x