John C Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 Here is the link to the completed auction. https://www.ebay.com/itm/226567130030 John C. 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 7 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: I saw that, but was hesitant to log it as I really couldn't make it out. The closest it could be is a katakana SO. The tsuba also has a 63. More than likely it is a subassembly number. ソ63 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 5 Report Posted February 5 Thanks John! For some reason, the number is more clear on the full nakago shot. I agree Thomas, the marks look like "SO" katakana. I have seen katakana + number on seppa and fittings, but I think this is the first one I've seen on a nakago, on a mumei Navy blade, that is. I was wondering if it could be something in line with the Army practice, but the "So" isn't identified with a prefecture, yet, and with the blade being mumei, we can't even go by the prefecture of the smith. It's stainless, so either Takayama, Tenshozan, or Seki. And we don't have kana tied to those areas. So, likely the fittings shop, like you said. Update: After filing this, I found a good number of mumei stainless blades with numbers in the file and one, posted by @robinalexander had a ワ 119. The rest were just numbers, but even that showed some variety in stamping method. So, still likely done by the shops rather than the arsenal/forge. Quote
John C Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 @Bruce Pennington I know you have this in the stamp doc already, however I thought you might like another link to one. The bottom mark may be a bit more clear in this one. John C. https://www.ebay.com/itm/305777529373? 1 Quote
Conway S Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 The bottom mark is an anchor within sakura. More examples posted on page 47 of this thread. Conway 1 Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 @Bruce Pennington Encircled カ from Kanemune。NO photo of the other side. 1 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 12 hours ago, John C said: ruce Pennington I know you have this in the stamp doc already, however I thought you might like another link to one. Thanks John, I do like to file examples as we find them. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 41 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said: Encircled カ from Kanemune。 That's a new one for the "Unknown" files! Quote
Conway S Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 On 2/4/2025 at 9:27 AM, Bruce Pennington said: Thanks John and Thomas. That single digit numbering, which can be alone or followed by another number is a mystery. They are on blades from all over the place, so it doesn't appear to be the practice of a particular arsenal. They are mostly Army, but I have three kaigunto with such a number too. Posting what I have. Other than the dated blades, they are not listed in a particular order: 1942, Jun Kanenori (RJT) – Gifu Na Ho 1 on mune 1942, Dec Tenshozan Tanrenjo 1 on mune Michaelr, NMB, kai 1942, Mar Norisada (RJT) – Fukuoka Na Ho 1 on mune Leen, NMB 1942, May Norisada (pre-RJT) – Fukuoka Na Ho 3 on mune K. Elliott, NMB 1942, Apr Masakazu (RJT) – Fukushima 1129; “1” on mune George Trotter, RS, tsuba/seppa ニ1129 1943, Jun Sadakatsu (RJT) – Osaka 1阪 on mune Star Ed Hicks, NMB, RS 1943, Aug Hiromasa (RJT) – Ehime Yama Ho 2 on mune Itomagoi, NMB RS 1945 Okimitsu 江江1 Bangbangsan, NMB, Kai ND Masayasu – Aichi 2 55 on mune Conway S, NMB, Kai ND Nagamitsu – Osaka 1阪3490 mune VajS,NMB, RS ND Nagamitsu – Osaka 1阪3991 mune mauser99; NMB ND Mumei 2 95 on mune Unleasedndest, Gunboards ND Mumei 1 100 on mune DTM72, NMB, RS ND Mumei 1 104 on mune Bangbangsan, NMB, RS ND Mumei 3 on mune Bangbangsan, NMB, RS ND Kiyomichi 1 66; stainless GunBB, Gunboards, Kai I can't argue with the guy's opinion of the blade, numbered "2 95" looking like a Nagamitsu, but the observed Nagamitsu with numbers all have a Saka stamp and a "1". Here's another "1" on the mune of a Taguchi Masatsugu along with the double "ho" stamps. Date is April (uzuki) 1943. No star stamp. 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 20 hours ago, Conway S said: Taguchi Masatsugu along with the double "ho" stamps. Date is April (uzuki) 1943. Thanks, Conway! Could I get photos of the mei and date for the file? Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted February 19 Report Posted February 19 On 2/11/2025 at 1:02 AM, Bruce Pennington said: That's a new one for the "Unknown" files! It could be the mark of Kuwantung Army Ordnance Branch Depot 1 1 Quote
John C Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 @Bruce Pennington A W stamp on a 1943 Takehisa. Note the matching numbers on the fittings and painted nakago all have the MA series letter. https://www.ebay.com/itm/276884042378? John C. 1 Quote
mecox Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 Shoshinshi Fukumoto Kanemune Saku 正資子福本兼宗作 he looks to have signed this way earlier in career 1 Quote
Scogg Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 Double Suya Stamp - on my recently acquired E&F Horster Type 19 Field Grade Kyu Gunto - dress saber. Cross posting here because I’m still excited to have found it Cheers, -Sam 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 Just now, Scogg said: I’m still excited to have found it How did you come across this sword, Sam, if you don't mind sharing? Quote
Scogg Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 36 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said: How did you come across this sword, Sam, if you don't mind sharing? Hi Bruce! I'd love to share the story, so here goes nothin'! Sorry, but I suffer from being a long winded storyteller On January 26th, I flew home from the Vegas Sword Show, and promptly jumped in my car to attend a local Militaria show. There's a local group in Portland, called "Oregon Arms Collectors", and they host Militaria sale shows about once a month at the Armory. On January 26th, the theme was "Arms of Japan", so I didn't want to miss it. I often attend these shows and "treasure hunt" for items that spark my interest, or fit my collection. Funny enough, there were more Type 95s to catalog at the Portland show than there were at the Vegas arms fair . At the Jan26th Porltand show, I encountered the Parade Saber. I was initially put-off by it's straight blade and double fuller, but intrigued nonetheless. When I got home, I promptly opened my Dawsons cyclopedia, found the closest matching parade saber I could find (E&F Horster), and posted my questions on NMB. You and Conway were the first to reply and help me identify what I was seeing. So, I then had to wait until the next Militaria show, and HOPE, that the saber was there and still available. Thankfully it was! So I bought it, along with some cool wartime Japanese magazines. I have no intentions on parting with it, because I think it's about the coolest parade saber I'll likely ever find "in the wild". Cheers, -Sam http://www.oregonarm...s.com/gun-shows.html 1 Quote
Conway S Posted Wednesday at 02:13 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 02:13 AM I came across a stamp that resembles 壽 "su" on the ricasso of a Type 32. It's larger than most inspector's stamps occasionally encountered on Type 32 blades and reminiscent of those found on Type 25s. I am curious if this is just an inspector's mark or if it may indicate Suya Shoten made Type 32s. I have not read anything about Suya's involvement with Type 32s. Thanks! @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN @Bruce Pennington Conway Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted Wednesday at 02:33 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 02:33 AM Since Suya exported 900 swords to Great Qing Imperial dynasty of China(大清帝國） that were similar to Type 32 in June 1906, it is possible that they were also involved in Type 32 production, but there is no evidence to support this. 3 Quote
John C Posted Wednesday at 05:29 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 05:29 AM @Conway S @BANGBANGSAN Could it be the first name Hisashi? John C. Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted Wednesday at 11:03 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 11:03 AM 5 hours ago, John C said: @Conway S @BANGBANGSAN Could it be the first name Hisashi? John C. It could also be an inspection team mark ,similar to those on the Type 30 bayonet.I think they often use an abbreviation of the location of the team or the team leader's family name . If that's the case, I have no idea what the abbreviation would be. There are quite a few family names that include "寿." Here are a few examples: 寿田 (Suda), 寿崎 (Suzaki), 寿松 (Sumatsu), 寿山 (Suyama), 寿川 (Sugawa), 寿本 (Sumoto), 寿野 (Suno), and 寿藤 (Sutō). 1 1 Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted Wednesday at 11:09 AM Report Posted Wednesday at 11:09 AM 8 hours ago, Conway S said: I came across a stamp that resembles 壽 "su" on the ricasso of a Type 32. It's larger than most inspector's stamps occasionally encountered on Type 32 blades and reminiscent of those found on Type 25s. I am curious if this is just an inspector's mark or if it may indicate Suya Shoten made Type 32s. I have not read anything about Suya's involvement with Type 32s. Thanks! @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN @Bruce Pennington Conway From my observation, some Type 32 swords not only have the "寿" mark but also "寿" + "検" (Inspection). Does this mean "inspected by Suya"? I'm not sure. 1 Quote
Conway S Posted Wednesday at 01:59 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 01:59 PM There is another example in this post: I have seen 検 on the scabbard drag before. Like I said, this over-sized stamp just stuck out because the normal inspection stamps on the ricasso are normally very small. Conway Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted Wednesday at 02:39 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 02:39 PM That's all out of my league, but enjoying the conversation! And I hadn't noticed such stamps on 32s before, so glad you've brought it up. It's interesting to see the broad variation in stamping as Japan adopted western styled swords, initially, and how it narrowed down considerably as the military started standardizing things during WWII. Quote
John C Posted Wednesday at 03:15 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 03:15 PM 4 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said: inspection team mark Thank you for the info, Trystan (and Conway). I had considered location abbreviation, but not in reference to a team. It gives me another angle to pursue, however the constraints of not speaking Japanese becomes a persistent roadblock. John C. 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted Wednesday at 04:25 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 04:25 PM 14 hours ago, Conway S said: It's larger than most inspector's stamps occasionally encountered on Type 32 blades .... I have noticed small inspection marks on that side of the Type 32 blade; however, they are usually centered on the blade and not off to the side like yours. What model is your Type 32, 甲 or 乙? 甲 Blade Length: 832mm 32.75”. 乙 Blade length: 774mm 30.5”. Quote
Conway S Posted Wednesday at 04:42 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 04:42 PM It’s for sale now, I just stumbled across it. Based on the seller’s description it is an Otsu. Conway 1 Quote
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