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On 4/26/2021 at 8:40 AM, BANGBANGSAN said:

This Kai Gunto looks like has rocking star mark on the tang

 

Help!  Is that a Takayama blade with that blunt tip?  Also the longer than normal tang that is seen on these as well.

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54 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

It is the rocking star stamp. We figured that out sometime ago. The curious question about the blade, though, was, could it possibly be a takayama-to.

It certainly has the characteristics of one and toyokawa inspector approved.but appears to have been rerouted to Tenshozan...but that is just a guess. Based on the koshirai and also a trace of green paint.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The September update of my "Stamps of the Japanese Sword" is available for free download HERE.

 

Update includes:


Navy Unknown Inspector stamps: The "Inaba" stamp may be an inspector stamp from the Inaba Tanrenjo in Noshu; and the "KA" stamp may be an inspector from Kamakura, location of Tenshozan.


Kakihan
-- Regrouped Sadakazu & son Sadakatsu & his son Sadamitsu
-- Added a kao by swordsmith "SA" from the 13-1400's
-- Grouped Yasuhiro who also signed as Moritaka, plus a Moritaka with a different kao
-- Grouped Masahide examples of kakihan, kokuin, and both


Added to Cut Test Kao a section showing the stamped "Cut Test by Hakudo" on Yoshichika blades


Stamped Numbers Map: added newly discovered kanji for Saitama prefecture


Koshirae Unknowns: Added small star on seppa


Type 19 Unknowns: Added a 7th shop stamp
 

Enjoy!

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Quote

According to Ohmura, previously, the switch from Seki to Sho-in-the-cherry stamp was assumed to have occurred in late 1942, based on memoirs of the chief of the army's Sekiwake Arsenal and a book on Seki city's history. It was this Sekiwake Arsenal that now used the 関 stamp to represent 関分 (Sekiwake), forcing the sword industry in Seki City to change their quality test stamp to the Showa stamp.

 

However, discovery of a blade with a 1939 date and Showa stamp prompted him to reinvestigate. This led to the discovery of a 1940 Seki city publication, which said "Blades that passed thorough testing conducted by the Seki Blades Industrial Association are stamped with a mark of "昭" from Showa within a cherry blossom and have won reputations as blades of incomparable quality."

 

This is consistent with the confirmed use of the Showa stamp already as early as 1939. However, no documents have yet surfaced from the Seki Blades Association itself that officially gives the account of why and when this stamping change occurred.

 

2018-11-21 Nick Komiya

Help needed : fake emergency issue kai gunto?

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8 minutes ago, Kiipu said:

Seki Blades Industrial Association

I suppose that was Ohmura's terms for the Association.  I wonder if it was one-and-the-same as the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association?  Wish Nick was around to ask that of him.  Perhaps you, Thomas, can compare the Japanese Ohmura used to see if they are the same?

 

The 1939 date he mentions aligns with survey data that actually shows observed stamps in 1935, 1937, 1938 and 1939.

12 minutes ago, Kiipu said:

Sekiwake Arsenal

Safe to assume this was a branch office of Nagoya Army Arsenal?  Or was it a totally unique operation?

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6 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

... compare the Japanese Ohmura used to see if they are the same?

 

One and the same, just translated differently.

関刃物工業組合 Seki Cutlery Manufacturers’ Society.

 

6 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Safe to assume this was a branch office of Nagoya Army Arsenal?

 

Yes, a part of Nagoya Arsenal.  It is an abbreviation or shorthand for below.

関分 = 関分工場 = Seki Bun-Kōjō = Seki Branch Factory, [Atsuta Factory, Nagoya Army Arsenal].

 

The reason for bringing this to everyone's attention was to give credit where credit is due.  Nick translated the passage back in 2018 versus the later translation of 2022.

Arsenal Stamps.

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13 hours ago, Kiipu said:

Obviously a Chinese fake as Japanese craftsmanship is sooo perfecttttttt.

Good example of the Toyokawa anchor in sakura found on fittings, along with the Suya stamp.  

It's early, and my brain isn't fully spun-up yet, but you're joking about it being fake, right?  Sorry for being slow on the take.

 

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3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:
16 hours ago, Kiipu said:

craftsmanship is sooo perfecttttttt.

Good example of the Toyokawa anchor in sakura found on fittings, along with the Suya stamp.  

I thought the anchor stamps didnot appear till 1940 were these western style phased out by that time?

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1 hour ago, John C said:

e Pennington

Any idea on this partial stamp?

* a twinkle in my eye *  Ha!  You had me there for a while!  But I see it.  It's the right side of the Seki stamp:

 

 

Can I have a link, or photos of both sides of the nakago, with an overall fittings photo, too, for the files & chart?

 

Apartialseki.thumb.jpg.4365e822b80e2eb82ff77bfa37e788f9.jpgScreenshot2023-10-05223949.png.a989d48329fff771e4a010813c00d2bc.png

Forgive my POOR photo editing skills!
 

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12 hours ago, John C said:

x above the Suya Shoten mark

It's not something that I've seen associated with Suya markings.  After looking at the whole fuchi, as well as the gunto, I'd say this thing has been banged around a lot.  There are many small dings, dots, and marks on it, like that blob by the Kokura stamp.  I'd write it off to multiple knocks and dings.

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