Shin Gunto

[CINDERS]

Would anyone like to decipher my Shin Gunto Mei some attempts have been made though not thoroughly the best was an approximate build date of 1944. TIA

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Interesting, I thought those were made on the same line as the bayonet factory...this one may be different.

[tankhunter]

I believe a Brown paint finish was used until 1943 on Officer's Gunto Scabards. From then onwards, a green finish was used.

A lot of swords were made by private smith's for officers. & also older family blades were remounted in Shin Gunto Miltary fittings.
For service pattern usage.

SOME blades were manufactured in Government Arsenals, but usually has a stamp of some kind on the tang if this was the case.
A LOT of smiths were contracted to produce finished blades ONLY for Arsenals. Of a Quota of so many per month. These were then fitted in the Arsenals
with Gunto Mounts & Fittings.

In 1944 a VERY distinctly differenty looking, & inferior model was introduced. IF your blade is actually dated 1944. Then I feel this may be a made up piece, from parts collated together post war.

Machine made blades were manufactured also in Arsenals. BUT, in General. These were for NCO's only, & had Aluminium Hilts/ grip assemblies.
They were also serial numbered along with their respective scabbards. but OFFICERS Shin Gunto's were not.

I hope this helps you somewhat?

[CINDERS]

I will have to look for the info from a previous person but may have lost it due to I now have a new comp since the last one disintegrated from being 8 years old along with a good swag of OHS info that was not on an external drive.....
The information I neglected to say that the previous owners father brought it back from the WWII unfortunately the crash lost his contact details so I am stumped there as well his name was Mark White from Merrick in Vic but apart from that I cannot remember. And the previous info could have placed the blade pre '44 snippets keep cropping up in my head something about an arsenal I will try and look to see if by a stupid chance I put the info somewhere but how long is a piece of string.......some one will know or have the books to decipher the Mei which I fully appreciate.

[browningautorifle]

Machine made blades were manufactured also in Arsenals. BUT, in General. These were for NCO's only, & had Aluminium Hilts/ grip assemblies.
They were also serial numbered along with their respective scabbards.

I picked one of these up for my son some years back. They'd been redone in China or some such...and came to Canada about a dozen years back.

[tankhunter]

Cinders, You MAY find it easier to do an Oshigata. Which is similar in method to a Brass Rubbing.

Do the Oshigata on both side of the Sword Tang to get all information as clearly as you can. This then can be scanned on your computer.
& sent to any person/ establishment/ acknowledged 'Expert' Etc. That may be able to help you.

I have heard though not done so myself. That the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, UK. Has a very helpful chap. That is able to decipher & expand on the information found. On all Jap sword signed tangs.

Just a thought? Good luck, & let us all know how you get on!

[CINDERS]

Thanks TH will get some chalk onto the inscription and look for anything else that may be a benifit to the persons will post them again on here but also contact that museum. Thanks

[AZPhil]

And just to make it easier to read for those that are in the know. It should be post vertically with the tip pointing up.

Attachment 84165

I sent you a PM

Semper Fi
Phil

[CINDERS]

I just thought Horizontal was the best way as they read left to right from memory cheers anyway Az I acted on your hunch and will check in a day or so....

[CINDERS]

Information given from another site thus far ~ This was forged by Ujifusa at the Takayama Forge, He is listed as "Chu-Saku" (mid-level) here and his real name was 篠田 氏房 Shinoda Ujifusa

The site states gives him a "3" notation (Superior): "...In additon, winners of the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai (新作日本刀展覽會, 1941) were reported at Nihon Kendo Oyobi Token (日本劍道及刀劍) by Hagio Takahashi. From Special Honor Seats to the 5th seat (S: 特別名譽席(鍛刀總匠), 1: 國工, 2: 準國工, 3:優秀, 4:佳作, 5: 新進)..." Shinoda is the 3rd one in bold.

The Takayama forge produced swords to the recomendations of Takayama Masayoshi.

I have inquired as to a build date for this sword awaiting a reply