Please translate a Chirstmas gift

[keith]

I'm giving this to a newbie Japanese collector, I'd like to know what it says if possible.
Thanks in advance

2nd pic

[kaigunair]

giving yourself an early christmas present? =) j/k

it says from rt to lt:
光 = bright, shine, light, (kou, hika) 4457
Ro
39
I can't find the unit with this code, so can't give you more info.

[keith]

giving yourself an early christmas present? =) j/k

it says from rt to lt:
光 = bright, shine, light, (kou, hika) 4457
Ro
39
I can't find the unit with this code, so can't give you more info.

Thanks! I wonder what 4457 means.
Thanks again!

[Nick Komiya]

The Kanji on top is done wrong. I have doubts about this piece.

[keith]

The Kanji on top is done wrong. I have doubts about this piece.

Oh noooo

[keith]

Nick I just bought it do you think I got ripped off?

[Nick Komiya]

Numbers are correctly formed, though sloppily struck. So I'm not ready to declare it as fake.
But the several things not right places this way out of my comfort zone. You are better off sticking to a textbook piece.

[keith]

Numbers are correctly formed, though sloppily struck. So I'm not ready to declare it as fake.
But the several things not right places this way out of my comfort zone. You are better off sticking to a textbook piece.

Thanks Nick. It was dirty so I cleaned it up with brass cleaner, could that have clouded the Kanji somehow?

[kaigunair]

hi keith, got your message. lots of fakes coming from china nowadays. dt's are hard b'c even real ones, late war, were crudely made. the fact that its not easily id'd to a unit is not helpful. I'd take nick's advice and try to get a refund. go for a more solid example...

btw, cleaning of dt's, imho, is something that should be avoided.

[keith]

hi keith, got your message. lots of fakes coming from china nowadays. dt's are hard b'c even real ones, late war, were crudely made. the fact that its not easily id'd to a unit is not helpful. I'd take nick's advice and try to get a refund. go for a more solid example...

btw, cleaning of dt's, imho, is something that should be avoided.

Thanks. I had no idea there could be problems with dog tags.
This site is a wealth of information.
Thanks again to you and Nick.

[keith]

The seller assures me of a refund.
I'm disappointed in this tag.

[mcmike]

Keith - go to http://shop.ebay.com/old-soldier88/m..._from=&_ipg=25. I think you will find these to be real.

[keith]

Keith - go to http://shop.ebay.com/old-soldier88/m..._from=&_ipg=25. I think you will find these to be real.

Question-those are all from China. I thought Japanese militaria coming out of there was suspect.

[FightenIrish35]

yeah I wouldnt be so quick to buy anything from that seller,not that Ive have ANY experience at all with him its just ...
1-From China
2-Sells mostly repro items(Atleast he labels it as such though)
3-From China

Just my two cents.... My advice is if your not in a hurry to get one right away,wait untill one pops up on ebay with true provenance...they do turn up...good luck !!

[keith]

yeah I wouldnt be so quick to buy anything from that seller,not that Ive have ANY experience at all with him its just ...
1-From China
2-Sells mostly repro items(Atleast he labels it as such though)
3-From China

Just my two cents.... My advice is if your not in a hurry to get one right away,wait untill one pops up on ebay with true provenance...they do turn up...good luck !!

I'm watching the E Stand here........