Sword help

[Jamz]

Hi:
I have had for a long time a couple swords and know very little.
Here is the 1st one and some questions if you please.
Overall length... 37"
Blade length from tip to Tsuba... 27".
Would this be a Katana?
Each part except the entire blade and scabbard, is marked 55 and some have a little stamp with it also. Which you will see in the pics.
The Nakago has many wrightings and a couple little stamps also.
What does it say or mean?
Anything and everything you can tell me will be very much appreciated.
Thank you, John

[Jamz]

And the Tsuba and the Hamon, which is fairly straight ...

[Jamz]

and the Nakago...

[Jamz]

more...

[Jamz]

lastly...

[Brian Robinson]

It's a real WW2 shin-gunto...katana. Arsenal stamped, mass produced and probably of Seki manufacture. Looks like a decent example.

Brian

[Jamz]

Thanks so much Brian.
Any idea what it says?
Is it one where the Hamon will disappear if polished ?
They are both direct vet purchases about ten years ago.
Anyone?
Thanks, John

[Jamz]

This is a good time to show off my other Japanese stuff.
John

[Jamz]

Here's my helmet. It's a nice one with lots of paint and a small size.
John

[Stu W]

Hi John,

That's an IJA Officer Type 98 Shin-gunto, worn tachi style (blade edge down), with arsenal marks and kanji that will be either or both of name and date.

Have a look here for examples of arsenal marks ...

http://home.earthlink.net/%7Esteinrl/military.htm

As for reading the kanji ... We need to see an overview and perhaps photos of groups of two or three if the overview is not clear enough. The photos should be taken as if the blade tip is upright. Kanji are read from top down so they need to be posted vertically. Those of us who can read them will respond promptly if we don't have to lay on our sides or stand on our heads to view the kanji. Give us some good pics and we will be able to tell you quite a bit about the sword.

Regards,
Stu

[Stu W]

At about 125 USD per inch of blade to polish by a professional it's not worth doing IMHO. It's an honest example of its kind. I'd suggest enjoying it as it is.

Are we seeing the full width of the battle flag? I so it's Navy with the offset orb. If the orb is centered it's Army.

Regards,
Stu

[GHP]

October, 1944 (Showa 19 nen, Jyuu gatsu)
Seki stamp on the other side.

I cannot read the smith's name.

--Guy

[Jamz]

Thanks to all.
The battle flag is army.
My old vet friend (now deceased some ten years), was fighting Luzon.
He served occupied Japan until 1947.
Here are some shots of the kanji.
The first one is on a side by itself.
The second two shots are in a line on the other side.
Really thanking you guys.
Gotta love this forum.
John

[Jamz]

This one is longer and I have segmented it into two shots.

[GHP]

Wow, angle sure makes a difference!


I immediately made out "Masa", so I googled "Masa, seki swordsmith"
and found Masanori

正則 (Masanori)
Real name: 野呂 栄吉
Noro Eikichi

In an old post at the Nihonto Message Board, Brian states

...Basically translates to Noro Masanori from Seki made this.
With that stamped Seki arsenal stamp..it means it is most likely a wartime non-traditionally made oil quenched blade. Not traditionally forged and folded, but a genuine piece of WW2 militaria.
I expect the value would be anywhere around $800-1500 depending on where you sell it.
Worth anything I guess depends on your idea of what a good value is...

That sword was:

The signature is done in a different hand, but I've known swordsmiths who hired someone to chisel the name, etc, on the tang. The maker of my sword, Kobyashi Yasuhiro, hired carving artisans to do that.

[NB. By the way, "my" Yasuhiro 康宏 was not a "Yasukuni smith". Yasukuni smiths used 靖 for Yasu.]

Cheers!
--Guy