Help w/ Japanese Sword!

[darksidesw]

Hello all! I am a helmet collector and only know the basics about swords. I am VERY confused by this sword that I recently purchased from an estate.
The sword looks officers. The scabbard is more the NCO type, however, the locking cutout is on the side like an officers. The sword itself is even more puzzling. The latch does not go all the way through since one of the spacers doesn't have a hole for it. The blade is not marked, just some of the other parts including the tsuba is marked with a "7".
Very confused as to exactly what this is.
Thanks! -Jeff

[darksidesw]

pics

pics

[darksidesw]

more

more

[gunto]

I guess the seppa without hole is a replacement.
Does it have number 7 , like the other?

This could be one of those rare experimental ones? Or a postwar put together.

The seppa with hole is upside down when mounted? Needed near habaki to turn right.

[darksidesw]

another angle

another angle

[Bob Coleman]

The spring latch has been cut off. I have seen this before on direct vet purchase blades. I always thought this modification was done by the owner to enable a quicker draw of the blade.

[gunto]

There are traces from the habaki on the seppa near fuchi.
How its mounted now is wrong way , the rim tells.

[darksidesw]

Sword

I took it apart to check for markings...I might have flipped some things when I put it back together. I will take it apart again and check for matching wear better. That said, I think the seppas have to be the location they are...the one without the hole will not mount above the tsuba because of the catch piece.

Also, any comments on this type of scabbard with with sword? This type of scabbard with the catch on the wide side and not the edge side?

Thanks....going now to look again at the parts. Thanks for the help so far!

[darksidesw]

Sword

Ok, the aging on the seppa with the catch does look like it belongs in the other spot. So the other one needs to go on top of the tsuba, but there is no hole for the catch. Well, if the seppa is positioned right the catch will fit into the gap next to the blade and then go through the catch hole in the tsuba. It went together fine this way and made for a much tighter fit of the hardware. So it would seem as another member mentioned that it was modified intentionally to remove the catch. Interesting. Other opinions?

Also, still curious about this scabbard/sword combination! Thanks!

[Stu W]

I'm thinking it might be a modified Type 95 scabbard.

What are the scabbard dimensions?
Has it been repainted?
Does the throat of the scabbard appear to be a replacement?
Is there a tiny stamped kanji on the flat side portion of the drag shoe?

Can you provide a photo of the suspension ring set-up as viewed lengthways along the scabbard?

Regards,
Stu

[darksidesw]

sword

Hello. Yes, it looks like the type 95 for the NCO sword, except for the location of the catch. There are no markings on the scabbard and the paint looks to be original. The length of the scabbard is 27.25" long.

[Stu W]

Thanks for those additional photos. I'm of the opinion at this point that the scabbard is for a Type 95 NCO sword and the throat has been modified to accommodate the Shin-gunto. I suspect it was done during the war to provide better protection for the sword in the field. I can't come up with any reason why someone would undertake such a modification post war.

Regards,
Stu
PS: That scabbard is, in my view, one from the Tokyo First Arsenal.