Fun with my Late War NCO Gunto

[BruceP]

I've had this late war Type 95 that I really enjoy. Originally I thought the arsenal stamp on the blade was Nagoya, but I zoomed in on it tonight, and learned that it's a Seki stamp (which is still technically a Nagoya Arsenal factory). But what was really interesting, is I noticed TINY marks on the top edge of the nakago. Zooming in, they look like 6 (roku) multiple times. Never seen assembly stamps on NCO swords!

[BruceP]

I don't know why my pics come in sideways! But here's more. With a full view of the nakago, you get a sense of how small the 6s are!

[BruceP]

full view

[GHP]

Those are 大 "large" vice 六 "six".

大大大



--Guy

[BruceP]

Guesses to what that meant? Nakago/tsuka size? It is my largest gunto, slightly taller than my Mantesu gunto. The blades are the same, but the wooden tsuka is longer.

Full blade: 35 3/8 or 898mm
Kisaki to mune: 26 1/4 or 666.7mm
Nakago 9 1/8 or 232mm
tsuka 9 3/4 or 238mm
Full Gunto in Koshirae: 39in or 991mm

[Staldion]

Hello,
Good questions. I didn't expect different sizes on the production line, moreover on a late war example. I always thought the type 95 was a one size fits all. Maybe a thicker nagako?

Glad to learn something. Hope more info will be shared on thé subject.

Mathieu.

[GHP]

Perhaps the inspector's cartouche; such as, if he had a name beginning with 大 like Omori 大森 ??


--Guy

[bangbangsan]

Perhaps the inspector's cartouche; such as, if he had a name beginning with 大 like Omori 大森 ??


--Guy

Kinda like the middle 关 of the 関 but didn't stamp clear enough.

[GHP]

Kinda like the middle 关 of the 関 but didn't stamp clear enough.

I think you are correct!! I can faintly see the side "posts" of the Gate radical:

門

--Guy

[BruceP]

Wow! You nailed it! I wondered about the "square" lines around the sides of the image, and that would fit the Seki kanji.

Thanks guys! Just never seen one in that location before!