WWII JAPANESE NCO Sword, Type 95, Variation 3 Matching Number, Kokura Arsenal
Item History & Price
WWII JAPANESE NCO sword, Type 95, Variation #3 matching number, Kokura arsenal. Condition is "Used". Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.
This Item is being relisted as the previous buyer was unable to complete the transaction. No international bidders please.
I have had this sword in my possession since 1995. During that time it had been in storage and remains in the exact same condition that it was in when I purchased it. All numbers match. There are no... nicks on the blade. The blade steel had no corrosion or rust. There is a bit of 'staining' or paint like material on the tip of the blade, as seen in the last photo. I have no idea what it is but I am confident that if you wanted to remove it, it could be done. I just did not want to affect the 'original condition' of the sword. Being a collectable I understand that more detailed photos of specific parts of the sword may be desired, If so just let me know and I will do my best to get them to you.
Now for the optional data. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THESE SWORDS!
However with that being said I will relate what little my research has found about this sword. After looking at the arsenal markings, the one on the left is a manufacturers mark, this one is for 'Gifu'. Gifu is a prefecture just outside of Tokyo. The city of Seki is in Gifu. The is some indication that the 'Gifu' marking was used by 'Seki Cutlery' prior to the adoption of their own markings. I do not know, but apparently there were two companies using the 'Seki Cutlery' name, each with a different form of incorporation. After that there is some speculation as to why the 'new Seki Cutlery' marking came in to existence. This is a point for further research. The middle marking is the inspectors mark. I found no data on this. The marking on the right is the arsenal mark. This one is for the Kokura arsenal. Fun aside, from what I gather Kokura arsenal was the point of administration for the manufacture of these swords and did not actually manufacture swords. Rather the swords were either built at or by the Tokyo arsenal or the Nagoya arsenal. This one is a Nagoya arsenal sword as indicated by the Nagoya arsenal marking next to each of the serial numbers. Searching serial numbers is as you would expect, tricky as blocks of numbers were issued to manufacturers, and like their European counterparts not all numbers were used. As a result there are gaps in the numbering system and after the war some documents were lost. So anyway as best I can tell, and I may be wrong, this a 1941 or 1942 example.
As for extra data, there is a bit of a rattle when the sword is shaken. The Tsuba fitting is not as tight as it could be. I gather that this is not uncommon, but again I am not an expert. Also I recommend checking in to the availability of the 'variation 3' aluminum handle swords. To my eye they are more uncommon than the earlier versions with the bronze Tsuba. My theory is that the Iron Tsuba was less dramatic so fewer were brought back, but really no one knows as accurate numbers are not available. Use you own judgement.
This Item is being relisted as the previous buyer was unable to complete the transaction. No international bidders please.
I have had this sword in my possession since 1995. During that time it had been in storage and remains in the exact same condition that it was in when I purchased it. All numbers match. There are no... nicks on the blade. The blade steel had no corrosion or rust. There is a bit of 'staining' or paint like material on the tip of the blade, as seen in the last photo. I have no idea what it is but I am confident that if you wanted to remove it, it could be done. I just did not want to affect the 'original condition' of the sword. Being a collectable I understand that more detailed photos of specific parts of the sword may be desired, If so just let me know and I will do my best to get them to you.
Now for the optional data. I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON THESE SWORDS!
However with that being said I will relate what little my research has found about this sword. After looking at the arsenal markings, the one on the left is a manufacturers mark, this one is for 'Gifu'. Gifu is a prefecture just outside of Tokyo. The city of Seki is in Gifu. The is some indication that the 'Gifu' marking was used by 'Seki Cutlery' prior to the adoption of their own markings. I do not know, but apparently there were two companies using the 'Seki Cutlery' name, each with a different form of incorporation. After that there is some speculation as to why the 'new Seki Cutlery' marking came in to existence. This is a point for further research. The middle marking is the inspectors mark. I found no data on this. The marking on the right is the arsenal mark. This one is for the Kokura arsenal. Fun aside, from what I gather Kokura arsenal was the point of administration for the manufacture of these swords and did not actually manufacture swords. Rather the swords were either built at or by the Tokyo arsenal or the Nagoya arsenal. This one is a Nagoya arsenal sword as indicated by the Nagoya arsenal marking next to each of the serial numbers. Searching serial numbers is as you would expect, tricky as blocks of numbers were issued to manufacturers, and like their European counterparts not all numbers were used. As a result there are gaps in the numbering system and after the war some documents were lost. So anyway as best I can tell, and I may be wrong, this a 1941 or 1942 example.
As for extra data, there is a bit of a rattle when the sword is shaken. The Tsuba fitting is not as tight as it could be. I gather that this is not uncommon, but again I am not an expert. Also I recommend checking in to the availability of the 'variation 3' aluminum handle swords. To my eye they are more uncommon than the earlier versions with the bronze Tsuba. My theory is that the Iron Tsuba was less dramatic so fewer were brought back, but really no one knows as accurate numbers are not available. Use you own judgement.
