{My apologies to all who prowl multiple Forum sites! I’m posting this same search on all 5 that I frequent}

I would very much like to track down the origin of the "W" stamp on Japanese WWII gunto (although I’ve recently come across someone with a W stamp on a training rifle as well - ah the plot thickens!)

Fuller & Gregory says calls the stamp "unidentified…noted only on blades by the smith Takehisa (one dated 1943) but was used three thimes on each. Possibly the Chigusa Factory of the Nagoy Arsenal." I recently saw a pic of an officer gunto with 3 W stamps on the nakago, just as F&G says. BUT, I have 2 NCO gunto with the W stamp and both are Tokyo Kokura arsenal, not Nagoya. I recently chatted with a gentleman who’s parade sword that had a W stamp too.

So, I would like to gather all W stamped weapons (since it’s already clear that it appears on other weapons than just the sword) and see if we can trace the origins of this stamp. I will post my pics. Please post yours, and if anyone knows more than the bit we have from F&G, please chime in!

Click to enlarge the picture

 

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