[Mauser720]

The Imperial Seal of Japan consisted of a Chrysanthemum with 16 petals. And it was this "mum" that is found on the receivers of their rifles. (Surrendered weapons had the mum ground off or chisel marked out. Captured weapons will usually have this mark intact.) Plus, the tips of the individual petals were rounded, and not indented as they are in this design. The Imperial Japanes were very strict about how and where this mark was to be used. It's use was even spelled out in their constitution at the time.

The five-petaled flower on the receiver is odd. Does anyone know whether this type of flower blossom was ever used on any Imperial Japanese weapon?

Now look at the anchor behind this blossom. Notice that at the top of the anchor, there is a cross-bar. At the end of the bar that is at the bottom of the picture, you can see there is a hole, apparently for the attachement of a rope or line.

Now look at the top end of this same bar and you will see that this hole is missing. Instead, the "engraving" tapers off into two distinct pointed lines. In my opinion, this lack of quality is not what one would expect from a legitimate DWM produced firearm.