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help with identifying this blade and its markings


mrniceguy2282

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the three specimens, one here and two in the thread above, all have different signature styles (meaning: carved or chiseled by different hands), why?

 

I think the two specimens above are the same sword, just photos from different angles (one zoomed out). The difference in signature styles probably has to do with being nakirishimei. See Dr. Stein's site here (reference the line about Showa Era/WWII smiths): http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/promei.htm.

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I think the two specimens above are the same sword, just photos from different angles (one zoomed out).

 

No, the one in the link has a much better mei

http://www.token-net.com/katana/3k19-tomonobu0803/tomonobu.html

 

 

nakirishi mei explains why the meis of different smiths look the same, but in this case one smith have three quite distinct mei styles.

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nakirishi mei explains why the meis of different smiths look the same

 

Nakirishimei also explains why there are different styles for the same mei. The swordsmith had his style. Student A had another style. Student B had another style. The cutting specialist had yet another style. In Seki there were many smiths working together and perhaps signing each others swords as a matter of convenience. For example, see the variations on Asano Kanezane in Slough's pg. 76-79.

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hi thanks but what do you mean non-traditional i do not see any serial number on the blade

 

It was most likely made with western steel and quenched in oil. It may or may not be forged. That is what the showa stamp at the top of the nakago (tang) means.....It is not a nihon-to. These blades are called showa-to and are considered factory made.

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I am not sure what you mean by not worth selling or restoring. If you mean is it worth polishing, then I think not. Keep in mind a Japanese polish costs approximately $100 per inch and your blade is probably 26-27". Not worth that. Is it worth selling? Well, do you want to keep it? Or do you want to sell it? If you have more than $1,000 into it, you may not get that back - although tough to tell actual value based on the pics you attached. The market isn't what it used to be.

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not sure, but seems like ebay is selling them like hot cakes. just take lots of pictures of the blade, lots of pictures of the mei, and show alot of pictures of the mounts. shouldn't be hard to get ur money back. But at the end of the day it's a gamble, sometimes the seki ones sell for 1k sometimes for $3-$400.

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simple.

 

antique ww2 Japanese sword samurai gunto shin gunto

 

any combination of those words. If you can get the mei translated it would help to pinpoint which smith did it.

 

there is a huge market on ebay right now for these swords especially if the fittings are ok. Beats me as I have seen them go higher than a nice koto or shinto sword. i just don't have 2k to drop on one on ebay.

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This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

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