This sword is a vet bring back from WW II. The 84 year old vet still owns it, and has 4 sons.
I told him I would try to get the tang translated for him. The blade looks like a true Gendaito with Dragon Horimono. Nice loking blade in Shirasaya. Any help will be appreciated.

Made by Hidetoshi in March 1941 (using dating system from the founding of the empire). you can try looking him up on like (you will find info) and if you run into a problem we can help, but it is fun to try and work some out yourself

Thank you, somehow I was reading that 1939.

i read it as 2601 form 660 bc -- so i think 1941 (it seems 2600 = 1940 , at least that is how i remember it)

Does it have a Showa stamp? I have only seen one Hidetoshi without a stamp.

The whole mei is 橘秀俊鍛之 Tachibana Hidetoshi Kitau Kore. Moses Beccera has one on his site for comparison. No stamp. http://www.nihontoantiques.com/fss209.htm John

Do you have any pictures of the blade you can post? If so, I would appreciate seeing them.

Also, be sure to sign your name per the board rules - makes things a bit friendlier some how.

Thanks,

Charlie Brashear

The correct reading is ...
謹秀俊鍛之 (Kin/Tsutsushinde Hidetoshi kitau kore) - Respectfully, Hidetoshi forged this.

I'm not doing well lately with some kanji Koichi san. I thought Tachibana looked strange, but, being an Hidetoshi gendaito thought it must be a variation. That'll teach me. John