Ganko

Can't really say if it's punched or drilled since the other side is not shown. The hole does look pretty symmetrical though. It should be larger on one side than the other if punched. If it has no mounts, the cost of restoration would most likely not be justifiable unless it has sentimental value or you are enamored with it. TomC

It appears to me like a decent Muromachi period (1500's) hirazukuri wakizashi, which has had its machi moved up about one inch. Looks quite restorable to me unless it has a blister or crack in it. Hard to say on the school when out of polish. TomC

There is an additional clue that it is most likely post war(other than the ito color and odd menuki). It has been wrapped as if it were a katana mounting(worn edge up) rather than tachi style which is edge down. The ito wrap was started on the wrong side. Type 3 and type 98 mountings are meant to be carried edge down and are wrapped accordingly. Even if it was a wartime replacement I doubt if the person wrapping it would not be aware of the difference. The Japanese being the sticklers for detail in such matters that they are.The saya which is brn/blk ishimei is also typically from 1942 or 1943 from my observations. Most 1944 swords have a flat ito wrap(not twisted or pinched at the crossover). My additional two cents, TomC

Good gendaito by a RJT swordsmith, definitely rewrapped and menuki replaced, kojiri is missing. Nice sword. TomC

Destroyed a good gendaito and refinished all its mounts like they were putting lipstick on a pig. TomC

Thank you Moriyama san, my kanji skills are sadly lacking. TomC

Your sword was made by Watanabe Kanenaga in Oct. 1943 for a Mr. Yoshinaga. He is a fairly well thought of Showa swordsmith. TomC

It appears to be a masame hada perhaps with a bit of ayasugi to it to me. You must have etched it? TomC

Dated Enpo hachi nen ni gatsu (Feb 1680)

For me #5 is real shibui. TomC

You have a late type 3 sword dated Feb 1945. The makers name should be on the other side. It is most likely not hand made from tamahagane and not a true gendaito, but rather an oil tempered piece of modern steel. TomC

Looks to me like Sukehisa and maybe Showa 18. It is not too well cut. You can clean the mei with a tooth brush and soapy water. TomC

Your sword is signed ICHI Ryu Shi Saku, It is one of the signatures used by swordsmith Icihara Nagamitsu. Your sword is in type 3 mounts. He made swords for the Osaka Army arsenal during WW2. He is well thought of by militaria collectors. TomC

You could submit it to one of the NTHK Shinsa's they have periodically in this country, but they would most likely attribute it to a school rather than an individual sword smith. Cost approx. $300 TomC

These menuki are like a Rorschach test :-) TomC

Never seen that motif before. Maybe water flowing around stones in a stream, but the golden cord? TomC

They look like lost wax castings to me. TomC

Me to. TomC

I have seen two very good gendaito by this smith, one of which I possess. The nakago's look just like the one in Slough's book labeled shoshinmei. The one on Ebay is like the one labeled kazuuchimei. I believe it is not made by the master but by a worker in the shop. The one on Ebay is surely an oil tempered piece of bar-stock Showa-to. Do not waste your money on it. TomC.

Just found an old business card of his with a phone number. I don't know if it is still good or not. * removed by Admin over privacy concerns. Rather pm for the number *

I believe that is Pat O'toole, he is back on the East coast. Sorry I don't have any other info on him. He often comes to the SF Tokenkai.

I think the mei is most likely OK. Hayama Enshin passed away in Taisho 9. This sword is dated Taisho 15. The son of Hayama Enshin is listed in the Nihonto Meikan as a Showa swordsmith working in Tokyo. I suspect it is a work of his. The tsuka or the koshirae may have come from a different sword as it is not 100% correct. TomC

Kanda ju Kanetsune TomC

Modern sword, recently rusted, most likely of Chinese origin. Don't touch it with a ten foot pole! TomC

Yuck, Chinese turd stirrer. TomC