mecox

Thanks for measurements. Your pics are fine. The suguha is interesting.

Yes Rob, looks like a nice kaigunto from a solid smith and group. Its just in time to go into Part 2 of my Japanese Naval Swords. Could you send me the nagasa and sori in cm? Have you seen this paper on their group? cheers Mal

Thanks for input Trystan.

Colleagues I have updated a new version of Japanese Naval Swords WW2 Swordsmiths & Workshops Part 1. This 2024 paper is an upgrade of the 2021 version, it is reorganised with appreciably more examples but with some significant corrections. Of note is the issue of Naval arsenal stamps and some long held, but incorrect views, in particular in regard to the Toyokawa Arsenal in Aichi (this arsenal did not produce swords). If you have the 2021 version, please delete it and use this one. It was outdated and I hope any errors addressed. Part 2, is likewise being upgraded and will soon be uploaded. I found it all a rather challenging topic. cheers Mal

I guess you saw this one Musashi on JS Index The other has different kanji "yuki" AKIYUKI (昭行), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gunma – “Akiyuki” (昭行), real name Kurihara Washio (栗原鷲雄), he worked as a rikugun-jumei-tōshō http://www.japaneses...oshigata/akiyuki.jpg

yes but the lighting distorts it

@RobCarter3 @Bruce Pennington Rob re the Tenshozan anchor stamps the strong indication is that the general Navy acceptance stamp (anchor-in-circle) was used from early on, throughout the war and into the post-war souvenirs. The Tenshozan stamp (anchor with chevrons/bars) had some dated blades which show it was used for a short time only 1938 to 1943 and on blades with "Tenshozan....." mei. So looks concurrent with other stamp for a while.

Murayama Kanetoshi, quite a good wartime smith. Pic from Slough book.

Adam, that is a very nice blade from a good smith. There is info on Torio Hiromasa in NMB Downloads: (1) Showa/Ehime and (2) Fukuoka/Kokura.

Adam, does your sword have any stamps on the nakago mune?

Alex, looks to me like Noshu ju Kanetoshi. But Seki is better. The mei is s bit rough. There are two of this name, but yours looks to be Kumazawa (top one). he more often signed " Kumazawa Kanetoshi". The other aspect of his work is the inverted "taka-no-ha" filing on the nakago. KANETOSHI (兼俊), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetoshi” (兼俊), “Ikkōsai Kanetoshi” (粋光斎兼俊), real name Kumazawa Shun´ichi (熊沢俊一), born April 20th 1899, gō Ikkōsai (粋光斎), he worked as guntō smith. KANETOSHI (兼俊), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetoshi” (兼俊), real name Murayama Kinokazu (村山喜之一), born August 3rd 1905, he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō and died February 23rd 1978, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

John and Bruce, interesting blade and hamon. I wonder if this stamp could be related to the Minatogawa Jinja Forge in Kobe, although this is katana-mei. Example by Masanao in tachi-mei. But artistically stamp could be sunset over a mountain?? Also different number of petals/rays.

Duncan, Seki Goto Kanemitsu 関後藤兼光 he was a good smith, sho-sakura stamp is early war but looks a well made Showa-to blade. Some background and context in this paper:

Bruce, that Yoshishige 良重 looks pretty good. Sesko has this one: YOSHISHIGE (良重), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshishige” (良重), real name Komiyama Ryōzō (小宮山良造). He was born Meiji 35 (1902) January 19. and registered as Seki tosho Showa 17 (1942) November 1, living at Seki-machi, Tokiwa-cho. There is detail in my Naval swords #2, pages 26-29. The date on this sword looks to be Showa 18 (1943). His blades are typically signed ni-ji katana-mei. Of note, he is a Seki smith but one of his swords (1943) in good kaigunto koshirae has seppa stamped with TEC and Toyokawa anchor-in-sakura. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/63-Japanese-naval-swords-swordsmiths-workshops-part-2/?do=getNewComment

Adam, interesting blade. You got most of it: Mino Seki Fujiwara Kanetoki kitae kore Edited: see post by @PNSSHOGUN looks to be like "Tsukahara cut the horimono"). The format of the left column looks like Kin saku ("respectfully made") but not confirmed. Date: Showa ju nen san gatsu matsu jitsu (Showa 10 (1935) last day of March. . Also some examples in Slough p. 47. His history outlined in this paper:

listing in Sesko: HISATSUGU (久次), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Ehime – “Hisatsugu” (久次), family name Imai (今井), born 1892, rikugun-jumei-tōshō, he studied under Takahashi Yoshimune (高橋義宗), jōko no jōi (Akihide)

@Bruce Pennington he is IMAI HISATSUGU (今井 久次) Ehime. Example mei: “Hisatsugu” (久次). “Yoshu Seiunshi Hisatsugu saku” (豫洲青雲子久次作). Well covered in this "excellent" paper.............

Interesting sword. left column: Noshu Seki ju Asano Kanezane Nyudo saku kore. Rear date is 2600 years of Japanese Empire (1940 August). Of note the Sho-sakura stamp (sideways). Kanezane born 1910, died 1986 February 15. He was registered post-war in Sowa 47 (1972).

Maybe Thomas has a point.......artistic licence

@Bruce Pennington this website has translations and info "Medals of Asia" (I cant post the link) Actually this gets a bit confusing as Nick Komiya says it is read as "Yamayo". Naval parade saber.... (warrelics.eu)

@Bruce Pennington @Mark C @Kiipu I found this quite interesting on follow up of Shimada Yoshisuke (島田義助) and Yoshioka Yoshichika (吉岡 吉近) both registered Seki swordsmiths but not in the 1942 Kurihara banzuke lists. The unusual "Warrior"/ horse head stamp is on fairly well made gunto (shingunto and kaigunto) signed but not dated, and no other stamps. The work on the blades and koshirae suggests earlier war (e.g. 1942). Close look at Mark's shows tsuba and seppa have the logo stamp of Nakano Shoten a shop/workshop in Tokyo that sold koshirae but also sold/made medals, badges & uniforms. Logo below from Chris Bowen in Bruce's stamp study. So possibly they supplied blades to the shop.

@Doctoe JonJon, this paper has information on these swords and Masanao smith.

@Bruce Pennington Bruce, this is May 1942 ("go gatsu") even earlier! But "Yama / Ho" 山 / ホ fits the story.

@Aethel_berht info on Tempo tsuba in NMB Downloads:

@pc3319 Paul, here is some background to Katsumasa from NMB Downloads: