PNSSHOGUN

The Kinzogan is very crudely executed, suspect this is fairly recent and done for nefarious purposes.

Odd as it may seem a similar sword came up a year or two ago, good quality early mounts with a 1990's blade made to fit it. No Shirasaya either.

That's absolutely heartbreaking, prayers going out to his wife and family.

This is pretty depressing: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-sun-pu-on-motsu-masamune-honawritten-seal-mark/

Some further information here, I will clarify that there's no monetary value but there may be sentimental value for your relative. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

Hello Greg, unfortunately these are all modern low quality reproductions with little to no value.

The mei is Bishu Osafune xxx (likely Sukesada) and dated 1500's. The mounts are traditional but seem unlikely to have been carried during the war.

More likely a Fukure.

Considering the pedigree of former V&A curators and presentations, this is rather insipid. Looking at the other exhibitions this fellow has put together you don't hold high hopes of the situation improving.

The statement of using gun bore cleaner and mineral spirits to clean Tsuba seems completely at odds with the below advice: https://japaneseswordindex.com/tsuba/tsubacln.htm

Nihontoclub index can still be accessed but you need to register as a member.

Hello Steve, there is scant information on Tsugunobu available and you have most of it already. He originally signed Kaneharu and studied under Ryunsai Kanetomo, along with Tsugumasa and other Gunma province smiths. After that he became the 16th student of Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu and changed his Mei to Tsugunobu. He was ranked East Block Komusubi in the 1943 Gendai Tosho Banzuke list. His work (published online) isn't seen very often, if you have photos of a sword and Mei I would be interested to see them. The below is from Malcolm Cox: The following article has a good deal of information, although the lineage incorrectly placed Tsugamasa under Kaneharu: https://www.nihontocraft.com/Kanetomo.html George Trotter and Mal Cox provided the following entries from Japanese sources, included is a nice example in my collection that has a special order Mei:

If you have any more pictures of the mounts we'd love to see them, sometimes you can find the officers surname on the guard under the fittings with these.

That is a very fine Daisho, can't recall seeing one with with matching cutting tests before.

Very nice indeed, it appears to be an Utsushi of Yokoyama Daijo Sukesada.