Thekirsh

An amateur restoration might have included chrome plating the blade which would also account for the heat affected nakago

Hi Nicholas, Here,s my take on the signatures and please note that not all signatures on swords are genuine(search Gimei signatures) Sword 1 -Nanto ju Kanabo Hyoejo Masatsugu 2- Norimitsu 3- Kashu ??? Kane??(need a better photo) 4- Hizen kuni Tadayoshi 5- Showa-to Simon K

Sort of on topic, I have always wondered if hagire could be repaired using the Japanese art of Kintsugi. As a weapon it wouldn't pass , but as a work of art? Gold is used to fill mekugi-ana...so why not hagire? Simon K

Pm sent

Last 3 kanji look like Yoshimitsu saku.....so made by ?? Yoshimitsu Simon K

Dave, here are a couple of photos of my cut down Kikuchi yari for comparison, signed Enju Kuniyasu , Also see this previous thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21014-tanto-help/ Simon K

Thank you very much for the help guys...............tatsu............should have got that one Cheers Simon K

Hi, I am stuck on the last kanji if anyone can help please. Gendai blade dated Showa 20 and signed Minamoto Mori..........? Thanks Simon K

James, Might be Kanetsuna Simon K

Kanekiyo saku Simon K

Looks like Kanehiro dated 1937 Simon K

Ben, In case you didn't buy your sword from this seller, here is a detailed description of it when it was on consignment. http://japanesesword.com.au/html/early_koto_katana_with_koshirae.html Simon K

Darren, Check this recent thread http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21709-opinion-on-ota-chikahide/ Simon K

For reference, here is an interesting Kikuchi Yari I own. Best guess is it was cut down and the mei placed on the mune. Simon K

Neil, Have a look at this link http://www.jssus.org/nkp/index.html Its a good one to learn from First two characters are the Kuni( province) and the last two kanji are the swordsmiths name. Simon K