Old dog

To everybody who has responded to my post: Thank you all very much for the good natured comments and the knowledge you have shared. Very much appreciated.

Hi Dave, Well that definitely was not you then... you have a Canadian twin. I was in the UK in September and visited a small military museum in Dorchester where they had a good assortment of trophies from the pacific theater due to the regiment's engagements. Next time I am in the UK I will try to make it to Leeds and a meeting when on my way up to Edinburgh.

Ah, thank you so much for that information. Very helpful. You aren't on the West Coast of Canada by any chance are you? You remind me of a fellow I met on Vancouver Island when I was trying to buy a sword and was looking for information. Thanks again. Geoff K.

Thank you all for the very encouraging remarks. Bruce, you are correct, the note is the translation for the wooden tag. I have the fuchi and the peg and a screw, although the screw was not attached to anything and the retaining lever is broken. The tsuba is plain iron and also has a Nagoya stamp on it. All parts are there except for the tassel ring (?) which would have been on the Kashira, as far as I can tell. The sword that calls to me is a war trophy brought home from Java by the father of family friends attributed to a smith named Nori Taka. For 25 years they have said "no" to selling it to me, but they have my number, so maybe some day.

Hello fellow members, I have finally had time to take some pictures of my sword and am posting here to share. As I mentioned when I first sought help in identifying the smith who made this sword, it is my first sword. I have had my eyes on a much older sword for may years, but I have had this one come home to me. I will someday be able to take better photos I hope, but for now these will have to do. I envy those who can get the focus and lighting come together. There are Nagoya arsenal stamps on the sword and the tsuba and knowledgeable board members have said that it was made by Hiromitsu in November 1943 although another name I was given by a non-member was "Yukari" but that appears to be a mis-translation. Anyhow I am very pleased with the sword and hope you all enjoy the pictures. Geoff K.

Thank you all very much for your help. Really nice to know the name of the smith who signed this sword. I will post more pictures once I take some better ones with my camera, as opposed to my cell phone. Probably this weekend. Again, thanks a lot! Geoff

Hello all, I'd first off like to say that I am very pleased to be a member of this site. I am also astounded by the wealth of information found here. I am posting a picture of the first Japanese sword I ever held and although I have tried for 20+ years to obtain it, it has not yet made its way to my home. I am also posting photos of my newly acquired Shin Gunto with usual mountings. I really would appreciate any information on the smith who put his signature on the blade. I have only ever seen 1 other example of a similar second kanji and I haven't been able to find a similar complete signature yet. I believe the sword was made in November 1943 and it bears Nagoya stamps. The tsuba has a Showa stamp. When I look down the blade in strong light I can see a series of undulations which I figure are due to it being machine made from rolled steel. In general I think the blade is in good condition and I would like to have it polished some day. I realize it is not a high value sword but it means a good deal to me being my first Japanese sword. I will have more questions I know, as time goes by and I would like to say, in advance, "Thank you" for any and all help. ( I did try to upload the photos the right way up but they didn't load that way) Geoff