Ray Singer

You can see examples of each below. Bizen. https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-google&hs=B4n9&sca_esv=31d3cabc157c1d09&sxsrf=ANbL-n5MFpQJGTJurISdTdqyc8fxkMcEoQ:1768063408616&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3jljrY5CkLlk8Dq3IvwBz-SWBLBIpU6WqoosusF5QLbxpRE4UEP-s9kvW4xyM81KU_nRDDrtTHEylOeCsOnTP6hZ9VUt4pmkK8PNoWiruUYTsXGzKpivCXlJPWSNFMyEwrMzsXSvKDqkcbHhOfbpzkEvB87CEt8d30SxCeg7NLVb1A4ZNthJU98sgz3dyXlymgZQDWo&q=備州長船兼光&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiVvqS7tYGSAxUORTABHTAXK3AQtKgLegQIGxAB&biw=411&bih=753&dpr=2.63&aic=0#ip=1 Mino. https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-google&hs=Yj8o&sca_esv=31d3cabc157c1d09&sxsrf=ANbL-n4HLLPh0Kc-3yG1z78s3fKJYn_ZqQ:1768063499941&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKp9lEhFAN_4ain3HSNQWw-mMGVXS0bCMe2eDZOQ2MOTwlPvdyGBqAYcnoDmdEOcJS4d44EpyAw76HrrPnlvuXFGMipMqWEuzmpzWzF6B4LPIcCJ3aEpkgsHoFQ2hwIuo04hGe_Dglr_3LMzZEpkVotQSzRkGrNi7OmdRav9kfb0rFL3pUk-fAMdI7JXVwFpebN2oCqZUaoUQMoSGrjrrpnoh5uFiQ&q=濃州兼光&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFyurmtYGSAxWOTTABHR_4LXAQtKgLegQIERAB&biw=411&bih=753&dpr=2.63&aic=0

There were many smiths other than the famous Bizen Kanemitsu who legitimately used that name. As an alternative, you may want to look at the Sue-Seki Kanemitsu lineage. It's not wrong to be cautious with a sword being sold previously out of Japan with no papers, but gimei is not the only reason that this happens. In other cases, the seller may not have felt that it was financially viable to submit it, whether that is due to flaws, or simply not being signed or attributed to a school/smith that would make the shinsa investment worthwhile.

This is exactly the book you want: The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords https://a.co/d/bYOs3m7 Best regards, Ray

https://www.google.com/search?q=oil+quenched+hamon+hamon+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&sca_esv=7158150de61051ff&rlz=1C1YTUH_enUS1164US1164&sxsrf=AE3TifNUOJS9mscaAAEpNovBrV7uF48CUQ%3A1767734473213&ei=yXxdaa_cDKeRwbkPscy58QM&ved=0ahUKEwjv5NSK7PeRAxWnSDABHTFmLj4Q4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=oil+quenched+hamon+hamon+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiMW9pbCBxdWVuY2hlZCBoYW1vbiBoYW1vbiBzaXRlOnd3dy5taWxpdGFyaWEuY28uemFIwBNQoAdYoxJwAngAkAEAmAFVoAH-AqoBATa4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgCgAgCYAwCIBgGSBwCgB44CsgcAuAcAwgcAyAcAgAgA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

That is what it appears to be from your photo.

From the second photo of the hamon, this appears to be a showato arsenal blade (not fully traditionally made) and produced during WWII.

Hi Shane, please provide additional images that clearly show the blade if you would like feedback from the group. Up close and in focus if possible. Please also carefully remove the handle and show a clear vertical image of the nakago (tang) on each side. Best regards, Ray

The mei appears to be: 備州住國光作 - Bishu ju Kunimitsu saku (made by the smith Kunimitsu in Bizen province).

Agreed, Sukekane. My mistake above. Best regards, Ray

Bizen (no) kuni Norikane It is readable, don't do anything to disturb the rust on the nakago to improve the condition.

You can see an extended discussion below which deals with the evaluation of a tanto mei, and range of variation across the smith's atelier (the students working together in his shop, assisting and sometimes signing on behalf of the master).

Yes, swordsmith mei did vary from one sword to another and there is an acceptable range of variation within authentic examples. Some swordsmiths are known for this, for example shodai Tadayoshi. And also yes, evaluating the workmanship is a part of the shinsa process, in addition to judging the mei (inscription). However, you would not expect to see a legitimate Naotane mei so radically different from the juyo example above with an identical date. And there is a crudeness in the execution of the mei that raises doubts compared with legitimate examples from Naotane and his students.

This is what I provided for the date. 嘉永五壬子年 - Kaei 5, mizunoe-ne (zodiac date for 1852)

It is possible the next kanji is Tsune. Bishu Osafune Tsune__. Several smiths used this kanji including Tsunehiro and Tsunenao. https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=備前長船恒

I replied to you on reddit. My comment there is repeated below. Wonderful find. This appears to be a Nanbokucho period or earlier tachi, signed Bishu Osafune __ (the remainder of the inscription is not readable in the photos, however please do not do anything at all to try to improve the visibility of the inscription). There may have been a date on the other side of the nakago, not presently readable. Do not try to remove rust on the nakago (tang), or to clean or polish the blade in any way. It has every indication of being a valuable sword. Best regards, Ray

Hopefully no one here will bid on this. It is certainly not an authentic Yasukuni-to. At best, it is a showato arsenal blade, doctored up with a gimei and frankenstein'd koshirae. i'm sorry to be so blunt, and I don't like to comment on active auctions, but this is one of the worst things that I've seen posted to the group.

Ishihara Yoshisada. A WWII era showato smith. This one has a Seki arsenal stamp. It is not traditionally made.

Jay: Bishu in the inscription indicates the smith worked in Owari. Masayasu is his art name.

Bishu ju Masayasu saku, dated 1942. https://www.google.com/search?q=mano+masayasu+site%3Amilitaria.co.za&rlz=1C1YTUH_enUS1164US1164&oq=mano+masayasu+site%3Amilitaria.co.za&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAjIHCAMQIRiPAtIBCDYwNDVqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I looked on a different screen, and it does look like 兼常 (Kanetsune). 武州神田住藤原兼常 (Bushū Kanda ju Kanetsune)

The nakago itself is slightly suriage (the end has been reduced) however the mei is fully present. There appear to be two kanji after 'ju'. The first is definitely 'Kane'. The last kanji is unclear as it is been washed out with the light. I would suggest trying different lighting conditions so that the glare is not so intense in that area.

The kanji with three horizontal strokes is ju (住), which wouid typically be followed by the swordsmith artname, clan + artname, etc. The name itself is not shown here, but unless it is an unlisted smith this is likely Bushu Kanenaga or Bushu Kanetsune (one of two generations). Even if the inscription is corroded , it is still worthwhile to try and show us a photo of the entire inscription top to bottom in one vertical image. Sometimes just a couple of strokes can distinguish between one or another possible craftsmen (in this case, determining if it may be Kanenaga or Kanetsune). Not making any guarantees, but as you are asking for assistance with a translation it is helpful for us to try and evaluate everything. And one additional note, please don't do anything on your own to try to make the inscription more readable (no chalk or cleaning). This may seem obvious and I am sorry to mention it, however I've seen a number of cases where new collectors have tried some amount of cleaning to improve readability on an inscription that was already readable, removing the natural patina and destroying the originality of the mei in the process.

Please show the entire mei in one vertical image (not closeup photos of individual sections). Perhaps: 武州神田住__ Bushū Kanda ju ___ (remainder cut off, or not shown). https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=starts&mei=武州神田住

Please see below. This is the same Tenpo 8 date as on your sword. https://iidakoendo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/naotaneall.jpg Best regards, Ray

As mentioned above, this is an extremely famous swordsmith. If you search online you will find a great deal of information. Search 'Taikei Naotane' and go from there.