Conway

Here’s one I recently picked up. Autumn 1942 -ya 639, with yamagata M (W) stamp.

I see you are in the PNW. You should look into the Rain Dragons sword club. You can contact @Scogg for more details.

Maybe this smith is a possible relation of Mano Masayasu and Mano Kuniyasu, who were also smiths (and brothers) from Owari during WW2. Here are a few other examples found online, but no additional details on the smith. Maybe @mecox has some knowledge of this smith. https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b1119732614 https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/o1145185613 Also, that’s a nice looking display!

@John C Good catch. I was beginning to wonder if “Kane” was correct when I didn’t find any na stamped Kanehide references. Maybe “Kiku” could get added to the useful characters link on the home page.

Leo, It’s signed Kanehide 兼秀. On the dated side there is an inspection stamp above the date kanji - 名(na) for the Nagoya Army Arsenal inspection. Your friend’s sword looks to be in nice shape.

Hey Sam, Also Kanezane. Looks like Noshu ju Asano Kanezane saku kore 濃州住浅野兼眞作之 Similar example here (example C): ASANO KANESANE

I did some searching on 眞鐵 and could not find much. I noticed Moriyama san called it “magane” in his post above, but would it be correct to pronounce it as “Shintetsu?” I found one reference to shintetsu here: Taikei Naotane O-Dambira, Sai Jo Saku, 1848 NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon This Kanezane also has a “Sho” stamp.

@TLD Where did you find this sword? There’s a new grifter on eBay selling swords out of CA, but the seller is actually based in China. Looks like it could have come from this seller.

I would say there wouldn’t be many collectors of Japanese swords or military artifacts if we were all haunted by the potential back story of the items or their owners. For me, it’s important to place these items within their historical context and have some level of respect for people who served their nation and were thrust into armed conflict by their political leaders, regardless of being a member of an “Allied” or “Axis” force.

Hi Luke, That’s quite the post, but it’s a good sign you take your work seriously. The majority of these naval dirks were neither intended, nor built for combat use. Being a naval dirk, I think both the owner and dirk would have gone down with the ship had the owner perished. More than likely, its current condition is the result of its conservators of the last 80 years not taking care of it.

Thank you to everyone for the helpful input. I also found a reference on the forum to a Kanezane sword made with “rutsubo” iron, but the link to the auction is inactive. I know inscriptions specifying the type of steel are not uncommon. I would think in this case it speaks to the quality as opposed to the type of forging/quenching process.

@The Blacksmith Here are a few photos. It’s not mine, I saw it for sale locally and was just curious about the inscription. It’s a little rough as you can see from the pics.

Greetings, I am looking for assistance translating the inscription on this sword by Asano Kanezane. Thank you!

I’m afraid I’m not much help with police swords since they are outside my collecting scope. Unless the description in Fuller and Gregory is superseded by information in Dawson’s Cyclopedia, I would go with the superintendent grade designation.