Mark

Thank you Kunitaro-san. I should have thought of tsune, I was fixated on Nao. I appreciate the help with the other inscription.

I have a tanto, I can read Chikushu Ju Nobukuni Minamoto Masa???? I thought Nao but it is a bit different. The other side I could use some help with I included a picture of the blade, There is enough boshi to repair the tip but it is unfortunate damage. Thanks!

says the blade is SUKESADA not Kiyomitsu, says Bizen Osafune Sukesada. so maybe the saya has been switched or something else is wrong?

could your delivery address have an error so they are not able to deliver it to you so they return it?

they used this set up before WWII so can not assume the blade is WWII just because it has two

thanks Jim The writing is on the spot where the polisher sometimes leaves a set of lines as shown in the thread mentioned. The kanji may be scratched or put there with a burnishing rod, hard to tell but they are not written as wee (or clearly) as some in the other thread.

Denis Thanks, can you post a link? I tried searching but did not find the thread

Thank you, it is interesting to imagine where these have been

I have a mumei katana, I noticed kanji scratched on the blade under the habaki. I am thinking maybe information put there by the polisher? Or maybe owner info? One side is looks like a number, it was hard to photograph so I took 3 shots any help appreciated Thanks

sword looks to say Tadayuki but it seems very poorly written

modern copies, I see them sell for $20 each.

hope I am not getting off topic. I went to the exhibition at the MET in NY a while back that showed some great swords. National Treasures, JuBi etc. Many of them attained these levels based on their historical importance not based on their inherent qualities. While all the swords were interesting, most were fantastic, but a few did not excite me as I had expected. Maybe I have an untrained eye but I commented to a friend that a few of them I would have passed by if I saw them (just the blade with no information laying on a table) at a show priced at $5k. I think some of the swords were prized more for the history than the actual blade. My opinion is that if I am selling a blade I want a shoshin "big name" as it will bring the highest price, but if I am going to own it long term and enjoy its beauty and workmanship I want a great work by any smith, even low ranking, not a tired mediocre blade by a "big name" smith.

I must be blind........... do not see anything???????

looked Shinshinto to me

looks correct. 10th month 1944. from what I see the blade is machine made

Wes where are you located? maybe one of us are near by or maybe there is a club in your area, if so we could help you hands on

the top one is a late WWII army sword, the blade is machine made and it is worth a few hundred in that condition. The bottom one is an army officers sword that was made in the late 30's or early 40's, it may have a machine made blade or a handmade blade, the value will depend on the quality and condition of the blade. No way to tell about the blade from those pictures

Hi Dean It means there were 2 people who used that name, father and son. They were in a group of makers that learned from Suketaka (he was sort of the master smith). I can take a look at it and help you understand it, I missed you last weekend as I was in Baltimore for the sword show. Let me know and we can get together. The value is more determined by the quality and condition, he was not a "famous" maker but may be a nice sword. Mark Jones nixe@bright.net

yukiyasu

oks like you have it, good job. Kanemune 1944, the month is hard to make out but it may be 12

I see some disorganized marks. Maybe someone can make something from it, but the poor yasuri make me think it may not be Japanese. Do you have a picture of the blade and a picture of all the nakago? those may help

Danny has posted here, not sure how often to checks in. I have dealt with Danny for years, I have found him one of the best to deal with, descriptions are accurate and he has treated me well. If you do not like an item he has an inspection/return.

if it is mint I can get $12-1500 if I wait and find the right buyer

my guess for age is 1880-1900, might be cast

I have a sword by Sukemune and have owned a Sukenori, I do not know of Sukeyuki but the way he signed I too assumed he must be related thanks