CNS_44

Thanks for sharing some insight into this. Yes you are right it is probably difficult to draw conclusions on an original owner based off of this. The Mon was probably one of the big reasons why I liked this koshirae and I always wanted to have one that had a family crest on it. Apart from the tsuka Ito wrap which probably has been rewrapped in more recent times does the rest of the koshirae look age appropriate for a mid to late edo wakizashi?

Hi, I recently just purchased a nihonto from Japan and was wondering if I could learn more about the koshirae. The fuchi kashira has a rice bag mouse motif and the menuki is a chicken. The tsuba looks like a nice plain simple design and also there is a silver habaki. Saya also has a gold Mon on top. The smith the wakizashi is attributed to is from Bungo. Did any samurai clans in that area use this mon or is there other clans through out Japan who also used it? Any background on possibly where this style of koshirae was popular would be very helpful. Thanks, Chansen

You are right I will get better pictures when possible. thanks

I was kinda expecting this. Do you think this blade was forged during the edo period or possibly during the Muromachi judging by the hamon and blade shape and also the nakago because the oxidation is very dark black looking. Was this possibly maybe an older blade which had a gimei signature added later during a period when it was common?

Hello, what are your guys opinions on this wakizashi that I am pretty sure is signed Hizen No Kuni Tadayoshi. Does the signature look authentic or is it a gimei? If it is authentic which generation Tadayoshi would this most likely have been forged by? Also I noticed it had a habaki with a wave motif on it. Not sure if it could be related to the blade or not? Please let me know what you all think. thanks, chansen

10/4/25 SOLD

Here is a picture of the arsenal stamp. This is as clear as I could get it off my phone.

Yes there is one I will post a clear picture when I have a chance

Type (Tachi, Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, Naginata, Other) : Katana Mei : (Mumei, Signature) : Nobumitsu Era/Age : January 1945 Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : Koshirae Flaws : Pitting on both sides of the Kissaki Sword Location : Hawaii Will ship to : United States Payment Methods Accepted : PayPal Price and Currency : $1,300 plus shipping Other Info and Full Description: I am mostly looking to trade for a gunto or nihonto of equal value however I would also be willing to sell it for $1300. Mei is signed “Nobumitsu Showa 20(1945) First month(January) .Koshirae is in very good condition and locking button works flawlessly. Here is some info on the smith “NOBUMITSU (信光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Nobumitsu” (信光), real name Sakō Shin´ichi (佐光信一), born June 24th 1905, student of Kojima Katsumasa (小島勝正), he worked as guntō smith and died July 21st 1993, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide).”

Thank you to all who shared more information on it I really appreciate it. I think I got it for what I thought was a fair price of $900 because almost all the gunto I see start at $1000 and above and I was able to get the seller to take less than his original price. Sword should arrive at my house tomorrow and I will take a picture of the factory stamp and post it here.

Just found the forum where it came form thanks. Also got a few more pictures of the sword. Do the mountings look original? And also there was some pitting near the kissaki but my guess was that it was there from use during the war possibly from stabbing or cutting something and it seems to be older black pitted rust and only on the kissaki area.

Thank you, this is really great information. After viewing note #9 I can’t help but notice that it is also the same pictures of the nakago from the sword I purchased. Do you remember where on nihonto message board you saw this or how you were able to come across those photos of it?

Thank you for this information. I will definitely post a picture of the stamp when the sword arrives.

I definitely think this could possibly be the smith given the fact that I have seen a few other type 3 gunto from the same maker all around the same time frame 1944-45. But if someone is able to identify the different signature styles to determine which Nobumitsu it is I would really appreciate it.

Sorry don’t have the length of the nakago I’ll have to wait till it comes in to measure it but from what I have seen it seems that many Rinji Seishiki (type 3) gunto have longer nakago and usually have 2 Mekugi Ana.