Bruno

I think they used several katakana like SA (my first picture), WA (my second picture) and also maybe NA for Bruce's one. Maybe Morita sama can confirm...

Your photo is blurry but yours looks like the katakana "NA"

That's it Stephen, thanks for reformulated it better. I did not really mean "cleaning" more likely wiping of very softly

I totally understand that Axel, on the other hand it is more to softly clean the old dirt and acidity left by hands than removing the patina. I don't know just checking...

Hello, I once or twice a year wipe quickly the blade with alcohol and nothing more. Today I tried briefly to do a soft clean on the nakago with pure alcohol and some brown/ light red color appeared on the paper, must be a mix of dirt and surface rust. So hence my question, I know one should not clean the nakago but is it OK to clean without forcing a WW2 nakago with pure alcohol and some kind of kitchen paper? I am not talking about making it shiny and like new of course, but just removing the dirt and light surface rust with alcohol, kitchen paper or microfiber cloth? Thanks

Hello, Anybody know what the katakana usually found a little above the serial number on the mune means? So far I have seen WA and SA. Thank you

Hello, I am reposting this topic since it has been lost of the database. Does anyone know the whereabouts of this WWII era blade made by Sukekuni and Masakuni? It was owned by a fellow named Nole Bolinger, a militaria dealer in Florida. He doesn't recall who he sold it to a few years back...There is deep pitting in the kissaki and monouchi...While being in poor condition, I have an interest in the Kato family smiths and would like to gather more info on this blade...Anyone have any info of its whereabouts, please PM me...Thanks!

I vote for my idea : a prototype That could explain why no info is available.

Seriously Ed, if it is a prototype I would keep it no matter its "huge" potential market value. Just find a Mantetstu katana made the same year and it would be a great set imho.

Ed, Maybe a prototype? Imagine if it is the case, you put yours hands on something maybe unique. Will you post photos or will you let us drooling to death?

Domo arigato Morita sama. I don't think I've seen this page before although I know well Ohmura's website. From what I understand this article doesn't mention any smiths names. It says they could not hire top smiths but "swordsmen" to make the Koa Isshin blades. So they were just anonymous employees for the bigger part? I am surprised they made better swords than most of the numerous Seki Kaji tosho showa-to makers. Why do we know that Takehisa made some of them? What is the source? I found those swords very interesting. I like very much mine!

Hi guys, A part from the well known Takehisa and his w stamp, who else made the Koa Isshin blades? They are well made and finished for most of them, so I am tempted to believe they were made by decent smiths. I am surprised there there is no to my knowledge any "Mantetsuto tosho list". Maybe Morita sama could help? Thanks

Thanks John. Very likely you are right, however Mikasa To are considered gendaito hence my question. Also I have been told that if the sword is made in the traditional way, then the material used is of second importance, and it is considered as a true nihonto. But I don't think it is the case with Shinbu To and Gunsui To.

Thanks a lot George and Paul. Are Shinbu To considered gendai To (true nihonto)?

Morita san, Thanks for the help. "Kinken To" are the same as Shinbu To?

Yes in fact I think it is a Shinbu To. Thanks to all who helped! It was few years ago when I saw it so could not remember his name. As Gunsui to were made by the electric engineer Takeo Myagushi, I may mixed up with the Dr Honda Kotaro. My memory is playing tricks on me! Thanks again

Looks like a promising sword...

You are right Jean. One thing always I always find curious is the style of their inscriptions. It's like they were all cut by the same person, which I don't think it is the case regarding the number of them forged. I mean every amateur will recognize at first glance a Koa Isshin nakago even if he does not read Japanese. When one sees the huge difference of mei/nengo styles cut on WW2 blades (just look at Rich Stein's oshigata page), I find strange Koa Ishhin blades have all these inscriptions such homogenous, almost no variations.

I don't believe there's a difference between Koa isshin blades with kore or saku on their nakago, just a different way to sign. All these blades I have seen were quite homogenous in quality and all of very good quality. I have seen ( on photos) one or two with inscriptions a bit cruder so maybe some very late ones were slightly less well made.

Maybe I mixing 2 swords : Gunsui-to and a great sword posted few years ago by George Trotter signed "Oite Minami Shinshu Daitoto Ju Nin Seisui Tsukuru Kore" .

Once I wrote this seller to point the fact he described showa-to as gendai-to and that was confusing, and I politely asked about the supposed acid treatment. He never answered but blocked me since that day.

Hi Paul, Not Shinbu-to sorry, though I would be glad to see photos of yours! Once I remember the name I'll post it here.

Sorry guys not Yasuki. Maybe Georger Trotter could remember the name as we discussed these swords in the past. George if you read this message...

Thanks guys. Not Murata nor Takayama-to, sorry. I don't think I am mixing up with gunsui-to either.

Hi guys, I can not remember the name of an experimental type of high end showato made by a Japanese Doctor in a steel laboratory. Not a lot were forged, they were well made and possibly considered as gendai-to. They are more or less in the same line of Mantetsu-to and Gunsui-to. Any idea? Thanks!