Bruno

I really prefer this appelation rather than owner. That is the way I see things too. Nice sword by the way.

Dave, I have never heard of such special metal used by Amahide. Interesting...

I would ask Chris Bowen if the acid can be neutralized but after years I am not sure it can be done.

The ito is too fresh to be WW2 but nothing wrong having a rewrapped tsuka as long as it is well done. I am quite confident it has been restored and sold by SHOWA22 at some point, many red flags. That said and unless I am wrong that does not make your sword a bad sword, but too much acid cleaned, probably repainted scabbard (SHOWA22 likes and often uses this color) and quite impossible to tell if the parts are original or guenine WW2 mixed parts from different gunto koshirae. This seller has countless guenuine WW2 gunto spare parts in stock and do many swaping with them.

Acid enhanced hamon, new ito, possible mixed fittings and (this often seen) brown/red lacquer finish scabbard. I could be wrong (I hope I am) but this sword may come from SHOWA22 store.

Is there a date on the nakago?

You would need a shirasaya before having it polished. For the shirasaya, you may contact John Tirado, wrappig : David MCDonald and polish Woodraw Hall.

Thank you Steve.

It is Tsukamoto Masakazu but someone can tell me the full kanji please? Thank you

You could ask Woody Hall to do a shiage.

AFAIK nothing in Europe, contact David MCDONALD in Montana : http://www.montanairon.com/swords.html

Peter, afair the kanji "sane" reads rather "Masa" when about the Kato group. I may have some docs about this family I could pass you if I find them.

Nice find David. Original showa era (signed/dated) wakizashi are not so common. Always nice to see one.

Briantschernega@gmail.com togishi1@gmail.com

Try David. He is really good http://www.montanairon.com/restorations.html

togishi1@gmail.com is Takeo's email.

Last year Showa22 outbidded me on a bare blade RJT gendaito that Komonjo had for sale. Komonjo told me after, that Showa22 often "scretly" buy him blades under several different accounts names to re-sale them after and make profit. (Different names but same shipping address so not hard to guess) Indeed. Less than 10 days after, the not anymore "bare blade RJT gendaito" was for sale at Showa22's, fully re-mounted in random Type 98 koshirae, blade fully horribly cleaned so was the freshly rubbed nakago. To be honest, it was an average RJT blade by an unrecorded RJT Seki smith KANEUE. I was sad not because I lost the auction but because I could not save this one.

More like $1200 to $1800

Hello Curran, Very nice commemorative tanto, but not made for the imperial family. Actually on the picture, there appears to be no hada and there is no nie so it certainly looks like an oil quenched western steel blade. In the Taisho and early Showa period, many smiths were using western steel because tamahagane was very hard to get- Yoshichika, Minamoto Kanenori, Hayama Enshin, all used western steel in this era. Using western steel was not disrespectful for them

We are too much influenced by social medias and their instantaneous answers that satisfy us. We have less tolerance for waiting than we used to and get more easily frustrated by that. I don't take a long wait of response as a lack of respect. A communication can be very good with only a few messages, while it can be useless with many. In the past I used to send work to talkative craftsmen. They were keep telling me how good they were and always sent prompt replie but at the end were not so qualified. Quantity is not quality. Once again, the most important is to have the best job done, and with David you will have it.

Hello Craig, My communication is 100% by emails with David. Sometimes I wait one or two months to have an answer, sometimes a few days It depends. Maybe the time passes differently in Montana! It took several months to have my work done, it was not an important one. I always tell cratsmen I am not in a hurry so don't expect anything done fast. Plus as long as I know my sword or fittings are beetween his hands I don't worry. Maybe if you have ordered a more consequent work it is normal to wait longuer. I also think he has many customers and take the time to do an excellent work.

Hello Craig, Yes David is not the fastest to answer I agree. Not sure why, but you don't need to worry about your sword. He might just be busy and communicate a little. This year he did some little work for me, shipped back the sword to me in France and...Never asked to be paid although I asked him a few times to sent me his invoice. I have another sword I will sent him soon. I totally trust him and accepted he is just not a phone or email guy. Just be patient, he is a quiet type.