Steve K

Thanks, John. This is great information and I will search for Mal’s write-up as you suggest. Interesting that Slough has his birth year as 1902, which is obviously an error. I appreciate your quick response, the photo, and the suggestion. Best regards, Steve

Hello, Can anyone please tell me what year swordsmith Kojima Kanemichi died? Also, I see from Slough’s book, pages 46-48, that he used the name Kojima Kanetoki earlier in his career (Slough shows a tanto dated 1936 with this name). His work in 1941 is signed Kanemichi (when he won Special Honor Noted Seat in the 6th Exhibition); does anyone know what year he changed his name to Kanemichi? Thank you very much. Your assistance is most appreciated! Best regards, Steve K

John, Thank you very much for this information. It is excellent and I appreciate your help. My sword is the one with the Mei pictured in the book (according to the seller). I will attach some photos of the Mei and blade. The blade is housed in standard wartime T98 fittings and metal scabbard. It has NTHK Kanteisho papers. Thank you again and best regards, Steve

Hello, Can anyone provide me with some basic biographical information regarding smith Tsukagoe Tsugunobu. I believe he worked in Gunma Prefecture. His work appears on page 179 of An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868 – 1945 by Slough. Tsukagoe Tsugunobu appears on a period list of members of the Rikugun Jumei Tosho and he won Fourth Seat under the name Tsukagoe Kaneharu in the Sixth Exhibition of Newly-Made Japanese Swords held in March 1941. Any information regarding this smith will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and best regards, Steve K

Thanks very much! I appreciate the translation. I do hope someone can provide information regarding when it was made. Best regards, Steve K

Hello, Can anyone please provide basic information regarding this tsuba? I would like to know: 1. Estimated age. 2. School. 3. Translation of inscription. This information is for my own use and not for sales purposes. This tsuba came with a sword I purchased and I'm just trying to learn more about it. I appreciate your assistance. Thank you and best regards, Steve K

Thanks very much for both of your responses and the information provided. The translation of the mei is much appreciated (It's fortunate that the smith's name survived given the shortening of the blade). The conversion of a late Muromachi katana to wakizashi in the Edo period sounds very plausible to me. Thanks again for your help and best regards, Steve

More Photos

Hello, I just joined the site and I'm hoping to obtain some help in answering two questions about this wakizashi: 1. Estimated timeframe that it was made. 2. The blade has been shortened and only two characters of the mei remain. These characters are difficult to make out, so I wanted to see if anyone can read them. This information is for my own use and not for sales purposes. This wakizashi is part of my collection and I'm just trying to learn more about it since it does not have papers. I appreciate your assistance. Thank you and best regards, Steve K