Daniel

A little more about the smith. Thanks to Chris Bowen. He was born March 31 in the 43rd year of Meiji. He was from Kuroiso in Tochigi Prefecture (Kurihara was also from Tochigi- thus the connection). His real name was Akimoto Shinichi. His grandfather was Zenhyoe Aizu Kanesada. In Showa 6 he entered the Nihonto Tanren Denshujo in Akasaka Hikawacho. He studied under Kurihara Hikosaburo Akihide and Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu. Later (Showa 16), he became an instructor when they moved the school to Zama and called it the Nihonto Gakuin. Miyairi Akihira and Amada Akitsugu were students under Akitomo, as were many others. He was a Rikugun Jumei Tosho. After the war, he returned to sword making in Showa 29. He made a largecontribution to the revival of the craft post war byteaching and helping many young smiths and others who would enter the post war sword contests. In thewar era contests, he won the Meio award 3 times, the Sori Daijin Award 3 times, the Monbu Daijin Award once. In the post war contests, he won the Yushu Award, the Doryoku Award, and many others....

Time to move on these two beautiful swords. First sword is Akimoto Akitomo. Rikugun Jumei Tosho High to Superior Grade Gendaito Katana: in Shirasaya with Koshirae Signature: Musashi Jyu Akitomo Saku. (NBTHK Hozon Paper) Koki 2603 nen 3 gatsu Kichizitsu The blade is polished in Shirasaya. Blade length:68.4cm or26.93 inches. Sori: 1.6cm or0.63 inches. Width at the hamachi: 3.18cm or1.252 inches. Width at the Kissaki: 2.2 cm or0.866inches. Thickess at the hamachi: 0.725cm or 0.285inches. Era:Syowa period. Shape: The blade is wide and thick healthy blade and deep sori and longer Kissaki. Jitetsu:(texture)Itame hada well grained with much Jinie attach. Hamon: Niedeki Gunome Midare hamon and Cyoji midare hamon mix. In hamon, there are many ashi scatted and a lot of activities like small Kinsuji and Sunagashi. Special feature:He was working during the war time as Japanese army sword craft man from army’s order and got Nyusen prize and Yusyu prize(top prize excellent result) He was studied at Kurihara Hikosaburo and Kasama Shigetsugu. His sword is almost always above standard compare with other sword smiths. NBTHK Hozon Paper SOLD Best Regards Daniel Svensson

Yes it is!😀

Judge for yourself but in my opinion Moses does good work and is a good man to deal with…

As always, too slow… 😂

Is this some form of handachi koshirae?

Hi Joe good to have you aboard again. You’ve been surely missed.

No other marks just the Mei, date, assembly number and the star stamp.

Akitaka (昭孝), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Niigata – „Akitaka“ (昭孝), civilian name „Nakabayashi Fukutarō“ (中林福太郎), born 1910, he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō This is a very beautiful blade. In my experience many/most blades in type 3 mounts are very robust but this is very elegantly shaped and light in hand.

Date: Showa ju hachi nen ichi gatsu kitsu jitsu (one lucky day in January 1943) Nagasa : 24 1/2 " Sori: 15.0mm Width at the ha-machi: 30.5mm Width at the yokote: 20.8mm Thickness at the mune-machi: 8.3mm Construction: shinogi-zukuri Mune: iori Nakago: ubu Kitae: itame Hamon: gunome Boshi: maru

CHIKAHIDE (親秀), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Shizuoka – “Ōta Chikahide” (太田親秀), “Tōtōmi-jū Ōta Chikahida” (遠江住太田親秀), real name Ōta Harutoki (太田春時), born March 20th 1893, besides of his hometown Inasa (引佐), he also worked in Tōkyō and in Ōsaka, jōko no jōi (Akihide), First Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

Mei: Toei Ju Ota Chikahide Date: Showa jyu shi nen hachi gatsu hi (august 1940) Nagasa : 27 3/8 " Sori: 18.0 mm Width at the ha-machi: 31.6 mm Width at the yokote: 20.7 mm Thickness at the mune-machi: 7.7 mm

Any news? Now would be a good time reading a book.

Collecting evil eyes from my wife and I must say I’m most successful in the field. Just had one of those glares and saw the opportunity to immediately add it to my collection or rather accumulation...

Bump Here’s another shot of mine...

Don’t think this is the same Akitaka(Nakabayashi Fukutaro Akitaka).

After reading Ray’s post I had to study mine again. While it’s true every dog has it’s day I find it hard to believe this smith had two exeptional days by ”accident”. Both Ray’s and my blades at least in my opinion shows very good workmanship. When viewing the blade I’m once again struck by the Hada and Jigane. The Hamon is also quite striking and very similar to Ray’s example so he must have had a good control of the process... As Ray I would be extremely interested of seeing additional examples. Regards Daniel

Very nice Ray! I have a blade by the very same smith. I’ve only seen two blades by Nakabayashi Akitaka, my own and now yours. Mine is also in the same style Type 3 koshirae but with a leather combat cover. Interesting is both yours and mine has a sarute which type 3’s usually don’t have... Regards Daniel

Hope for a realese anytime soon...

Mei: Akitaka Date: Showa ju hachi nen ichi gatsu kitsu jitsu (one lucky day in January 1943) Regards Daniel

Well, here’s mine...