Translation request Signature Japanese Shin-gunto.

[kusunokimasahige]

Hi all,

 

A friend of mine wants to know if his Samurai officer's sword is a real one and wonders who made it.

 

I am posting two photos he sent me of the Nakago, and will inspect the blade myself soon.

(and take pictures of the blade itself hopefully) I have not seen a (star) stamp yet because he did not

photograph the Nakago properly.

 

Can anyone help me with the signature ?

 

First photo says :

 

Showa 18 Nen 6 Gatsu

 

Second Photo :

 

Signature I think is

 

.......... working on that one now

 

Best wishes,

 

KM

 

 

[kunitaro]

昭和１８年６月　

兼門 Kanekado

[kusunokimasahige]

Thank you Kunitaro.

 

So this should be the Kanekado listed KAN-1077 and KAN 1101 in Hawley.

 

I was looking at the first Kanji and thought.. Sakana ? Forgetting the other reading.

 

Any info on the man itself would be welcome also.

 

KM

[george trotter]

It may be either of the 2 smiths you quote (or they may be the same man)....but I think you will find that this blade is showato...mei style and nakago finish suggest it will have a seki or sho stamp on it.

There was a Seki Kaji named Kanekado (Yoshida Noriichi/Tokuichi I think), started there on 26 Oct 1939.

Might be more on him in Markus Sesko's book.

Some smiths listed in the Seki Kaji list also were trained tosho who made gendaito also...not sure about Kanekado but I think this one is showato.

regards,

[kusunokimasahige]

Apparently it is the same man according to the Hawley entries.

 

Great information though George !... Now it is waiting to see if there

is an arsenal stamp on the nakago. Apparently Kanekado was "low ranking",

5th seat (below average) in the 1941 exhibition.

 

KM

[cisco-san]

Markus lists only one Kanekado at this time:

Kanekado (兼門), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Kanekado“ (兼門), civilian name „Yoshida Norikazu“ (吉田徳一), born March 29th 1906, he worked as guntō smith and died September 6th 1969, student of Kurihara Kaneaki (栗原兼明)