Seeking Help Identifying A Sword

[the_misha]

Hello!

 

I'm new to the forum, and I'm hoping someone here can help me to translate the mei on a sword I just inherited from my grandfather, who ostensibly brought it back from the Battle of the Philippines.

 

 

I know almost nothing about this sword, other than it being a bring-back. The blade is in pretty rough shape, and the saya and tsuka are both absolutely wrecked, but being as it's a family heirloom of sorts, I'd like to get it restored to something resembling its original state.  First, though, I'd need to know what that "original state" was. 

 

Thanks!

 

 - Colin

[SwordGuyJoe]

Noshu seki Ju kanetomo

[Jean]

That's a WWII blade, signed Noshu Seki Ju Kane Tomo saku.

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/seki.htm

[the_misha]

Thanks, SwordGuyJoe and Jean!

So, am I correct in guessing that what I've got here is your basic factory-produced "low grade Showato" as identified on the Seki Smiths page?

 

- Colin

[SwordGuyJoe]

Yup. The Sho stamp indicates that it is non-traditionally made (showato)

[David Flynn]

Sho and Seki stamps don't necessarily mean they are made in a factory.  They are arsenal stamps for non traditionally made Japanese swords.  Both the NTHK yoshikawa group and the NTHK non profit group, have papered swords with these stamps.  Some are low grade Showato and some are fully hand made with non Tamahagane. 

[kissakai]

Hi

I have a seki stamped katana and I've always understood this to be 100% non traditionally made

 

 

Grev UK

[David Flynn]

No.

[SwordGuyJoe]

There are three primary elements to consider when thinking traditional vs. non-traditional:

- Steel used

- The forging process

- The quenching medium

 

Traditional would mean using tamahagane, hammered by hand by sakite, and quenched in water.  So while the question, "Is your sword traditionally made?" (If viewed as yes or no only), the answer would be 100% no.  That said, some elements of the sword construction may follow 1 or more traditional methods.  But at the end, it is a non-traditionally made sword.

 

David - Perhaps it should be done in a separate thread, but I think we would all be interested in seeing stamped sword papers - other than a star stamp (which discussing that would be   ). I have seen one a long time ago but when I discussed it here, I can't recall the consensus was fake papers or if people just went silent because it was outside of what anyone would expect.  If memory serves (and it seldom does), it was NTHK but not sure of issuing branch.

[David Flynn]

One was issued at the Sydney Shinsa, by the Yoshikawa group. The other (if my memory serves me well) was issued at a Tampa Shinsa.  There was something posted on this on this forum.  Again ( if my memory serves me well)  Chris Bowen acknowledged this.