Looking For Some Help With My Newest Sword

[John Miller]

This is my first time posting, I have bought a few Japanese swords in the past and found lot of great info on this site. With my newest sword I am kinda at a dead end, I am familiar with the most common showa/arsenal markings but have been unable to figure out much of anything about this sword. It was in shin gunto mounts that seem to be of really nice quality, It a good bit shorter then my other military swords and I suppose it is wakizashi length. I can provide any extra pictures that would help. Thanks for your help. 

[Shugyosha]

Hi John,

 

Assuming the signature is legit, it's not a gunto but a traditional blade in army mounts. 

 

The signature is 勝光 - katsumitsu and the date is 天正十  四 年二月日 a day in February in the 14th year of Tensho (February 1587).

 

Hope that helps,

John 

[Jean]

1586

[John Miller]

I have translated the data on other nco/gunto swords to 1943 and the like but when I tried with this one and came out with Tensho, I thought I was making a mistake. The blade is in okayish condition, Some small nicks, but better then most the others I have. All of my books deal with the more modern period, Is there a book or site I should be looking at for the Tensho era?

[Shugyosha]

1586

 

Thanks Jean. 

 

John, 

 

Rather than buy a book to cover this period, I think you would be better off trying to narrow down the smith to a particular province first of all. 

 

I've had a look through Hawley's Japanese Sword Smiths and there is a Katsumitsu working in Kaga between 1573 - 1596 and signing nijimei who looks like being the best candidate for the maker of your sword. 

 

The reference number is KAT119 and Hawley's notes say that he worked in the late Bizen style, was the first generation and Hawley gave him 15 points. He is also referenced in Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten - I may have examples of his signature in my reference books but I don't have a working scanner at the moment - I'll have a go at taking some pictures of the relevant pages and see what they come out like.

 

There are a number of other smiths signing Katsumitsu in Hawley's but this guy is the only one working in a period that covers the date on your sword. 

 

Best,

John

[John Miller]

Thanks for Information, Has far as I can tell the sword is in nice most likely restorable condition. It does have small nicks, along with a "casting" flaw about half up, The weather is horrid here right now and think outside is my best chance to get some larger pictures. I have owned a few swords before this but I am completely floored that this one seems to have been made in 1500s.

[Dave R]

Not as unusual as you may think....Due to shortages of blades the Japanese military had a couple of initiatives that resulted in the re-use of old blades. Information here...http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=824972

Here...http://ohmura-study.net/977.html

And a cutting from the To-Ken Soc.