Translation For Wwii Trophy Sword.

[Bry7831]

I recently inherited this sword from my uncle, who brought it back from WWII. This sword is strange in that it has a leather covered scabbard like early shin-gunto, yet has traditional fittings. I showed it to an expert on nihonto, and she believes its WWII era but is having difficulty translating the mei.

 

Hopefully my picture attaches correctly, i am a forum scrub and am not terribly familiar with it.

 

[obiwanknabbe]

Bry7831, we will need good clear pictures of the entire blade to help you answer your question. Also, as per board rules, please add a full name so that we can address you properly. 

 

kurt k

[Bry7831]

I took these pictures when we were cleaning out his room. I realize theyre blurry, but theyre what i have atm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bry7831]

Sorry for some reason two of them didnt paste right. Im having to do this all on my phone.

 

 

 

-Bryan

[Greg F]

Hi Bryan, im no expert but I think it probably is ww2 era blade with edo Koshirae minus saya. The fittings seem nice enough. Welcome to the board.

 

Greg

[SteveM]

Hello Bryan,

 

The mei reads: Naganuma Yoshifusa

 

Another possible reading might be Yoriifusa, as in the thread below.

(with thanks to Moriyama-san and Eugene)

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/859-kanji-help/

[Bry7831]

Greg- Thank you for the welcome. You dont need to be an expert, i appreciate any input you can give me. Could you tell me more about Edo koshirae? And your opinions of these particular koshirae?

 

Steve- thank you the mystery is solved lol. Would you happen to know anything about this particular smith? The only thing i could find through google is a kai gunto he made, which to my relief the description states he made his swords through all traditional methods.

[Greg F]

Hi Bryan here is a great article that should help. If you can get some better pics for us then people can get a better idea what we are looking at. The f/k could be mino school? All the best.

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/japanesekoshirae.article.htm

Greg

[SteveM]

Hello Bryan, sorry to say I don't know anything about this smith. He seems to be a rather obscure WW2-era smith. 

[Bry7831]

Greg- Im going to get a camera from this decade so you guys can have some quality pictures to work with. I have been working my way down the article as well.

 

My only questions for you guys are:

 

Is this a gendaito? Or some modified gunto?

 

If you have any speculation on the previous question, then who might this have been made for and why a combination of traditional fittings and a gunto scabbard?

 

I dont mean to bombard you with impossible questions, i just find this sword puzzling.

 

Thanks again to the both of you.

[Stephen]

looks showato, possible gendaito well know if we get better nei pix