Is This A Chimata Stamp On The Nakago?

[barnejp]

Hello Everyone,

 

Is this a Chimata stamp and is it uncommon not to have a signature inscription on the nakago? If it is uncommon, is it a good sign or a bad sign, generally speaking?

 

Thank you.

[Bruce Pennington]

Greg,

 

That's a "Gi" of Gifu stamp. Gifu was a large region the Seki was in. According to Fuller & Gregory, he hasn't seen a Gifu stamp prior to 1943. As your's is undated, I'd use that as the earliest date, unless you find out something else.

 

I wasn't unusual for blades to go unsigned.