Identification Help, Please

[rick76er]

Hello,

 

 been reading quite a bit to purchase my very first WWII katana, so far I´ve avoided (and probably missed also) quite a few of them.

 

 This one looks promising but still need some help, may somebody verify these inscriptions? I´ll sincerely appreciated, pretty much decided to purchase it.

 

 thanks a lot

 

 RR

[Ray Singer]

Looks like Ishihara Kanetada. A showa-to (mass-produced blade).

[IJASWORDS]

Hi Rick, Ray got it. If you want a WW2 sword, depends on what you want and your budget. If this is a nice example, and good blade and the price is OK, it could be a good start collecting and study. Of course traditionally made blades will cost a lot more. So first understand what you want.       

[PNSSHOGUN]

One of the more important aspects of WWII swords & especially when buying Showato is the quality and originality of the mounts.

[rick76er]

thanks everyone for your replys; what i get basically is a machine-forged sword somehow inscribed,

 

if anyone could tell, does it read 1903 somewhere??

 

 seller says so.

 

 Once again, many thanks.

[Ed Harbulak]

There is a Seki stamp above the signature. That alone indicates the blade was made in the 1940's, most certainly NOT 1903. The Seki stamp also indicates that the sword is NOT traditionally made in the way Japanese swords are normally made.  

[Bruce Pennington]

Rick,

 

With the single picture you've given us, there's no telling what the "1903" is referencing. There are often assembly numbers painted on the tang, that could be the source of the number. Often, the metal fittings around the handle and hand-guard have numbers stamped on them.

 

But your year of manufacture, like the previous guys said, is in the late '40 to mid-'42 range as that is the roughly 2 year period the Showa stamp was in use.