Trouble with Mei on Kai-Gunto

[tbonesullivan]

So, I think I am now more near sighted than I was before after staring at lists on this one. It looks almost stainless steel, and has the Navy Anchor on it, so it's definitely not traditionally made.

 

The Characters are not that complex, but I keep running in circles.  From what I can tell, the first character is read HITO, as listed as the first Kanji for "HITO" Here: https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/kanji2.htm  But, I can't find any references to a WWII Smith with that name. I also can't find that Kanji in my limited lists.

 

Second character l have no idea. I went through the sword index list for all the kanji that have that type of "hat" on them, and none really matched.

 

Last character was easy, it's a really long stylized  作 (SAKU). The black lacquer NI NANA SAN is the matching number for the Koshirae.

[Ray Singer]

Second kanji appears to me to be Shige (重). Full mei is Kiyoshige saku (清重作).

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12538-wwii-naval-toyokawa-blade-in-shirasaya/

 

[tbonesullivan]

Second kanji appears to me to be Shige (重). Full mei is Kiyoshige saku (清重作).

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12538-wwii-naval-toyokawa-blade-in-shirasaya/

 

P1130648_zpsabdf9048.jpg

 

Whoa, yeah ok that's gotta be it! Thanks so much. The marking is identical, and the exact same type of sword, though this one is in the P-37 Fittings, which are kinda worn. It's got a rayon or silk "surrender tag" but it's all but destroyed.