Help with Kyugunto Stamp Please!

[Bruce Pennington]

All,

 

Anyone recognize this writing? It's on a kyu blade. I've seen similar writing on the handguard of a navy dirk. If memory serves, isn't it some sort of old religious writing?

I'm adding a side-by-side with the image flipped incase I've got is upside down.

 

 

[ChrisW]

I'd love to see the whole blade Bruce! Something about Kyu Guntos just capture my interest.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Chris, the sword is here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/KYUGUNTO-RUSSO-Japanese-OFFICERS-SAMURAI-SWORD-WITH-SCABBARD-GROOVED-BLADE-N46/401933298387?hash=item5d95176ad3:g:TukAAOSwZTldsb4~

[Nobody]

Maybe 直弘 - Naohiro.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Thank you! I found this, bottom post with same stamp: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/16356-showato/

 

And now the mystery unravels:

 

Someone recently pointed this out to me...

Stamp is indeed double struck. It is the smith's name: Naohiro. Remember, Japanese is read right to left traditionally.

直弘

Family name is Yanagawa. From Saitama.

大慶直胤--直弘[初代]（土野留助）--直弘[二代]（柳川才次郎）--直弘[三代]（柳川昌喜）-- 直弘[四代]（松原英一）（埼玉県大宮在住）

This is most likely the work of the second generation. During the Meiji and Taisho periods, he worked at the army arsenal in Tokyo making blades for sabres and other western style swords. He also made razors and the like. I have seen this stamp before on a razor as I recall....

[ChrisW]

Dang! They always slip by me. Congrats on the nice buy Bruce!

[Bruce Pennington]

Thank you Moriyama-san! That nailed it.

 

Chris, sorry to say, but it's John's not mine. I plan to get one of these for my collection, but have too many things ahead of it to chase one down yet.

 

John, you got a good deal on that one! They normally run in the $1,200 range!

[ChrisW]

Well, heck of a nice deal John! I feel like $1,200 is a minimum these days for machine-made or mumei wakizashi length. At least with what I've been seeing.