Ikarashi Akimitsu Katana?

[OnTime2Day]

I have posted on this, one of my grandfather's 2 Japanese swords he brought back from the Phillipines after WW2, once before but now I am asking for confirmation of what I believe to be true related to the signature and smith.

 

In a past post, I was told the mei reads:  Tesshushi Akimitsu, with real name Igarashi Masaharu.  The following information I dug up from a person with a sword from the same smith/signature shows the smith to be listed as Ikarashi (Igarashi?) Akimitsu from Niigata under Japanese Sword Index working for the army forge (star on tang), but ultimately achieved "jo saku".  

 

Sword seems like it is in very good shape.  Few questions:

1. Ikarashi Akimitsu sword?

2. Does this sword seem to be a true hand-made sword, not stainless?

3. Based on this smith, would this sword be of any value?

4. What are the green letters painted on the tang?

5. Did I really just go down the rabbit hole on this one with all of his aliases? ha

 

Thanks!

 

 

鉄収子昭光作之
Tesshushi Akimitsu Saku Kore
Tesshushi Akimitsu Made This

Real name: 五十嵐正治
Igarashi Masaharu

A "Jo Saku" level smith; Japanese Sword Index lists him as "Ikarashi Akimitsu (2)." The (2) reference is his level: Second Seat, 準國工 [Jun Koku Kō/ Quasi National Work]

Google Translation:


TetsuOsamuko [wife says it should be Tesshushi] Akimitsu; real name: Masaharu Igarashi; born in 1911. He was the descendant of Murakami clan patronage blacksmith Tesshin-ko Teruinochi, he "entered the gate" [apprenticed] of Hikosaburo Kurihara, 1942 to become an Army contractor swordsmith. After the war he was a swordsmith in Sanjo City [famous for iron] in Niigata Prefecture. He was an Army contractor swordsmith at, [okay, I'm stopping here] Army saber technology encouraged Chairman Award, such as the new Japanese sword Exhibition gold and silver Cup we are taking a number of awards. Army and is contractor swordsmith, and received the Army examination, passed the person of swords to be delivered to the Army supply of material in the system that fully received is, the review is pretty strict, quite of the sword that is issued to the examination sharpness, it is not broken, the strength that not bend was required. This sword is, there Width, piled thick, flat meat also has a figure which was dignified with plenty, trained to checkmate small cross grain skin, per Chinie, in the eyes of each other with a uniform head, clove and Pepper, foot enters well long, Nioi-guchi bright, but is a sword that was created as a saber, it is good to be of fairly. There are some shallow rust marks and shallow blade spilled under Yokote, of course blade out, not blistering, etc., exactly the figure and if Dasa to sharpening ...
Quotation Source: [Noriyuki TetsuOsamuko Akimitsu November 1943 Date] modern sword Army commissioned swordsmith saber 拵入 two ...
 

Quote:

鉄収子昭光は、本名を五十嵐正治、明治44年生まれ、村上藩御用鍛冶鉄心子照命の裔といい、栗原彦三郎の門 となり、昭和十七年に陸軍受命刀匠、戦後は新潟県三条市にて鍛刀しており、陸軍軍刀技術奨励会会長賞、新作 日本刀展金銀杯など数々の賞を取っています。 陸軍受命刀匠とは、陸軍の審査を受け、合格した者は陸軍に納入する刀剣の素材の供給を全面的に受けられると いう制度で、その審査はかなり厳しく、審査に出される刀にはかなりの切れ味、折れず、曲がらずという強度が 求められました。 この刀は、身幅あり、重ね厚く、平肉もたっぷりとついた堂々とした姿をしており、鍛えは小板目肌詰み、地沸 つき、頭の揃った互の目に、丁子交じり、足が長くよく入り、匂口明るく、軍刀として作られた刀ですが、かな り出来のよいものです。 多少浅い錆の跡と横手下に浅い刃こぼれがありますが、もちろん刃切れ、ふくれ等はなく、砥ぎにだされれば全 く姿を...
引用元: 現代刀 陸軍受命刀匠 【鉄収子昭光之 昭和十八年十一月日】 軍刀拵入 二 ...

[OnTime2Day]

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[OnTime2Day]

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[SteveM]

Igarashi is correct.

 

Ikarashi is just a typo or simple error of transliteration (although there might be a regional variation where it is pronounced more like a hard "k" sound, rather than a "g" sound, although I've never heard of it). 

 

 

1. Yes, it looks like your sword is from this smith. 

2. There are a few very recent posts concerning this very topic. The problem comes from the distinction implied by the phrase "non-traditionally made". "Stainless" in itself isn't a bad thing, as there are very collectible WW2 era swords using a new type of stainless (or anti-rust) steel, and the smiths who made these were very deliberate about letting the owners know what kind of steel was in the blade. Anyway, find the recent post that talks about non-traditionally made swords, and the meaning of that distinction. 

3. Valuable to anybody who is looking to buy a WW2-era blade. Somewhere in the very large pile of sub $2000 swords, with the value going down for each inch of the sword that has pitting or rusting (or fingerprints, etc.). 

4. Looks like 八、三、十　（8, 3, and 10). Just assembly numbers. No great significance. 

5. Hopefully answered by my comments above. 

 

Also, note that the board rules ask you to sign your posts with a real name (first or last, your choice). 

[reeder]

Nice find, how long is the cutting edge?

[OnTime2Day]

Nice find, how long is the cutting edge?

Nagasa. 63.5cm

Kissaki. 4cm

[Jean]

Ryan,

 

You must be aware that all these pictures can and must be gathered in one post...