Japanese Gendaito Smith of WWII

[Babu]

Hi I've been offered a sword by the Smith now identified as 一刀斎安綱作 -smith Ittōsai Yasutsuna. He was born 1924 and died 1990.

its in civilian mounts but I have seen reference to swords he made during WWII Albeit he must have been very young.

i only have one reference that shows a sword constructed in 1960 to commemorate the 2600th year of the empire. It's in WWII mounts 

http://kako.nipponto.co.jp/swords2/KT215546.htm

there are remarkable similarities.

does anyone know anything about this Smith?

thank you Adam

 

[16k]

Some info on him here:

And this:

 

 

[Babu]

Do we know if he was allocated tamahagane?

No stamp.

Blade looks water quenched but still might not be gendaito.

[SteveM]

Imperial year 2600 is 1940 (or, Showa 15, if you like). The other site mentioned he stopped swordmaking after the war. 

[Babu]

Probably lost in translation then Steve as Google's translation stated....

this sword is a sword made in 1960 to commemorate the 2600th year of the imperial era, as indicated by the year number of the 260th year. 

 

I was told this was an obscure Smith who was never allocated tamahagane but I'm not sure how reliable the source though I'm assuming he is right.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

4 hours ago, 16k said:

And this:

JP,

I don't see a stamp in his oshigata enlargement at all, do you?

[Babu]

Yes just about, very bottom left 

[16k]

Personally, I don’t either Bruce.

[EdWolf]

The light bulb in orange. Can't see the BS. 

[16k]

I see I now! Logical!

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, thanks Adam and Ed!

 

A circle with "BS" inside.  Slough says it's a light bulb, so maybe the end with the screw threads goes off to the right.  Can't quite see that part.

[Bruce Pennington]

19 hours ago, Babu said:

Hi I've been offered a sword by the Smith now identified as 一刀斎安綱作 -smith Ittōsai Yasutsuna.

Adam,

Quite a beautiful blade!  I have had the same translator experience on the Ohmura website, where it gives dates that are decades off.  I agree this blade was likely made in 1940.

 

Any chance you could get the seller to give us a good clear pic of the WHOLE nakago, in case that stamp is at the end?

[Babu]

I've requested this Bruce.

It stated on the page shot this Smith was showato and Gendaito 

I'm attaching some me images that might help as I was told he had no allocation of tamahagane.

[Ray Singer]

Adam, you may already be aware of this but the sword you are showing us looks to have been put through an amateur restoration. The pitting throughout the hamon should be a source of concern for a blade as young as a gendaito.  

[Bruno]

Buffed blade I would not buy it.

 

It is an old debate but a blade is considered nihonto as long as it has been forged in the traditional way from A to Z. Some nihonto were not made with tamahagane. 

[Babu]

I will walk away gents. Thank you for the steering. 

I was not aware it had been buffed no. It just looks in Polish to me. 

Your way better at this than I. 

What's the giveaway it's been buffed? 

[Bruno]

35 minutes ago, Babu said:

I will walk away gents. Thank you for the steering. 

I was not aware it had been buffed no. It just looks in Polish to me. 

Your way better at this than I. 

What's the giveaway it's been buffed? 

When buffed, 100% of the original polish is gone so not nice. Impossible to tell wether it is showato or gendaito.

 

It will cost $3000 to have a new polish.

 

That being said, if the price is significantly low, you can still buy it.

[Babu]

I'll not take the risk. 

Nakago here but rust exactly where stamp might be.

[Brian]

🤣

So obvious it's painful.

[Babu]

As I'm no an egotist I'll say I don't see it.

I've absolutely no experience of modern blades or the tricks used to pass them off as something else.

I can see the suspicious rust where a stamp would be .this would have been a flag in itself. I don't see buffing or anything like that. Just looks in polish.

Thank goodness I don't REALLY collect swords.

Still I wasn't stupid enough to buy without consulting the good people on here.

 

[Brian]

It's not rust. The area has been punched and stamped and messed up deliberately. Then repatinated.
Probably to allow it to be registered in Japan originally.

[IJASWORDS]

100% correct Brian. 

[David Flynn]

I don't think it's been buffed, but I agree with Ray, a very amateur polish.