Polishers signature

[Jim Manley]

I found this interesting.  I was cleaning this blade getting ready to photograph it prior to sending it off for polish & found the original polisher had scratched in his name.  I believe it is Masa ____ & possibly Saku?  any help would be appreciated.  Of further interest to the Gendai collectors in the group:  The blade is signed Baba Akitsugu who also signed Baba Tsugukiyo.  He was an RJT Smith making mid to high grade Nihonto.  This blade was made in 1936.  I don't know the reason for the switch in names.  This blade was made as a dedication to a shrine and is inscribed as such.  Perhaps Akitsugu was the name used when not making military blades? 

Jim

[BANGBANGSAN]

正輝 研（Polish)

[Jim Manley]

6 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

正輝 研（Polish)

AHHH SO Masa Teru polished.  
‘Thanks, Trystan. 
jim

[Tom Darling]

Would love to see the dedication, along with the mei.  Thank you.

[Jim Manley]

The blade isn't rusty as it appears in the picture.  I used a filter to increase sharpness and the brown tinting is a side effect.  This will go off for polish shortly. I'm hoping to shoot pictures of the Saburo Akihide (45" / 114.3 cm) O-Dachi this week mentioned in a previous thread. It's a hand full and getting it positioned for photos is difficult.  However, the polish brought out the best in it and I think many of the members, particularly the Gunto collectors will appreciate it. 

Jim 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Please do post some pictures of the big one, I think many of us non-Gunto enthusiasts will love to see it too.

[Jim Manley]

This is my friend Howard holding the Saburo Akihide a few years ago. I’ll post the new pix on a separate thread. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Wow, how did you come by that Akihide sword?

[Jim Manley]

The Akihide has been the hands of at least 3 other collectors in St. Louis before I got it from Ted Kiss. I don’t know the earliest history of how it came to leave Japan but have to assume it was a GI bring back. But with a total length of almost 6 ft it would have been difficult to hide. The saya was split and the blade was out of polish when I got it. It’s an amazing piece when one considers the effort needed to heat and forge weld what was likely something over 20 kilos of steel when, Hikosaburo started.