Officer sword ID help please

[Anfoz]

Hi, I’m hoping some knowledgeable people here may be able to help read the signature for me on this blade. I think I have some right but not sure about the others. Blade has a few nicks, scratches and ugly spots but overall not to bad. I know the tassel isn’t right but it came with it so thought I would just leave it.
? 1 and ? 4 look the same to me and I think ? 2 is ‘H’  no idea what ? 3 is. Any extra info would be greatly appreciated..... Thankyou

[SteveM]

Hello Andy,

関住藤井兼藤作

 

 

[Anfoz]

Hello Steve M,

Thankyou for your reply I appreciate it

[Anfoz]

1 hour ago, SteveM said:

Hello Andy,

関住藤井兼藤作

 

 

Hi Steve,

Fujii Kanefuji

This is what I found, have I translated that correctly? 

[Bruce Pennington]

The tassel is from the pre-Type 94/98 days, or rather the kyu gunto days.  Wonder if the owner intentionally kept his tassel and transferred it when he upgraded his sword to the new gunto.  Of course this could simply be a post-war add-on.

[PNSSHOGUN]

I do not have high hopes that is a Japanese tassel, it looks more like a European type. It doesn't have the right knot shape, stem or wire cord. These are genuine Kyu Gunto tassels for reference; General, field grade and all ranks.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here are the 2 in comparison.  I don't have the terms down, but the shape seems the same, but with a metal "neck".  But I am way out of my league on this topic.

[SteveM]

@Anfoz Yes, the whole thing is Seki-jū Fujii Kanefuji Saku

[Bruce Pennington]

Could you give us more pictures of the fittings? Including the tsuba?  This seems to be one of those intentionally darkened or blackened gunto.

[Kolekt-To]

So, this is a blade made by a Seki smith named "Kanefuji"? And the blade would be machine-made or non-traditional (as over 90% of Seki blades were non-traditionally made)?

[ChrisW]

Likely non-traditional and oil-quenched.

[Anfoz]

4 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Could you give us more pictures of the fittings? Including the tsuba?  This seems to be one of those intentionally darkened or blackened gunto.

 

4 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Could you give us more pictures of the fittings? Including the tsuba?  This seems to be one of those intentionally darkened or blackened gunto.

Yes, I will post more photos when I get home. The Tsuba is a dark brown in colour the photo makes it look black.

[Anfoz]

9 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

I do not have high hopes that is a Japanese tassel, it looks more like a European type. It doesn't have the right knot shape, stem or wire cord. These are genuine Kyu Gunto tassels for reference; General, field grade and all ranks.

 

My tassel does look a little different to those. It’s very close to the one on the far left. Thank you 

[Anfoz]

13 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Could you give us more pictures of the fittings? Including the tsuba?  This seems to be one of those intentionally darkened or blackened gunto.

tsuba is definitely brown.

[PNSSHOGUN]

The knot appears to be a Kriegsmarine type, or something along those lines.

 

[m4l700]

I agree John, that was also my initial reaction. Looks really close to some of my whermacht/luftwaffe/kriegsmarine tassels(portepee).

 

 

[Anfoz]

I would like to thank everyone for their help it was greatly appreciated.