Naval Gunto Showa

Lareon · January 17, 2022

Was wondering if anyone would help me with the following mei on this showa naval gunto?

Ray Singer · January 17, 2022

Can you provide clearer photos? Off the cuff, this looks like

Noshu ju Sadahiro saku

Showa 17

Lareon · January 17, 2022

5 minutes ago, Ray Singer said:

Can you provide clearer photos? Off the cuff, this looks like

Noshu ju Sadahiro saku

Showa 17

I've added one more, but there's no other photos of the mei to upload that are any better. I'll have the sword in hand probably in a months time. Thanks!

mecox · January 17, 2022

Tony, Ray looks to have it as SADAHIRO with Showa 17 (1942). However, its a bit interesting as Sesko lists as follows: "SADAHIRO (貞弘), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Sadahiro” (貞弘), real name Takai Shirō (高井四郎), born March 12th 1925, son of Sadatsugu (貞継)".

But in the Seki tosho registration list, there is a father and son both registered on Showa 16 (1941) April 11, and both reside at Seki-machi, Ippongi. However, looks as though Sesko inadvertently combined them (easy to do in a massive list).

Father: SADATSUGU 貞継 Takai Sadajiro 高井貞次郎 born Meiji 35 (1902) May 24.

Son: SADAHIRO 貞弘 Ikami Shiro 伊神四郎　　born Taisho 14 (1925) March 12.

Interesting they have different family names, dad is 23 years older, could son be adopted? Who knows.

Kiipu · January 17, 2022

As this is not an army contract blade, a simplified date format could be used, in this case, 昭一七 [1942].

Mal, Sesko san specifies the gendaitō source material he used at the link below.

New: Swordsmiths Of Japan – 3 Volumes

mecox · January 18, 2022

Thomas, needs more pics to better understand it. Yes the simple form of date. Looks to be kaigunto saya. Blade has Seki stamp. Nakago and mei rather rough. I used Sesko's e-version of swordsmith list (which is worth buying).

Lareon · January 18, 2022

Here's some more pictures of the mounts and fittings.

I can't get any more photos of the nakago at the moment but when it arrives (a month ish) I can take some better photos than these

I bought it for the early Kaigunto mounts and sword hanger primarily

mecox · January 18, 2022

Tony, looks like earlier war better quality kaigunto koshirae. Your blade has Seki stamp and kiri yasurime. For comparison attached oshigata from F & G (1983):

Ikami Sadahiro is not in Hawley, but father Takai Sadatsugu is (SAD 780)

Lareon · January 19, 2022

So with this information, if the sword was produced by Sadahiro in 1942 and he was born in 1925 then he was 17 when he made this sword, interesting

I will grab that e-book too although i kind of want the hardcover of it too so might wait and buy those - i think the ebook comes with that from what i saw on his website