Tang Translation Smith ID

[Fritz]

Evening gents. Was able to add another nihonto to my small collection over the weekend, nice Showa era sword in normal ww2 army mounts, can I get some help identifying the smith, an acquaintance kind of  identified him but apparently there are two listed, thoughts on which smith. Thanks 😉

[Mark]

bit hard upside down, but standing on my head i think Katsumasa, 1943

[Fritz]

18 minutes ago, Mark said:

bit hard upside down, but standing on my head i think Katsumasa, 1943

LOL, sorry Mark, always forget which way to post the pic. How’s this 

[Fritz]

Is he a decent smith?  Blade is pretty nice 

[Bruce Pennington]

Sesko lists 2 Katsumasa:

KATSUMASA (勝正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Katsumasa” (勝正), real name Kojima Shichi´emon (小島七右衛門), born October 20th 1892, he studied under Kaneyoshi (兼吉), worked as a guntō smith and died September 22nd 1947
KATSUMASA (勝正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Tottori – “Hōki Kanaya Katsumasa saku” (伯耆金谷勝正作), “Hōki-jū Kanaya Katsumasa kore o saku” (伯耆住金谷勝正作之), family name Kanaya (金谷), he also engraved a single coin crest onto his tangs, jōkō no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀 展覧会, 1941)

 

Slough lists Kojima as "Low-medium grade showato".  Hoki Kanaya is listed as a Minatogawa smith and used a longer mei.  So, I'd lean toward Kojima on this one.

[mecox]

Fritz, this is the Seki, Gifu one, examples and background here:   

 

[Fritz]

Bruce, Mecox, Thank You!!