Assistance with inscription possibly concerning a katana suriage during WW II

[JAMJ]

Hi all, first time posting in this thread. I have an O-suriage Shinto katana that appears to have been cut down during world war II and came with gunto koshirae. There's an inscription on the nakago that I can't decipher that supposedly was inscribed by the suriage smith.  I'm at a loss with trying to make out the characters. Can anyone decipher what is written? Thanks in advance. 

[k morita]

Hi,
The inscription says:
凌霜堂弘一スリ揚　(Shortened by Hirokazu/Koichi in Ryosodo(The sword shop name). 

[JAMJ]

Morita San,

Thank you very much for providing the translation.  I was at a loss.  I see Ryosodo is a military sword shop.  Would it be possible this was done during/before WW2?

With appreciation.

[SteveM]

I'd say there is a good chance it was shortened between the early 1930's and the mid 1940's.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Jeff, do you photos of the Gunto mounts?

[JAMJ]

@PNSSHOGUN I'm on a brief holiday and will upload pics in a few days.  Thanks

[k morita]

Hi,

Here is a pic of this sword shop Ryosodo on [Dai Nippon Token shoko Meikan] pub 1942, on page 199.

Located in Yotsuya,Tokyo.

 

[JAMJ]

Fantastic picture Morita-San! It seems to have been already well established by the early years of the war and gives provenance to the suriage. Thank you very much.

[JAMJ]

Hi PNSSHOGUN,

Here are a few pics of the Gunto mounts that came along with the katana (the sword was kept in shirasaya).  Best 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Good quality Type 94 mounts circa mid 1930's, very nice.

[JAMJ]

PNSSHOGUN- Would you say it fits with a suriage and mounting at the end of the 1930s? Any the indication of what would have been the bearer's rank?  Thanks

[PNSSHOGUN]

The only reliable indicator of rank is if an original tassel or surrender tag were with the sword.