Help with sword identification

[Kylej]

Looking for help to translate. This sword was given to my grandfather in the 1950’s. He was a surgeon and it was gifted to him by a patient after a successful surgery.  Any information would be greatly appreciated. 

[SteveM]

美作国津山ー

 

Mimasaka kuni Tsuyama (cut off)

 

Its the name of a location, but the name of the individual artist has been cut off and lost. The city of Tsuyama in the old province of Mimasaka is located in present-day Okayama Prefecture. The fittings are wartime fittings, but the blade itself is older than the war. Probably by a couple hundred years. As implied above, the sword was once longer than it it is now, and was cut shortened, probably to fit into new fittings (maybe it was shortened to fit it into the wartime fittings). 

[Bruce Pennington]

You can read all about the war swords on Ohmura's fabulous site: Army commissioned officers Shin-Guntō (Type 98 Guntō) 1938 (ohmura-study.net)

 

Yours is in Type 98 Japanese Army officer fittings.

[Nicholas]

Most likely mimasaka kuni tsuyama fujiwara kanesaki

[Kylej]

Thank you all for your expertise on this. I have horrible reception where I live so I’m sorry for the delayed response. I had my wife take a better picture with her phone if that helps with identification. It seems to me unique that a lot of the characters appear with arrow ends on them. I know this is a repurposed blade and it seems very well foraged. 

[Nicholas]

I have a sword with a similar inscription. Sorry not trying to hijack your thread.

 

[mywei]

This reference may be useful to you

https://www.aoijapan...tsuyama-ju-kanesaki/