WW2 Katana?

[Genoist]

Hello, first i would just like to thank anyone who helps me out with this as it remains a mystery for me and i have had the sword for a couple years now. I THINK the katana may be WW2 era? It has a name i believe but i cannot read it. Thank You!

 

 

[uwe]

Hy Ryan!

I think it reads “忠孝作” (Tadataka saku). Made by Tadataka. A Shōwa smith (1926-1989). Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a reference at a glance. So wait for the specialists in this field here….

[Stephen]

Mixing photos?? 

Waki n katana?

[robinalexander]

Hello Ryan, 

 

No comment on what I can see of the wakizashi.

 

Probably a lot more to say on the katana. IMO the fittings are not good.  Who would rebind the tsuka and leave the same in that condition. 

 

The tsuba just dosnt look genuine, nor does the kabutogane/sarute.  I'm sorry but I can't say anything nice about any of the fittings.

 

From the couple of pics the blade may be a different story but you will need to post clearer pics of the actual blade and kissaki (tip) to assist others.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

I am away from my books, and will look up the smith later, unless someone beats me to it.

 

The fittings obviously had a rough life and the handle (tsuka) has been re-wrapped recently.

 

Still, a legitimate Type 98 in combat saya.

[mecox]

Ryan, could be the following, however your mei and cutting is quite different.  However he could have had a student in Kokura Arsenal?:  TADATAKA (忠孝), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Saga – “Hizen no Kuni Tadataka” (肥前国 忠孝), “Hizen no Kuni Hakuryūshi Tadataka” (肥前国白龍子忠孝), real name Inoue Yoshiaki (井上慶昭), born November 2nd 1904, he studied from 1935 under his father Inoue Kanzaburō Kunikane (井上勘三郎国包) and in 1941 also under Taguchi Masatsugu (田口正次) from the school of Horii Toshihide (堀井俊秀), gō Hakuryūshi (白龍子), from 1943 he worked as rikugun jumei-tōshō for the Kokura Arsenal (小倉陸軍工廠).

But the fittings on yours look a bit suspicious, especially tsuba.

There is more on Hizen Tadataka here: