Latest Aqusition - Kai Gunto

[Fusilier]

G'day Fella's,

 

I was hoping you might be able to give me some info on my latest acquisition which I've purchased to sell.  It appears to be a Showa Naval Officers sword and does have a signature on the tang.  That's as far as I can take it, hoping someone might be able to tell me more. Because of the size of the files, I'll have to send them separately.

 

Cheers David

[Fusilier]

Other pictures

[Conway S]

David, 

 

Maybe I am way off, but it looks like a stylized Inaba. 伊 奈 波

 

[Fusilier]

Thanks Conway,

 

Would that be his name?

 

Inaba?

[Conway S]

You can search Inaba on the forum and find that it may refer to a smith but also likely to a forge in the case of kai gunto. By the way, I think the “ba” used is the hiragana form. Any stamps on the nakago? And if I am wrong about the translation at least you may learn something new! 
 

Conway 

[PNSSHOGUN]

These are stainless steel blades, can recall a few different ways of signing with Inaba - implying a workshop with multiple smiths.

[Fusilier]

Thanks Guy's,

 

I can't see any more stamps on the nakago, there are some marks on the Tsuba but I think they might just be forging flaws.  I've attached a picture showing both sides so you can see for yourselves.  So if I've understood correctly these mei are indicating that this is a stainless steel armoury made blade but with no indication of which armoury/forge produced it.  Has anyone seen a similar style of marking associated with a particular forge?

[Fusilier]

[Fusilier]

[Bruce Pennington]

No one knows for sure, as there were several smiths working during the war that are not documented in any reference material.  However, we think there's a good chance this is a forge.

 

Found an Inaba Forge reference

 

The darkened fittings and the 1-piece fuchi/seppa on your kai tell us this was a late war kaigunto, probably in the last year of the war.

[Fusilier]

Cheers Bruce,  Thanks for the link and the additional links it contained.  Its fascinating and fits with everything I can see on the sword.  in fact, I think the Ha you have a picture of on your post of the 17 Dec 2022 post might be partially visible on the nakago of this sword.  Really appreciate the help mate.

[Conway S]

Can you post a  picture of what you think is a stamp?

 

Conway

[Fusilier]

4 hours ago, Conway S said:

Can you post a  picture of what you think is a stamp?

 

Conway

I was referring to the partially visible marks on the top left and the centre of the roughly finished haft where it meets the polished part of the blade.  It may be nothing, or something? I thought it might be the Ha mentioned in Bruce's Dec 22 post and the remains of the anchor mark in the centre.  What do you think?

[Bruce Pennington]

If it was a stamp, it's too partially struck to make out, for me.  So far, I have only seen that stamp in conjunction with the Toyokawa anchor stamp.  

[Fusilier]

Thanks Bruce, I might try and get a better photograph as I think I can see a partial circular anchor stamp in the centre of that transitional area, running up to the medial ridge from the right.  That said, it might just be coincidental marking.