cisco-san Posted May 14 Report Share Posted May 14 Hello, Some weeks ago I bought a blade which is signed Yamato [no] kuni Tadayoshi (大和 国 忠義) and is dated Shôwa Jû Shichi Nen Shi Gatsu Kichi Hi (lucky day April Showa 17 (1942)) 昭和 十 七 年 四 月 吉 日 nagasa 69 cm sori is 2 cm motohaba is 3,2 cm sakihaba is 2,3 cm motokasane is 7 mm sakikasane is 6 mm Unfortunately I can not find any information about this smith. Except that most probably the smith was/is Suzuki Tadayoshi (based on information from the well known Chris Bowen). I got this information when the blade was offered to me months ago. I tried to find information about this smith in many books as well as on Web, no no luck Any further information would be great... :-) Another interesting point is that the month is written as "Shi"... which is unusual, at least for me?! Many thanks Klaus 6 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivkin Posted May 14 Report Share Posted May 14 By what is seen in photos this is high end gendaito. Lovely work! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisco-san Posted May 14 Author Report Share Posted May 14 19 minutes ago, Rivkin said: By what is seen in photos this is high end gendaito. Lovely work! many thanks! :-) This is what Chris wrote, just based on the Nakago picture ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The only smith I find listed who signed Tadayoshi with these kanji in Showa was a Suzuki Tadayoshi. I can not find any examples of his work to compare with... The nakago is well shaped and finished, the signature well cut. Most likely a traditional blade and I would bet it is of good or better workmanship. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abaris Posted May 14 Report Share Posted May 14 You should ask in the correct Military forum. Oretty sure you will get better answers! It looks incredible, BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 14 Report Share Posted May 14 Seriously nice Gendaito, in excellent professional polish. Congrats! Maybe a wartime private order, not necessarily made for the war? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oli Posted May 14 Report Share Posted May 14 Nice Nihonto thanks for the pictures , very interesting Hamon, any idea which school influenced this smith? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisco-san Posted May 15 Author Report Share Posted May 15 14 hours ago, oli said: Nice Nihonto thanks for the pictures , very interesting Hamon, any idea which school influenced this smith? Togishi meant, ko-bizen utsushi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisco-san Posted May 15 Author Report Share Posted May 15 14 hours ago, Brian said: Seriously nice Gendaito, in excellent professional polish. Congrats! Maybe a wartime private order, not necessarily made for the war? You might be right. No stamp available.... Unfortunately I got it in Shirasaya without Koshirae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Blacksmith Posted May 15 Report Share Posted May 15 A beautiful blade! Shirasaya are good Klaus, nothing to distract from the beauty of the blade! This was one of the reasons that I collected mainly Shin-Gunto swords, though back in the late 70's and early 80's, not so much was known about all the various different fittings. Do I see slight utsuri in some of the pictures? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisco-san Posted May 15 Author Report Share Posted May 15 Of course, Shirasaya is good, but if the original Koshirae would be available, this would give us a little hint if it was a war blade or a private ordered (as I have a Yoshikane from this time which was most probably a weeding gift) Yes, a very slight utsuri can be seen , but it´s so hard to make good pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oli Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 Another Showa Tadayoshi: https://www.aoijapan...a-20-nen-5-gatsu-hi/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveM Posted May 19 Report Share Posted May 19 5 hours ago, oli said: Another Showa Tadayoshi That Tadayoshi is a different one, who spells his name differently. The one that Aoi has is 忠喜 (Kawashima Tadayoshi). Relatively famous smith gunto smith. The one that Klaus has is 忠義, who is something of a mystery, but looks like a pretty skilled smith. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisco-san Posted May 22 Author Report Share Posted May 22 On 5/19/2024 at 4:11 PM, SteveM said: The one that Klaus has is 忠義, who is something of a mystery, but looks like a pretty skilled smith. Hello, seems an unrecorded smith... I will try to post some pics on FB for further information... but frankly speaking, I am not sure if I will receive more information, as this forum is a great source one with very skilled members!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soshin Posted May 24 Report Share Posted May 24 On 5/14/2024 at 10:45 AM, cisco-san said: many thanks! :-) This is what Chris wrote, just based on the Nakago picture ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The only smith I find listed who signed Tadayoshi with these kanji in Showa was a Suzuki Tadayoshi. I can not find any examples of his work to compare with... The nakago is well shaped and finished, the signature well cut. Most likely a traditional blade and I would bet it is of good or better workmanship. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Genuinely nice sword thanks for sharing. I am not at all knowledge about these more modern Japanese swords. Chris Bowen is the expert on Gendaitō (現代刀) in my opinion. I have aways been amazed by his level of knowledge about these more modern Nihontō (日本刀). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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