Kanekuni Swordsmiths of Seki Ogawa & Tokyo Kato Families

[mecox]

This summary attempts to clarify the variation in kanji used for Showa period tosho namde KANEKUNI and the duplicate use of family name OGAWA by different Seki smiths. 

These variations can be confusing in the translated literature, especially the kanji for “Kuni”.  

Hopefully, there are no errors in this paper!

Available in NMB Downloads: 

 

 

[Kiipu]

As an aside, Katō Jusaburō(?) 加藤･壽三郎 of Meguro-ku 目黒区, Tōkyō 東京, was using the mei of Masamitsu 正盛 in 1937.  He could make five blades per month and had 2 apprentices.

壽 = 寿

[mecox]

Thanks Thomas, will incorporate.

As a note:  Chris Bowen contacted me finding a few "errors".  I had got info from him, but this seems extra.

I have asked Brian to withdraw the paper now, so I can correct it.

[Nicholas]

So this would be 2nd gen Kanekuni from the Ogawa line?

[Kiipu]

Interesting comment about the second brother.

（一）　初代「加藤良明」

[mecox]

Nicholas, your blade looks like Ogawa Sentaro Kanekuni.

[Nicholas]

4 hours ago, mecox said:

Nicholas, your blade looks like Ogawa Sentaro Kanekuni.

Sentaro, so that would be the first Kanekuni. Interesting I always thought it was the 2nd gen Ogawa Ichiro who made this sword. I haven’t seen many wartime era swords by Kanekuni.

[mecox]

Well I have not seen your sword, and he did die in 1939, but I was going on the way the Kane-kuni is cut.  Looks to me also the one in Slough p. 45.