Help translating Mei on gunto

[CNS_44]

Bought this type 3 gunto and need help translating the Mei on it. Seller said the smith was Nobumitsu. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks,

chansen

[Joseph P.]

Hello Chansen,

From what I can tell, Nobumitsu (信光) seems to be accurate. It is also signed "Showa 20", or 1945. First month (January).

[CNS_44]

Thanks for the quick reply so this would be a late war gunto then? Here are more pictures of the full sword.

[Joseph P.]

1 hour ago, CNS_44 said:

Thanks for the quick reply so this would be a late war gunto then? Here are more pictures of the full sword.

I would classify it as a late war sword, having been made in the last year of the war. It is decent quality and looks to be in good shape. The mounts are called Rinji Seishiki, but they've been known by many different names over the years (such as Type 3 or 44). Someone may be able to chime in with more information on this particular smith. The blade is stamped which indicates this sword was not produced in a traditional manner, or it involved some sort of non-traditional component. This is typical for many gunto, early and late war.

Edit: After searching, this may be the guy we are looking for but I am not 100% sure on this.
 

Quote

Nobumitsu (信光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – Nobumitsu (信光), civilian name Sakō Shinichi (佐光信一), born June 24th 1905, student of Kojima Katsumasa (小島勝正), he worked as guntō smith and died July 21st 1993

[Jcstroud]

Would like to know the length of the nakago or tang it looks very long. Thanks..... John 

[CNS_44]

Sorry don’t have the length of the nakago I’ll have to wait till it comes in to measure it but from what I have seen it seems that many Rinji Seishiki (type 3) gunto have longer nakago and usually have 2 Mekugi Ana.

[CNS_44]

3 hours ago, Joseph P. said:

I would classify it as a late war sword, having been made in the last year of the war. It is decent quality and looks to be in good shape. The mounts are called Rinji Seishiki, but they've been known by many different names over the years (such as Type 3 or 44). Someone may be able to chime in with more information on this particular smith. The blade is stamped which indicates this sword was not produced in a traditional manner, or it involved some sort of non-traditional component. This is typical for many gunto, early and late war.

Edit: After searching, this may be the guy we are looking for but I am not 100% sure on this.
 

I definitely think this could possibly be the smith given the fact that I have seen a few other type 3 gunto from the same maker all around the same time frame 1944-45. But if someone is able to identify the different signature styles to determine which Nobumitsu it is I would really appreciate it.

[Rawa]

Check at Omura's 

http://ohmura-study.net/900.html

[Bruce Pennington]

Chansen,

I checked my files and have what appears to be two Nobumitsu.  One has a long mei and his blades are Showa and large Seki stamped.  I think he is this one:

 

NOBUMITSU (信光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Fukuoka – “Chikushū-jū Sa Nobumitsu kinsaku” (筑州住左信光 謹作, “carefully made by Sa Nobumitsu from Chikuzen province”), real name Koyama Nobumitsu (小山信光), he was born on the 26th day of the second month Meiji six (明治, 1873) and studied under Fukuoka-Ishidō Koretoshi (是利), he lived in Chikuzen´s Ito (怡土), kihin-jōi (Akihide), Special Honor Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941) (see picture right)
 

 

The other. like yours, used 2 kanji mei, usually with a large gap between them.  His blades are all '44 & '45 made, and are Gifu & Na stamped.  This is likely your guy:

NOBUMITSU (信光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Nobumitsu” (信光), real name Sakō Shin´ichi (佐光信一), born June 24th 1905, student of Kojima Katsumasa (小島勝正), he worked as guntō smith and died July 21st 1993, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide)
 

 

Could I get a clear shot of that stamp at the top.  It's likely a Gifu stamp.

[CNS_44]

3 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Chansen,

I checked my files and have what appears to be two Nobumitsu.  One has a long mei and his blades are Showa and large Seki stamped.  I think he is this one:

 

NOBUMITSU (信光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Fukuoka – “Chikushū-jū Sa Nobumitsu kinsaku” (筑州住左信光 謹作, “carefully made by Sa Nobumitsu from Chikuzen province”), real name Koyama Nobumitsu (小山信光), he was born on the 26th day of the second month Meiji six (明治, 1873) and studied under Fukuoka-Ishidō Koretoshi (是利), he lived in Chikuzen´s Ito (怡土), kihin-jōi (Akihide), Special Honor Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941) (see picture right)
 

 

The other. like yours, used 2 kanji mei, usually with a large gap between them.  His blades are all '44 & '45 made, and are Gifu & Na stamped.  This is likely your guy:

NOBUMITSU (信光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Nobumitsu” (信光), real name Sakō Shin´ichi (佐光信一), born June 24th 1905, student of Kojima Katsumasa (小島勝正), he worked as guntō smith and died July 21st 1993, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide)
 

 

Could I get a clear shot of that stamp at the top.  It's likely a Gifu stamp.

Thank you for this information. I will definitely post a picture of the stamp when the sword arrives.

[mecox]

@CNS_44   Chansen   you could look at this NMB Download (note #9):

 

 

[CNS_44]

3 hours ago, mecox said:

@CNS_44   Chansen   you could look at this NMB Download (note #9):

 

 

Thank you, this is really great information. After viewing note #9 I can’t help but notice that it is also the same pictures of the nakago from the sword I purchased. Do you remember where on nihonto message board you saw this or how you were able to come across those photos of it?

[mecox]

The pic for # 9 has the reference for NMB with the date and who posted.  Do a search. 

[CNS_44]

Just found the forum where it came form thanks. Also got a few more pictures of the sword. Do the mountings look original? And also there was some pitting near the kissaki but my guess was that it was there from use during the war possibly from stabbing or cutting something and it seems to be older black pitted rust and only on the kissaki area.

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, the fittings look original.

 

A good number of swords get pitting and stains at the end.  It's most likely from water that got into the saya, causing corrosion.  It was a known problem, back then.  A couple of mods were created in an effort to keep water and dirt out.  The early Police sabers changed latching mechanisms and the Army gunto tried the flip latch throat cover and the dust proof seppa.  The Rinji seishiki (Type 3) usually came with the dust proof seppa:

 

 

Obviously, they weren't always successful.

[CNS_44]

Thank you to all who shared more information on it I really appreciate it. I think I got it for what I thought was a fair price of $900 because almost all the gunto I see start at $1000 and above and I was able to get the seller to take less than his original price. Sword should arrive at my house tomorrow and I will take a picture of the factory stamp and post it here.