Translation Assistance and Confirmation - Amachi Masatsune

[tbonesullivan]

This is the blade from a Type 98 Shin-Gunt, which looks to be gendaito. This is a maker that I definitely haven't seen before, but I'm pretty sure the signature is 天 地 正 恒 作 - AMACHI MASATSUNE SAKU.  The writing is quite stylized, and there are additional kanji on the other side of the tang, which I thought was a date, but it's not in a format I'm used to seeing. I thought maybe it was a Zodiac date, but I don't recognize the first and last kanji on the back.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I also got some (bad) pictures of the hamon, which is somewhere between HAKO and and YAHAZU.

Edited October 14 by tbonesullivan

[Brian]

Not a Gendaito. Hamon and stamp prove that. But likely a high end Showato.
 

[SteveM]

Other side says 安来鋼

 

Yasuki steel.

 

See this one as well

 

[mecox]

@tbonesullivan    David, looks to be a good sword from a very good smith.   From Sesko: “Masatsune” (正恒), real name Amachi Reiichirō (天地鈴市郎, first name also reads Suzuichirō), born. September 23rd 1894, he worked as guntō smith and died May 12th 1949, Fourth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941).

He was a Seki smith, born 1894 and who registered early in Seki on Showa 14 (1939) July 1.    In NMB Downloads (top of page) my paper on Japanese Naval Swords part 1, has his background and quite a few examples.  He was a key swordsmith.   With Sho stamp your is early war.  

[tbonesullivan]

On 10/14/2025 at 12:43 PM, Brian said:

Not a Gendaito. Hamon and stamp prove that. But likely a high end Showato.
 

 

Yes, I see now, it was not made from Tamagahane folded steel. I cannot see any HADA at all. Is there any way to tell whether it was water or oil tempered?

[Brian]

Appears oil quenched.