old Japanese sword

[fox1]

hello. I was hoping someone could give me thier thoughts on this really cool sword i know nothing about it except according to its owner it came from the pacific during ww2 

[SteveM]

Hello, yes this is an arsenal blade made during WW2. The inscription is

 

関武山義尚作

Seki Takeyama Yoshinao saku

 

which means "Takeyama Yoshinao of Seki (city) made this". 

[mecox]

@fox1  Sam  your blade is early war with a SHO stamp in sakura flower, which indlicates not fully traditionally made.  But looks a good  item.  Of note it is in "samurai" civilian mounts not Army gunto.

 

YOSHINAO 義尚: real name Takeyama Tsutomu (武山勲)
Born Meiji 39 (1906) August 17, older brother of Yoshitomi (義臣). Registered as a Seki smith in Showa 14 (1939) October 27 (age 33).  Rikugun-jumei-tōshō. Died Showa 57 (1982) July 11.    In Akihide 1942 ranking is  Jōkō no retsu (5/7).  In exhibition 6th Shinsakuto 1941  is second seat (2/5).

Examples of mei:   (“Seki Fujiwara Yoshinao”) (“Noshu Seki Takeyama Yoshinao saku” SHO), (“Seki Fujiwara Yoshinao saku” SHO), (“Seki Fujiwara Yoshinao saku kore”) (“Noshu ju Takeyama Yoshinao kin saku”) (“Noshu Seki ju nin Takeyama Yoshinao kin saku” SEKI).

 

[Bruce Pennington]

The stamp was used from 1935 to 1942, with most dated blades found from 1940-1941.