3 x Nihonto found in a deceased estate in Australia - purchased by RAAF Museum

[GaryTraynor]

Hello and thank you for allowing me to post on this site.  I am the curator of a very small museum collection in coastal NSW Australia (run by volunteers, so not for profit).  In brief, our locality was subject to Japanese submarine attack during WW2.  Hence we wish to tell that story and these three swords were purchased from a deceased estate, to help tell that story.

 

We have 3 Nihonto (as per the photos).  As you will realise, we know very little about Japanese swords.  We believe some parts (Fuchi (縁) and Mekugi (目釘) are missing and it would be our hope for guidance on how to bring these Nihonto back to complete standard.  

 

We have labelled the swords as "1"  "2" and "3"

 

Nihonto 1:-  as can be seen the Nakago is in poor condition with no apparent Mei ???  Does this mean it was a "mass produced" blade manufactured during WW2?  Unfortunately the Kissaki is broken

 

Nihonto 2:- any information in regard to the swordsmith would be appreciated?

 

Nihonto 3:-  This is the only sword with Hamon.  Unfortunately the Kissaki is broken also on this blade.  Any information in regard to the swordsmith would be appreciated?

 

Of course, we have other photos.  Please excuse our bumbling efforts to use Japanese terminology as we begin our curatorial journey in regard to Nihonto.

Edited Sunday at 09:13 PM by GaryTraynor

[ROKUJURO]

Gary,

weelcome to the NMB forum!

There is not much you could do yourself to improve the condition of these swords except giving them a thin layer of low viscosity mineral oil AND wiping it mostly off so no oil gets into the SAYA (= scabbard).

But luckily you have a real expert in Australia who you could ask for help:

Andrew Ickeringill  https://touken-togishi.com/

He will probably not work on these machine-made military blades but he could advise you what to do.

In the meantime you could clean the red rust off the NAKAGO (= tang) just with a cotton rag, a soft brush, and A LITTLE oil. Nothing abrasive, so the patina is not damaged! This is normally not done on traditionally made Japanese sword blades, but in your case, it is all about preserving a piece of recent military history.

Be patient as you clean, as damaging is easy!

The MEI (= signatures) are nicely readable on two swords; they were probably made industrially in MINO province in the war.  

[John C]

Gary:

I believe sword #3 is Asano Kanezane. Here is some info on him from Sesko:

 

John C.

[John C]

Also, the stamp on sword #2 is the Seki Cutlery inspection stamp. The smith is Kane (something). You'll have to wait on the translation for that. The stamp usually indicates the sword is not traditionally made (i.e., tamahagane steel; water quenched).

 

John C.

[Bugyotsuji]

No. 2 Maybe ‘Kanetaka’.
兼隆

 

[xiayang]

5 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

No. 2 Maybe ‘Kanetaka’.
兼隆

 

 

Indeed.  

 

長谷部兼隆 = Hasebe Kanetaka

 

His entry in Markus Sesko's Swordsmiths of Japan:

 

Quote

KANETAKA (兼隆), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetaka” (兼隆), real name Hasebe Bun´ichi (長谷部聞一), born August 8th 1898, he worked as a guntō smith and died April 1st 1965

 

[robinalexander]

Hi Garry, 

 

Well done with your terminology although it could be sarute and mekugi.

 

They are all Officers swords.

 

1. is a Type 98 in classic military mounts

2 and 3 both Officers swords, have a combo of military and civilian mounts (not unusual) and both have leather combat covers probably over wooden sayas.  Again, not unusual and if the covers are original (and they look it) it pretty well confirms 'active service'

 

I'm down the South Coast and from what you have said you must be in either Newcastle or Sydney, either way I would be happy to have a chat about preservation and mekugi replacement (easy as) etc if you PM me I'd be happy to give you my number.

 

Not wishing to curtail any further conversation here though.

 

Rob

[Bruce Pennington]

Withe sword 1, there is no way to tell if it was signed.  The amount of corrosion is enough to have obscured a signature if it was there.

 

The third has the sakura version tsuba (hand guard) used by the civilian branch of the military called Gunzoku.  They wore military styled uniforms and did many non-combat jobs like maintenance, admin, etc.  It also has what appears to be a black leather cover, correct?  If so, the Gunzoku official likely was serving with the navy.

 

Go to this page for some good general instructions for sword care: Japanese Sword Care.

[Bruce Pennington]

13 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

No. 2 Maybe ‘Kanetaka’.
兼隆

 

Yes, seems like Hirata Kanetaka - 兼隆 (Kanetaka)

KANETAKA (兼隆), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanetaka” (兼隆), real name Hirata Kaname (平田要), born November 16th 1896, he worked as a guntō smith

[Bugyotsuji]

That’s a different Kanetaka to Xiayang’s suggestion above, Bruce. I wonder which one we are looking at.

The way -taka is inscribed is quite unusual and should be a good pointer.

[Bruce Pennington]

13 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

That’s a different Kanetaka to Xiayang’s suggestion above, Bruce. I wonder which one we are looking at.

The way -taka is inscribed is quite unusual and should be a good pointer.

Oops, I see the difference.  I'll correct my file.

[mecox]

Jan Xiayang above is correct:  “Kanetaka” (兼隆), real name Hasebe Bun´ichi (長谷部聞一), born August 8th 1898,  lived at Seki-machi, Kasugu-cho and registered as a Seki smith Showa 18 (1943) Feb 28. He worked as a guntō smith and died April 1st 1965.