Ww2 shin gunto sword

[Vampyres]

Can't see the Seki stamp 

[Scogg]

@Vampyres, I’ve merged your newly created topics to this old one again. Please reply to this ongoing topic, instead of creating new topics

[Vampyres]

Ok 

[Vampyres]

2 minutes ago, Scogg said:

@Vampyres, I’ve merged your newly created topics to this old one again. Please reply to this ongoing topic, instead of creating new topics

I have cleaned the blade to see the hamon line but I have not touch the tang is that bad or good 

[Bruce Pennington]

I can see why that pit looked like a Seki stamp in the original photos, but with the better lighting, I see that it is not.  I am often the first to see stamps that aren't there! Ha!

 

John,

You didn't say how you cleaned, but, yes you are correct in not cleaning the nakago (tang).  Please never do that.  If there is orange, active rust, we want to stop that, but not clean it.  

 

Here is a good page about blade care: Japanese Sword Care - Japaneseswordindex.com

[Rawa]

On 3/26/2026 at 10:11 PM, Ian B3HR2UH said:

Your hamon is grey because the sword is not in original polish having been cleaned up by someone . The opinion you are quoting shows just how little it's author knows

I thought exact same about cleaning and probably acid was used here.

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/acid polishing.html

[Vampyres]

And the sword was out of polish wen I got And it was covered in rust because it was in someone's article or basement or loft for 45 years that is what the seller said about the man who he got it off 

[Vampyres]

Then he told me about it 

[Rawa]

23 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

John sent me a couple extra photos, but unfortunately, there weren't any other kanji (or stamps) that could be seen.

 

Thoughts - On the one hand, I looked over my Kanesada blades on file from WWII.  They all used the same style file marks as this one, and 2 or 3 had similar kanji for Kanesada.

On the other hand, and I'll say right up front that I don't study nihonto, but one of the signs I've seen of age is the cutting edge machi (name for that, I don't remember) starts to disappear after too many polishings, as does the hamon.  This one looks that way to me, implying age.

 

But that's the best I have on this one. 

hamachi? and ubu-ba as fresh never polished hamachi near habaki. 

[Vampyres]

This is all kanji that can be seen because of the rust on the tang am not going to remove it because you will destroy its value 

[Rawa]

If nakago wasn't altered what about inconsistent yasurime? I wonder could this be forgery or muromachi blade repurposed for gunto fittings by machi okuri.

Funniest option would it be if this is originally Bizen sword with fake Mino Seki signature. 

Edited yesterday at 12:33 AM by Rawa

[raaay]

John,

a basic rule of thumb never clean the tang , sometimes it is acceptable to remove active rust on the tang , but you really need to know what you are doing first .

 

looking at the tang again  , it could be signed No-Shu Ju Kanesada saku ? which would mean it is a WW11 sword .

[ROKUJURO]

14 hours ago, Vampyres said:

.... because you will destroy its value 

No, we would never do that!

[Vampyres]

Way does my hamon line go darker or white  in different lighting 

[Scogg]

Partly because it’s in a poor state of polish and condition. 
 

Different light and angles = different reflection and illumination 

[Vampyres]

Ok 👍 

[Vampyres]

Will just leave it as it is 

[Scogg]

That is a wise decision. 
 

Excluding old “family” swords, and Gendaito; many WW2 swords, and especially machine-made blades and showato; are simply relics of their time and the war. Their value and collectibility is associated with their history, and there’s a level of acceptable condition issues.

 

People in the militaria collecting world will see more value and intrigue in an item that shows some wear and tear, and will look at a “clean” or “pristine” item with scrutiny and skepticism. 
 

Nobody likes to see evidence of modern alterations on vintage or antique items or art. 

Best to leave it as-is.

Best of luck, 

-Sam