Help identifying signed katana – mei translation and blade assessment

[Mavro]

Hello everyone,

 

I have this sword and know nothing about it and would appreciate any help identifying the signature (mei), estimating the age, and determining whether it appears to be an older traditionally made blade or a WWII-era gendaitō.

 

I have removed the tsuka and photographed the tang. The sword has:

• One mekugi.
• Signed nakago.
• Visible hamon.
• Traditional mounts with samegawa and menuki.
• No obvious arsenal stamps that I can find.

 

Any information on the smith, period, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you!

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Hi! This Mei reads 濃州関住小島勝正作 Noshu Seki Ju Kojima Katsumasa Saku, meaning made by Kojima Katsumasa living in Noshu Seki.

 

This should be a WWII Gunto if Mei is genuine.

 

One could search for Kojima Katsumasa in the forum to obtain more information about this smith.

[2devnul]

Hello,

 

Excuse my ignorance, I'm still learning, but isn't this a type of 'stamp'? 

 

[Shugyosha]

Yes, it's the "Seki" stamp.

 

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/7476-use-of-the-seki-stamp-and/

[Mavro]

I'll take a better photo of the blade on black background -- but it's shiny and sharp. 

 

The reverse of the tang is completely blank with no date or stamps. Does the absence of a Seki/Showa stamp and the blank ura suggest this blade is likely gendaitō, or are undated unstamped Kojima Katsumasa blades known to be shōwatō as well?”

 

Thanks,

Danny

Edited July 6 by Mavro

[Conway]

Hi Danny,

 

It is quite common for swords with the “large” Seki stamp to be undated. Your sword is most definitely an oil-quenched Showato given the large Seki stamp.