Is this Rough Showa era Gunto a Kanetsune ?

[Fusilier]

G'day Everyone,  I purchased this rough showa era gunto for re-sale some time ago and was informed it was signed 'Kanetsune'.  I've attempted to find images of a similar signature and haven't been able to.  There also appears to be a lightly struck stamp below the signature which I initially thought (having consulted Bruce's outstanding reference) might be a partial Gifu-in-sakura stamp.  However, I'm now thinking it might be the 'sideways M shaped' Army “Material Inspection Stamp” shown on Page 5 of Bruce's paper, second from top.  I'd appreciate any assistance confirming the signature and the stamp.  Cheers David

Edited August 29 by First Fusilier
I want to delete

[Fusilier]

G'day again, I didn't sign onto the site properly just now, so when I attempted to post my request for assistance I ended up having to sign in and inadvertently created a new profile !!  The above is me though, apologies to the administrators, I'm a technophobe.

 

[ROKUJURO]

Looks like YOSHIHARU to me.

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, Yoshiharu.  He and Takehisa hold the lion's share of blades with the W/M stamp.  And is is the W/M stamp, David.  Just lightly struck, as you said.

Here's one of 12 other Yoshiharu I have on file (13 now!).  It looks like there are numbers at the end of the nakago?  Could you post a clear shot of that for me, please?

 

[Brian]

8 hours ago, Fusilier said:

G'day again, I didn't sign onto the site properly just now, so when I attempted to post my request for assistance I ended up having to sign in and inadvertently created a new profile !!  The above is me though, apologies to the administrators, I'm a technophobe.

 

I merged both accounts back into your preferred one.
Note, I am able to do this for any member that accidentally creates a second account, just pm me.

[Fusilier]

19 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Yes, Yoshiharu.  He and Takehisa hold the lion's share of blades with the W/M stamp.  And is is the W/M stamp, David.  Just lightly struck, as you said.

Here's one of 12 other Yoshiharu I have on file (13 now!).  It looks like there are numbers at the end of the nakago?  Could you post a clear shot of that for me, please?

 

Will do, I'll post them in a couple of hours when I've managed to get the kids out of the house.

[Fusilier]

13 hours ago, Brian said:

I merged both accounts back into your preferred one.
Note, I am able to do this for any member that accidentally creates a second account, just pm me.

Thanks Brian, and apologies for adding to your workload.

[Fusilier]

On 8/29/2026 at 1:20 PM, Bruce Pennington said:

Yes, Yoshiharu.  He and Takehisa hold the lion's share of blades with the W/M stamp.  And is is the W/M stamp, David.  Just lightly struck, as you said.

Here's one of 12 other Yoshiharu I have on file (13 now!).  It looks like there are numbers at the end of the nakago?  Could you post a clear shot of that for me, please?

 

Here you go Bruce, you were right as usual !!  Looks like another M/W stamp plus the number 190.  Have you come to a conclusion as to what the M/W symbol indicates ?  Cheers David

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks David.  We have an Army chart showing the stamp to be a "midway or halfway inspection" stamp.  It's seen on Kyugunto, police sword, Type 19, Type 95, and Mantetsu in addition to these of Yoshiharu and Takehisa (plus three single blades from 3 other smiths).  I don't follow other millitaria, but I'm pretty sure I've seen it on other equipment and weapons as well.  There is no actual description of how it was done.  

 

I personally feel certain the stamped numbers were done by the Army as they are done in the same orientation and that orientation changes over the years in a precise manner.  Navy is a different story as the numbers found on their blades are all over the place and in differing fonts.

[Fusilier]

Cheers Bruce, fascinating.  That would certainly make sense although the obvious question is why only on blades from these smiths, some swords and certain bits of equipment, shovels etc.  Having spent over 30 years in the Army (albeit not the IJA) it has the feel of a formation / district quartermasters arrangement.  Maybe a pre-inspection before being taken into service.  Interesting topic anyway.