Help identifying/translating mei on a family WWII-era sword

[Theo]

Hello all,

This sword has been in my family and I'm trying to learn more about it — the smith, school, or period, and a translation of the signature on the tang if possible.

A few details: it's in a military-style mount with a sarute (ring) fitted to the kashira, a same/ito-wrapped tsuka with floral menuki, and copper-toned fittings with floral carving. There's a single mekugi-ana, and a column of hand-chiseled kanji next to it that I haven't been able to read with confidence from photos alone — the tang has some corrosion.

I've attached photos of the tang/mei, the tsuka and menuki, and the kashira/sarute fitting. Any help reading the signature, or placing the smith, school, or era, would mean a lot — this has personal significance to my family and I'm trying to piece together its history.

Thank you for any insight you can offer.

[Ray Singer]

Please see below for information on Nagamura Kiyonobu. He was a WWII-era swordsmith. 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=nagamura+kiyonobu+site:www.militaria.co.za&client=ms-android-google&hs=jYFB&sca_esv=69ee371ef966a8ee&prmd=ivsn&sxsrf=APpeQnv3WzE5bqCTrwCwCGzBn1fXykXmAQ:1788703711815&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwicm-fKkNqWAxXNkmoFHdskBAkQrQJ6BAgQEAY&biw=411&bih=753&dpr=2.63

[Bruce Pennington]

Hi Theo!

The fittings are Japanese Army officer Type 98.  The saya (scabbard) is aluminum, which is not rare, but not as common.  The paint they used wouldn't stay on the aluminum.  Don't know if they ever figured out a better compound for them or not.  The style was released in 1934, Type 94, and modified to the 98 in 1938.  They were produced all the way to the end of the war.

 

If there is a small stamp underneath the tsuba/seppa set, I can narrow the timeframe a little more.

 

You can read up on the Type 98 (and others) on Ohmura's site: Army Officers Type 98 - Ohmura

Care and Cleaning: Japanese Sword Care

[Nazar]

Hi Theo,

 

Here is the info I gathered on swords signed by Nagamura Kiyonobu, including photos of mei: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rz-3wH0eyylBhLYyKO0Dk1mpJz79MUGzntLsrlFPilg/edit?usp=sharing

 

You mei reads as: 長村清宣造之  Nagamura Kiyonobu tsukuru kore. However I have an issue of recognizing tsukuru from kitau, at least with Kiyonobu mei.

 

Please, check if there is any kind of stamp in the area of nakago covered by fuchi and tsuba. This swordsmith made both gendito (traditionally made) and showato swords.