Wanting Translation help with my Grandfather's sword

[Marqutos]

Hello, I wanted to get some more info on my grandfather's sword. Any help is appreciated.

[Ray Singer]

Signed: Seki Mitsunobu and dated a day in June, 1944 (showa ju kyu nen roku gatsu hi). This is a traditionally-made sword (gendaito with star stamp) by a RJT swordsmith from the WWII era.

https://www.google.com/search?q="seki+mitsunobu"+site:www.militaria.co.za&sca_esv=aac817e677c0b777&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&sxsrf=APpeQnuToPUBzB0_EN7ReiV5oeAgTMQ-fg:1788712571579&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTkrzLsdqWAxW6lIQIHXDwEQ0QrQIoAnoECBwQAw&biw=1707&bih=879&dpr=1.13

[Marqutos]

Thank You!

[Bruce Pennington]

Mark,

You can read all about the RJT program and the swords they made on this thread: Arsenal Mark on RJT Sword Fittings.  You have a quality made blade there.  If you have a couple thousand dollars to have it polished, it would look quite fabulous!

 

Would you mind posting a photo or two of the full blade and fittings for my files?

 

Care and Cleaning tips: Japanese Sword Care.

 

The style fittings are a contingency model made for Japanese officers.  There is no Army official name for the style, but most people call them a Type 3 gunto.  You will see terms like Rinji Seishiki (contingency model in Japanese), Type 44, Late war Navy landing sword.  You can see pristine examples of them on Ohmura's site: Army Officer Type 3.

 

The history of the model: Unveiling the Rinji Seishiki Sword in 1940 - by Nick Komiya

[Marqutos]

Bruce, Thank you for the info. I will be happy to take some more pictures of it for you. Were would a person get the sword polished? All of this is very new to me. I got the sword from my grandfather and his story on it was he got it in a poker game at the end of WWII. He was in the European theater and once he got back state side  he was stationed at a base waiting to be discharged and a group of guys from the pacific came through and he won it from one of these soliders. I was never sure if it was real, or if the story was either. Was this a the fish was this big kind of thing. So with a little help from Grok, I was able to take it apart and at least see if it was real. New rabbit hole to go down!

[Bruce Pennington]

I used David Hofhine, but I just tried his website and cannot connect to it.  I also saw his Facebook page has been dormant for several years.  Don't know what's up with him.

 

Maybe some other guys can make a recommendation.  I believe there is a guy in Hawaii that is quite popular, but don't recall his name.

[eternal_newbie]

3 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

I believe there is a guy in Hawaii that is quite popular, but don't recall his name.

 

Woody Hall?

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, and while searching for contact info (which I have not found) I also saw the name Moses Becerra, whom I have heard recommended many times.  Don't have contact info on him either.