Kanetoshi-made blade - but which Kanetoshi?

[jacobite]

Hello,

 

I am a newly-joined member looking for help in confirming the origin of a WW2 army sword that, until recently, I assumed had been made by the Jumei Tosho Kanetoshi (Murayama Kinnoichi) but I have now been advised that whilst the signature does say Kanetoshi it is not the signature of the Jumei Tosho one. I attach a link to pics of each side of the tang:

 

http://www.ukimagehost.com/view/4e563fbf2b304d6c.jpg

 

http://www.ukimagehost.com/view/4e563fbf2afebc4e.jpg

 

I believe the mei reads: Noshu Ju Kanetoshi Saku Kore Wo. There are no other marks on the tang that I can find, certainly no stamps, other than the characters painted in green and silver on the reverse (the 3 large ones and the 2 small squarish ones down near the bottom), and which I cannot make head nor tail of.

 

The following links give a feel for the blade and it's style:

 

http://www.ukimagehost.com/view/4e563fbf2a279182.jpg

 

http://www.ukimagehost.com/view/4e563fbf2a46bcb6.jpg

 

http://www.ukimagehost.com/view/4e563fbf2a9e96e7.jpg

 

Any help you can give would be most gratefully received.

 

Many thanks,

 

~David R~

[SwordGuyJoe]

I would guess this is by the Seki Tosho, Kumazawa Kanetoshi. Some info was posted in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10567

 

Could be wrong.

[loiner1965]

I would guess this is by the Seki Tosho, Kumazawa Kanetoshi. Some info was posted in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10567

 

Could be wrong.

i can post a pic of the mei from my katana tomorrow if you wish as its by kumazawa kanetoshi or it may be in the achives here if you look

[cabowen]

Judging by the similarity, your sword appears indeed to be made by Kumazawa Kanetoshi. It would also appear that there is a good chance it is traditionally made. It is difficult to say for certain from photos...

[jacobite]

Joe/Steve B/Chris,

 

Many thanks for your interest and responses. I agree that the signature looks very similar to that in the post Joe highlighted for me - with the exception of the 2 first name kanji, the mei are almost identical. My follow-up question therefore has to be why the smith would use his first name on one sword and not another? Any ideas??

 

Thank you again for your interest and time.

 

Regards,

 

~David R~

[cabowen]

There are many possible reasons...As it is not of any real importance, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it....

[loiner1965]

reading your reply chris about the kanetoshi may be traditionally made and assuming they are no more smiths from a different era using the same mei lol, i will post a pic of mine up to see if the same.

mine is hand made as it as a beautiful suguhu hamon and ko-itame grain but also as the seki stamp

just checked on mr steins exellent site and here is the mei in question also with a seki stamp.

http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/kanetos3.jpg

will check mine tonight as not at home yet

[loiner1965]

here is my kanetoshi mei http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/68 ... 575ef.jpg/

it also as a hot stamp at the bottom to