WW2 Smith - providing both Army and Navy blades?

[Mark S.]

EDIT: Blade on E-Bay is now sold. Not sure if this changes any rules, so I'll wait before adding link or pics.

 

I wish to be very careful as I'm not sure if my question will break any rules, so I'll be open and honest and look to others to tell me I did anything wrong or give me the O.K. to go further.

 

Question: Is it common for a WW2 swordsmith to have his name show up on both 'army pattern mount' and 'navy pattern mount' swords?

 

I have a blade signed by an undocumented smith (according to Richard Stein's site) that is in army mounts. There is a blade by the same named smith on E-Bay that is in navy mounts. The smith is Unjosai Katsunaga. The signature on my blade is more 'chippy', while the navy blade has much more smoothly cut (flowing) strokes. Neither blade has arsenal stamps.

 

I have not posted pictures of my blade as I have already asked for advice and do not wish to appear to be 'fishing' for more information. I did not post the link or pictures to the navy blade as it is currently for sale on I'm not sure this is allowable. Just trying to keep myself clear of trouble.

 

I just wasn't sure if smiths provided both army and navy blades? Also interested in the big difference between the signatures. If pics (in this case) are allowable and would help, please let me know.

 

Thanks You,

Mark S.

[Brian]

Mark,

Pics are allowed and welcome, as are discussion on current eBay items as long as they are not price based and are educational.

 

Brian

[chrisf]

I also looked at this mainly because I had not seen this smith before and couldn't find any reference as far as gendaito smiths are concerned and wondered if this could have been shinshinto or maybe a gendai smith who worked under another name?

CAB to the rescue?

[Derek]

I was thinking the same thing. But I'm sure he's busy, since his show is a week away.

 

 

Derek

[David Flynn]

I've found two Katsunaga so far. One, signed Mikawa Katsunaga and another Unshu Katsunaga, there could be others. As for smiths making swords for the Army and Navy, this was a regular occurrence. In fact, even Yasukunito have turned up in Kaigunto mounts. There is one on ebay at present. A kaigunto mount with a Yasumitsu blade.

[george trotter]

Hi Mark,

Yes, I agree with Dave et al...I've seen swords by gunto/showato makers in both service mounts and also Yasukunito in both, in fact although the Yasukuni Tosho were army smiths my neighbour has one by Yasunori in Navy mounts.

 

Regards

[cabowen]

Lots of strange things happened towards the end of the war...it is not that unusual to find blades by the same smith in either army or navy mounts. As mentioned, Yasukuni smiths were employed by the army and it is rare to find one of their blades in naval mounts. I have never seen a Minatogawa Jinja blade in anything but naval mounts but I wouldn't be surprised if someone indeed found one in army koshirae.

 

I don't recall ever seeing a star stamped blade in naval mounts, but again, anything is possible....

 

Supposedly the navy had their own jumei tosho program but I have never found any solid evidence to support this.

[Mark S.]

Here goes my attempt at posting comparative pics of my Katsunaga blade and e-bay blade.

 

My Blade: Mei

[Mark S.]

E-Bay Blade: Mei

[Mark S.]

My Blade: Hamon 1

[Mark S.]

My Blade: Hamon 2

[Mark S.]

E-Bay Blade: Hamon

[Mark S.]

My Blade: Overall

[Mark S.]

E-Bay Blade: Overall

[Mark S.]

As I said before, neither blade has an arsenal stamp. Could this be a case of an independent contractor or ???

 

Also, interested in the VERY different signature styles, although I assume mine might be a more 'expedient' way of signing.

 

Thanks All,

Mark S.

[cabowen]

The signature on your blade looks like the nakirishi mei done on mass produced Seki blades will the other looks like a properly done signature by a trained smith.

 

Your hamon looks a bit like the typical Seki oil quenched gunto while other does not. The pictures aren't really very good so I do not say this with a lot of certainty....

 

It is very possible that this smith made both mass produced blades and traditional blades. It is unusual but seen on rare occasion.

[Mark S.]

Thanks Chris and everyone else. I just thought it was interesting that the first mei I found regarding this smith other than my own blade turned up to be SO completely different. Thanks for your thoughts.

Mark S.