mecox

A bit hard to say as need to have better pics. Can you take more detail of tsuka and fittings. Also pics of the blade. Considering his age he probably worked 1940 to 1945. Maybe employed by a sword shop or an arsenal. Most likely someone ordered a sword with these fittings. But not likely it went to war. Remember that soldiers had to buy their own swords, but certain civilians working with military could wear swords. Not likely he was "prominent" as no real records of training, and he does not appear to have entered any exhibitions/contests. It is probably a good example of its type but average. Cant comment on value without more pics. Others may. I added another example (1943) to previous post. ADDITION: I forgot that there is other posts on Kinmichi. Go to "Search" at top right on page and enter "Hibino"

Hello Pip, looks an interesting sword. It is by Kinmichi (can also be read as Kanemichi) and he was a smith in WW2. Your signature (mei) reads his name "Hibino Kinmichi". KINMICHI (金道), real name Hibino Ichiji (日比野一二), born May 6th Taisho 6 (1917), he worked as guntō smith and died August 20th 1945 age 28. He was a swordsmith in Gifu Prefecture, and registered as a Seki swordsmith in Showa 17 (1942) September 10. He came from Kamo-gun district to the east of Seki, and Oyama in Tomida-mura (village). It is interesting when he died, as Japan officially surrendered on 15 August 1945 (in some cases there is a relationship). The mounts are not military but civilian ("samurai style") but looks like the kashira (pommel) has come off the tsuka (hilt)? a bit hard to see in photo. The mei looks quite well cut . Do you see any stamps on the hilt? Here is another example of his work. (Stein JSI) At right another example, signed "Kinmichi" and has a date when made, looks to be September, 1943 (Showa 18) (from Meirin Sangyo)

Yes signed tachi mei, and yes what is length? Bruce may have it with this mei: 兼貞 (Kanesada) who were students of the 兼定 (Kanesada). Sometimes teacher and student used that shorter "Seki" it seems. Based on what I can see the following Sesko example is more likely: "KANESADA (兼貞), 4th gen., Daiei (大永, 1521-1528), Mino – “Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada” (和泉守藤原兼貞), “Seki-jū Kanesada saku” (関住兼貞作), “Kanesada” (兼貞), “Izumi no Kami Kanesada saku” (和泉守兼貞作), “Kanesada, Asamagadake ni oite kore o saku” (兼貞於朝熊岳是作, “made by Kanesada at Mt. Asama [Ise province]”), student of No-Sada, he followed his master to Ise where the latter had worked at some time in Yamada (山田) and Asamagatake (朝熊岳), it is said that he moved later to Echigo province, Sue-Seki style, robust sugata and often longer blades, standing-out itame mixed with masame, gunome mixed with chōji, frayed yakigashira, small tobiyaki, ryō-wazamono"

Kyle, mei reads: Touto ju Minamoto Yoshiharu saku. Touto = "Eastern Capiltal" = Tokyo. Minamoto is like a clan name. Signed on katana-mei. There is an example from Stein JSI:

why not show more pics as cant really comment on a distorted partial image

Dont know if this fits and he was a registered Seki smith: KAZUNORI (一則), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kazunori” (一則), real name Kanematsu Kazuichi (兼松一市), born June 10th 1894, he worked as guntō smith and died December 9th 1944, posthumous Buddhist name Zendō Myōtoku (善導妙徳) (from Sesko). Member of Seki Token Kaji Assoc in 1940. Registered as a Seki smith in Showa 14 (1939) October 26. Oshigata from Gendai S/smith Index. Same in Slough 1942 with Seki stamp. Fuller & Gregory has same mei Seki stamp 1943.

Is this a test?? Does this help??

@Ronald Aguirre Ron, mei looks to be: Noshu ju nin Murayama Kanetoshi kore saku kore (inhabitant of Noshu "Mino") 濃州住人村山兼俊之作 in artistic script. As noted by Conway date is Showa 14 (1939) February lucky day. The two kanji at right of date appear to be a name (of owner) maybe Mizu (cant read) 水 X. There is more info & pics in paper of "Japanese Swordsmiths GIFU 1937" in NMB Downloads ((top of page) 兼俊 Kanetoshi (村山 喜之一 Murayama Yoshinoichi) Born: Meiji 38 (1905) August 3; Registered as a Seki smith, Showa 14 (1939) October 8. In 1937 lived at Kamo-gun, Tomita-mura, Hanyu. History: trained under father Murayama Kaneyuki (#30). Died February 23, 1978. Independent from Showa 9 (1934) with tanrenjo at Kamo-gun, Kamono-mura. Summary: also trained under Niwa Kanematsu Kanenobu 兼信. In pre-war shinsakuto exhibitions won 3 Nyusen-sho, also Kinpai (Gold medal) and Daijin-sho (Ministers Award) 1940: 5th shinsakuto exhibition submitted long tachi (nagasa 115 cm) won recommendation. 1940: in tameshigiri section by Nakayama Hakudo his sword gained good review. 1941: 6th shinsakuto exhibition 2nd seat of 5. There was a father and two sons all registered in Seki in October, 1939 MURAYAMA Kaneyuki born 1884 Murayama Kanetoshi born 1905 Murayama Kaneshige born 1909 Example below is from Slough:

@rdarnell67 Richard, I think this mei is: Seki Zenjo Ogawa Kanekuni (関善定小川兼國) of Ogawa Sentaro Kanekuni. In NMB Downloads is a paper on his and connections:

@chino Steve, as noted by Bruce, early war and probably made by Hidetoshi but not using tamahagane iron and is oil quenched. There are examples and context in paper in NMB Downloads (top of page)

David, it is YOSHISADA 義定: real name Ishihara Jō´ichi (石原錠一). Born Meiji 32 (1899) August 16. Registerd Seki smith . Showa 14 (1939) October 25 (age 40). Example mei: (“Seki ju Ishi hara Yoshisada saku” SHO). (“Seki ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku” SEKI). (“Yoshisada” “1942” SEKI). Noted yours has a SEKI stamp. One from Japanese sword Index: Also another : Seki ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku with SEKI stamp. This is a long blade nagasa of 75.1 cm and sori 1.5 cm so looks custom Seki work. (from Meirin Sangyo)

@fox1 Sam your blade is early war with a SHO stamp in sakura flower, which indlicates not fully traditionally made. But looks a good item. Of note it is in "samurai" civilian mounts not Army gunto. YOSHINAO 義尚: real name Takeyama Tsutomu (武山勲) Born Meiji 39 (1906) August 17, older brother of Yoshitomi (義臣). Registered as a Seki smith in Showa 14 (1939) October 27 (age 33). Rikugun-jumei-tōshō. Died Showa 57 (1982) July 11. In Akihide 1942 ranking is Jōkō no retsu (5/7). In exhibition 6th Shinsakuto 1941 is second seat (2/5). Examples of mei: (“Seki Fujiwara Yoshinao”) (“Noshu Seki Takeyama Yoshinao saku” SHO), (“Seki Fujiwara Yoshinao saku” SHO), (“Seki Fujiwara Yoshinao saku kore”) (“Noshu ju Takeyama Yoshinao kin saku”) (“Noshu Seki ju nin Takeyama Yoshinao kin saku” SEKI).

Done on 21 October

@garbage finds Jeff, he was an early wartime smith: 兼丈 Kanetake (福田 丈太郎 Fukuda Jotaro) (can read “Taketaro”) [kanji is not “fumi” 文] Born: Meiji 43 (1910) May 10; Registered as a Seki smith Showa 14 (1939) October 26. In 1937 lived at Seki-machi, Otsu 1754; 1939: Seki-machi, Misono-cho. History: living in Seki-machi and trained under Matsuda Kanetaka who had early trained under Kojima Kanemichi (then as Kanetoki) probably in the Nipponto Tanren Juko. Summary: died in 1989 age 79. He made numerous swords for both Arrny and Navy. Example mei: Fukuda Kanetake saku 福田兼丈作 Seki ju Fukuda Kanetake saku 関住福田兼丈作 Noshu Seki ju Kanetake saku 濃州 関住兼丈作 Below: yours has SEKI stamp, Gendai Swordsmiths Index, Fuller & Gregory has SHO stamp

Mei is Kaneuji, smith is Yoshida Kaneuji. Not sure of date it is years of Japanese Empire, maybe 2601 which is 1941 ( but rusted). Yours has SHO stamp Slough has an example with SEKI stamp dated June 1942 and kokuin. Not sure if your mounts are Type 94 but Type 98