mecox

@John C Yes the kanna blades by Teruhide and family were well described, but I dont recall reports of others during wartime. However, quite a few Seki (and other) wartime tosho came from backgrounds (father or grandfather) of agricultural tool makers or edged utensils (hamon) and also quite a few went back to that after the war (eg Toki family).

@John C @Bruce Pennington John interesting plane, mei on blade is probably Senkichi 千吉 and yes the ink character on the plane is trademark of Nakano Shoten. This trademark was applied for in Meiji 37 (1904) June 9 and registered same year on September 1. Registration No. 21988 was to Nakano Youzou 中野要蔵 and used into WW2. Nick Komiya [“warrelics”] notes that this logo would be read as “Yamayo”, the upper representing a mountain (“yama” 山) and the lower as katakana “yo” ヨ.

Jose, the mei reads Fukumoto Kanemune 福本 兼宗　with some variation in cutting style. He was a major swordsmith in the Amahide workshop of Seki and it appears the mei could be cut by different people. As noted this is in koshirae for civilian use. In NMB Downloads his background and examples:

@Lareon Tony as you noted the Takeyasu sword is stainless steel and made for the Navy at Tenshozan Tanrenjo (factory). Often they had a stamp of anchor in circle. There were three "Take" smiths: Takeyasu, Takeyoshi and Takeyuki. See paper in NMB Downloads which gives the background and context (also table in page 120):

Pav, mei is "Ishihara Yoshisada saku" (unusual saku). Does it have a stamp? He is YOSHISADA 義定: real name Ishihara Jō´ichi (石原錠一). Born Meiji 32 (1899) August 16. Reg. Showa 14 (1939) October 25 (age 40). Other mei: (“Seki ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku” SHO). (“Seki ju Ishihara Yoshisada saku” SEKI). (“Yoshisada” “1942” SEKI). But do a SEARCH on NMB for other examples and some other styles of mei.

Minoru, more material on Kanehisa in Downloads file:

Looks like it may have a remnant of leather securing strap on upper tsuba (the tsuka side) ?

Eden, it is most likely Kaneko Magoroko KANEMOTO from Seki. He was born in 1924 , trained as a smith and earlier signed Kaneko. In 1944 he became the 27th gen Kanemoto and from then signed 兼元. The hamon of the blade is the classic sanbonsugi of the Seki/Mino smiths that his line used. Your sword in Naval mounted kaigunto and he was known to produce for the Navy. See info and examples in NMB Downloads: Gifu Swordsmiths and also Naval Swordsmiths Part 2.

@Shortstack227 Alexander, your sword is 濃州住兼明作之 Noshu ju Kaneaki saku kore There are three wartime smiths of that name, but with a different "aki" , yours is Kuriyama: KANEAKI (兼明), real name Kuriyama Kenjirō (栗山鍵次郎), born in Meiji 21 (1888) December 4, was a student of early school of Watanabe Kanenaga (渡辺兼永) and Niwa Kanenobu (丹羽兼信) and also of Fujiwara Kanezumi (藤原兼住). He lived in Gifu, Kamo-gun, Kajita-mura, Tochibora, and registered early on as a Seki swordsmith on Showa 14 (1939) October 20. He died on August 23rd 1966. He was ranked in 1942 as jōkō no retsu, and in 1941 exhibition as Second Seat. So he was a very good smith. Be good to see the sword blade. As noted it has a Sho-sakura stamp so not fully traditional made. NOTE: I should have done this before, SEARCH on NMB shows we have had much discussion on Kaneaki.

William and Rob, hard to know circumstances. (the surrender of Japan was announced by Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945) Hibino Ichiji (日比野一二) was born: Taisho 6 (1917) May 6 Reg. Seki tosho: 1942, Sept 10 Address 1942: Oyama, Tomida-mura. Died 1945, August 20 (age 28). Meiirin Sangyo Co Ltd has a sword for sale, also with this text (translation): Originally, it is a valuable sword that should be displayed in a museum in Seki City. Kindo swordsmith, whose real name is Ichiji Hibino, was born on May 6, Taisho 6, and lives in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. On August 20, Showa 20, he was a brave martyr of the Showa Restoration who took responsibility for Japan's defeat and judged himself at the age of 29 on August 20, Showa 20. At that time, many martyrs felt responsible for Japan's defeat in the war on August 15, Showa 20, and went to the square in front of the Imperial Palace or the Imperial Palace to apologize to the Emperor. The creator of this sword, Kindo swordsmith, is also a brave man in the spirit of bushido. It's a shame to think how many wonderful Japan swords he would have made if he had been resurrected as a swordsmith after the war The mei Is Kinmichi and date appears to be Showa 18 (1943) September

Can you post pics of whole sword and fittings? cheers

KINMICHI (金道), real name Hibino Ichiji (日比野一二), born May 6th 1917, he worked as guntō smith and died August 20th 1945. Seki stamp

After looking further....this is MASAYUKI (正行), but I dont think it is Miwa Tomoo (三輪友雄), born August 8th 1895. As he used taka-no- ha yasurime and was mostly before 1943. Here is similar example from Japanese Sword Index

Brass shingunto tsuba (one side slightly filed) with pair copper seppa Shingunto kabutogane with brass sarute (good condition) Shingunto fuchi with offset hole Pair black gunto sakura menuki (well made reproductions) 2 x gold transfers of mon Price for lot: AUD150 plus shipping (standard air mail to US with tracking AUD30). (Paypal)

quality shingunto tsuba, inset style, with pair of brass seppa that fit. 3 x copper habaki well made 9 x assorted seppa Price for lot: AUD195 plus shipping (standard air mail to US with tracking AUD30). (Paypal)