mecox

Kevin, the "custom" work would be the extras on the mounts, above the standard items, which the owner chooses and pays for.

Kevin the smith is YOSHIMITSU 義光: real name Yabushita Fujio (藪下不二夫). Born Taisho 4 (1915) August 18. He registered as a Seki smith Showa 15 (1940) April 1 (age 24). The signature is “Noshu Seki ju Yoshimitsu saku” and the date is Showa 17 “1942”. Has a Seki stamp. This is a Type 98 mounts but has some custom work with extra gilt and ray skin (samegawa) cover on saya. It is an example of a good early war oil quenched Showato. Apart from "Seki" was there another stamp?

@Patinamax Lance as noted by Ray it is Okada Kaneyoshi. He was well experienced and a good. smith. This is an early war sword and looks to be a well made Showato. The long kissaki is interesting. This could be a custom work. Please show koshirae as John requested. There were quite a few Kaneyoshi in Seki, but his details are listed in NMB Download:

@l_Kendo_It Leonidas, interesting sword from early war Seki with Sho stamp. Both were experienced smiths, but rather rough mei, maybe an "experiment" between colleagues? Information and examples of both in NMB Downloads, see top of main page. Shinoda Ujifusa in Japanese Naval Swords Part 1. Kanetomo in Gifu Tosho List 1937 smith #29

Sword would be made and mounted in Seki, very unlikely in Okinawa. This would be a custom order and does not need to be military related. Not uncommon for swords with this type of itomaki koshirae (mounting) to be given as awards or prizes as well as commemoration.

@Robert Corvo Robert, yes it is Fukumoto Kanemune early war with Sho stamp. The mei looks a little roughly cut. He did produce some good work. Here are examples and background:

The pic for # 9 has the reference for NMB with the date and who posted. Do a search.

@CNS_44 Chansen you could look at this NMB Download (note #9):

Ray smiths name probably Norimitsu 則光 its a few 100 years old, but quite a few with that name. But as John notes cleaning of tang has ruined blade value. Also it may have been shortened on the tip end (hard to see). and yes repurposed for military use , maybe employed civilian.

Ken, as noted sword is “Sukenori” (祐則), real name Nagata Eiichi (永田栄一), born Meiji 43 (1910) August 28, from Seki in Gifu. Registered as a Seki swordsmith on Showa 16 (1941) September 12. Blade also has Seki stamp. He worked as guntō smith in Seki. Interesting your blade is in kaigunto Naval mounts. Seacrh this site for guide in cleaning blade.

@dvill_iaido see this paper on NMB Downloads

Thank you Koichi san

Brian, the top one is Seki stamp: Noshu Seki ju 23 gen Kanefusa saku (with takanoha yasurime) Bottom one need to look further.....but at right looks like a made up saying "Ji Sei Ji Sho" 自制　自勝　　(control self or self-restraint) in really rough cutting. at left: maybe 土肥　　真　　dohi masa ??

As noted above the mei looks to be “Kaneuji” 兼氏 but it is roughly cut. Also noted above the date is 1940 (皇紀二千六百年 = Imperial Era 2600 Year) also very roughly cut. Although Kaneuji is a very old name in Mino, there is only one registered in WW2 Seki and he is Yoshida Reiichi (吉田鈴市). From the Seki registration list Yoshida Kaneuji was born Taisho 14 (1925) January 13 and registered on Showa 13 (1938) Sept 9 (living at Seki-cho, Naka-machi) which would be age 13. (this is a little odd for his age, maybe a deshi, and also he is the earliest registered in the list). For the blade shown in 1940 he would be age 15 (perhaps explains rough work?). The Sho stamp fits the age. However, other examples dated 1940 (Fuller & Gregory (1940)) and also 1942 (F&G (Seki stamp) and Slough (Seki stamp)) are better finished (also taka-no-ha nakago) and probably are nakirishimei signed. Are they the same smith or joint work? Here are the examples for comparison. Fig 1, 2, 3 (Iryna). ) Fig 4 (Slough p. 72) Fig 5, 6 (F & G 1983) Fig 7, 8, 9 (Gendai Index Rick Stein).

Sam as above and probably this guy “Yasumitsu” (康光), real name Noguchi Shojiro (野口照二郎) born Meiji 40 (1907) from Tahara-mura, Kamo-gun in Gifu, registered as a Seki smith Dec 1943. It has a stamp, probably Seki partial and sideways