mecox

@BourbonGuy Chris, as noted the mei is Noshu Seki ju Kanetaka kore saku. He is “Kanetaka” (兼高), real name Matsuda Takaichi (松田高市), from Seki, born Meiji 44 (1911) Sept 11. He was an early student of Kojima Kanemichi (小島兼道). Note there are around seven wartime smiths with name of "Kanetaka" and of these two have the same kanji as 兼高. The other one is Kuwayama Kanetaka (桑山 兼高) born 1928 and independent from 1942. (but different style of mei and yasurime filing is different (sujikai)). Your smith Matsuda was earlier, he is in 1937 Gifu list, and registered as a Seki smith on Showa 14 (1939) October 26 (age 28). His yasurime is of taka-no-ha. He is considered a "senior swordsmith" of Seki, and in 1937 national report : lived in Bugi-gun, Seki-machi, Azanaka-machi. and in 1939 at Seki-machi, Naka-machi (same address?). He had 1 deshi (student) in 1937. He trained from Taisho 13 (1924) under Kojima Kanetoki (Kanemichi) and became independent Showa 5 (1930) May. He is in the 1940 list of trained smiths by Seki Token Kaji Association. However, of note, he is not listed in 1941 exhibition, 1942 banzuke list or 1943 list by NTT/NTS associations, unusual as he was a smith of note. Possibilites are that he died or enlisted (in 1941 he would have been 30). Blades are typically not dated and have taka-no-ha yasurime filing on nakago, and are signed katana-mei. He looks to have been active in the earlier war period producing quality Showato sold through shops and not in an arsenal. His kokuin looks to have "taka". Examples: #1. [Japanese Sword Index (Stein)]: Showa stamp "Noshu Seki ju Matsuda Kanetaka saku" yasurime: taka-no-ha. #2: [ikedaart.net]: Showa stamp "Matsuda Kanetaka " yasurime: taka-no-ha. nagasa: 71.2 cm sori: 1.8 cm #3: [ Meirin Sangyo]: Seki stamp kokuin hot stamp "Noshu Matsuda Kanetaka saku" yasurime: taka-no-ha nagasa: 68.4 cm sori: 1.6 cm . #4: [auction yahoo.com]: Showa stamp "Noshu Seki ju Matsuda Kanetaka saku" yasurime: taka-no-ha nagasa: 69.4 cm shingunto koshirae. #5: [Fuller & Gregory, 1983]: Showa stamp "Noshu Seki ju Matsuda Kanetaka saku" yasurime: taka-no-ha reverse has a dedication: "Ojite Tanaka Shi Motome" (made in accordance to the request of Mr Tanaka), so is a custom work. #6: [Fuller & Gregory, 1983]: Seki stamp kokuin hot stamp. "Noshu ju Matsuda Kanetaka saku" taka-no-ha. #7: [Fuller & Gregory, 1983]: Showa stamp "Matsuda Kanetaka" taka-no-ha. #8: [Chris BourbonGuy]: no stamps reported "Noshu Seki ju Kanetaka kore saku" . takass.pptx

Vincent, SEARCH this site for Akikuni, as there are some others (昭邦), family name Kajimura (梶村),

He is “Akikuni” (昭邦), family name Kajimura (梶村), from Yamaguchi Prefecture (Boshu) . He was ranked Fourth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Exhibition, in 1941 and in 1942 list ranked as jōkō no retsu (4/7). Also in 1943 list by Nihon Token Tanrenjo and Nihon Token Shinbunshi. Interesting as a late war sword. Be good to see the koshirae.

"Noshu Seki ju Amahide saku" but very poorly cut, although they had a production line and various mei. The two Sho/sakura stamps are interesting. The gunto mounts looks like a budget variety.

Chris, WW2 shingunto Type 98 signed "Seki ju Kanesada" and probably early part of war. Kanesada” (兼貞), and given name 吉田 is read (and reported) as Yoshida Sadaichi (吉田貞市), but also as Koda and Furuta. Possibly it was read Furuta. He registered as a Seki swordsmith in Showa 14 (1939) October 27 at age 34. . He was born Meiji 37 (1904) July 5 and he died Showa 49 (1974) May 29 at age 69. He did not make swords post-war. He is listed as a Rikugun Jumei Tosho as Koda Kanesada. Are there any stamps on the blade? He made oil tempered Showato as well as traditional blades. Yours is signed katana-mei (cutting edge up) and looks to be Showato, but could be a custom order. Below are 2 examples from Japan sales sites (they read as Yoshida): Left: mei: "Yoshida Kanesada saku" (as tachi-mei = cutting edge down), dated : Showa 17 (1942) November. length 66.8 cm sori: 1.6 cm. Hamon is straight suguha. No stamp seen. [e-sword, Japan] Right: mei: "Noshu Seki ju Kanesada saku" (as katana-mei = cutting edge up). No date. Hamon more active notare-suguha. No stamp seen. Length: 69.2 cm sori: 1.4 cm [Meirin Sangyo Co Ltd]

Robert, looks to be made by “Kunimichi” (国道), real name Kobayashi Magoichi (小林孫市), of Seki, born March 14th 1901, and died September 4th 1969. He was a wartime smith but did produce some good work. He registered early on as a Seki swordsmith in Showa 14 (1939) October 26. This one has a stamp of Sho in sakura indicating early war and not traditionally made. In 1942 list of 400 smiths he was ranked as Ryōkō no Retsu (7/7) and in the 1941 exhibition was ranked as Fourth Seat. Yours is in wartime civilian mounts. Pic below from Slough book:

@kanemotows6 Scott, the smith is Toki Sukenobu who produced good work. Examples and family history here:

Shoshinshi Fukumoto Kanemune Saku 正資子福本兼宗作 he looks to have signed this way earlier in career

at no extra charge !!

The original 1993 book (new, unused, softcover, 29 x 20.5 cm, 268 pages). Although dated, it is a comprehensive compilation of pre-modern Mino swordsmiths and history with 100+ pages of figures and oshigata, providing a useful English reference and introduction. Supplement is upgraded and a new print, 50 pages, with 30 pages of oshigata plus sword school trees. It has Japanese for swordsmiths names plus 3 pages of kanji commonly used. Set of two books is AUD 50. Standard airmail Australia to USA is AUD 42 (books weigh 0.90 kg = 2.2 lb).

Plenty of examples and variations of "INABA" in this paper:

@xkingz1998 Taylor, Is that the mei you show? Looks like "Inaba" . Here is an example of a s/s kaigunto" maybe a bit similar?

@Lindsay McKenzie Linsay, isn't the pic of swordsman Toshishiro Obata of Shinkendo school of swordsmanship? Shinkendo Japanese Swordsmanship Bio

This is very interesting, but confusing as looks as though there were two "Ichimonji" in WW2 Seki. (1) AMAHIDE (天秀) real name FUKUMOTO HIDEYOSHI (福本秀吉), born Meiji 19 (1886) May 7, and died June 2nd 1973, his tosho name was Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide, lived in Seki-machi, Kanazawa-cho. Registered as Seki smith Showa 14 (1939) Oct 27. (2) ICHIMONJI ( 一文字) ENDO KIMIYUKI ( 遠藤公之) born Meiji 23 (1890) Oct 23 registered as Seki smith on Showa 16 (1941) Feb 9. Lived in Kamo-gun, Tomioki-mura, Miyaji. Not much information about him.

Dan, yes is Echizen Kinai. Be good to see the whole tsuba. Here are examples of these tsuba and history, including like yours:

As noted above looks to be (in Sesko) .... KANENAO (兼直) , real name Ishihara Kanenao (石原金直), born May 25th 1908, he studied under Amachi Suzuichi (天地鈴市) and worked as a guntō smith. He was from Gifu, Kamo-gun, Tomioka-mura (Mia-ji). Looks to have made both Showato and gendaito. Has blades with Seki and Sho-sakura stamps. Oshigata show mei of: Ishihara Kanenao saku (Seki); Seki Ju Ishihara Kanenao saku (Sho); Noshu Osugi Ju Ishihara Kanenao saku (Seki) [Osugi 大杉 maybe a village]. But looks like your blade was remounted is older fittings. There is also another Kanenao (in 1940 record: KANENAO Yasu Kyoichi (兼直　那須　京一) also in Kamo-gun, Tomioka, but probably another village. But no other record of him.

Roger, what about author of this book. Interesting and useful book also.

From what I have seen I think you are correct Maurice, with production through the war and most blades stamped.

Bill, in my files I have two Yoshimune (I assume they are different smiths): YOSHIMUNE 義宗: real name Furukawa Eiichi (古川栄一) . Born Meiji 25 (1892) November 25. Reg. Showa 18 (1943) October 28 (age 51). This is in Sesko list. Now I think these ones were oshigata I found (but I did not keep pic): YOSHIMUNE 義宗: family name Fukumoto. (“Fukumoto Yoshimune” SHO stamp), (“Seki Yoshimune saku” SHO stamp) (“Yoshimune” “February 1945” GIFU stamp) [rinji seishiki] Yours would be like #3 in rinji mounts, with Gifu-sakura stamp and late war (Jan 1945) Or may be the same person?

@SimonAitch interesting record. Looks like surrender would be end of Sept or start of Oct. Thanks for follow up. Mal

Wo motte yasuki hagane Kanemichi saku 以安来鋼兼道作 sho-sakura stamp

@DaveH Dave, your sword is signed: Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide kitau kore 一文字源天秀鍛之 on opposite side looks like 3 stamped numbers, part of assembly process. In NMB Downloads is a summary of his workshop and background of the swordsmiths. The mei like yours on p. 15 & 16.

Examples of Toki Sukenobu of Noshu with and without stamps:

Along these lines, there can be some confusion identifying swordsmiths with the name “Kanekuni” depending which kanji for “kuni” is used. Commonly, publications (and certificates) in English use the simplified form 兼国, however, need to check the sword mei to show which “kuni” was used by the smith.

@Bruce Pennington @Navy I am aware of the various Kaneshige smiths but for the record with Nishimura I note that Jinsoo Kim (in Steins Sword Index) reads him as Kinju. Very little info on him. I prefer this reading, but need to ask the smith how he reads it. 金重 (Kinju) 西村 仁一