mecox

Bruce, thats the man, and he was a key smith in the Seki Amahide workshop. Ido Toshimi Hidetoshi (井戸俊三秀俊) was born in Seki on 14 June, 1915 (Taisho 4). He registered in Seki on 14 July, 1940 (Showa 15) with a group of 3 (S15.07.14) at age 25. His address at the time was Hioshi-cho, Seki-machi. In the 1942 Tosho Banzuke ranking by Kurihara Hikosaburo he is in the 6th seat (Chuge Saku “Ryoko no Joi”) of 7 seats. He is not listed as making swords post-war. See the Amahide paper in NMB Downloads at top of page.

Seki ju Ishihara Kanenao saku 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. Registered as a Seki tosho 27 October, 1939 (Showa 14) age 31. Early in the war made some stainless steel Takayama-to. Examples and background in Japanese Naval Swords, Part 1, in NMB Downloads (top of page).

Clinton, as noted Yoshisada from Seki. Produced a lot. WW2 made, not traditional methods, this one is in wartime civilian mounts. There were earlier posts on him.

@Dekabyu Rugger, from pics looks like a good example of work by Kanezane with complete fittings. Possibly has been rebound, but well done. Maybe a stamp (Seki) has been filed off above signature? Others can comment on value. For more info and background to Asano Kanezane see this paper in NMB Downloads (at top of page):

@CuriousNewbie Jay , as noted by Ray your sword is made by Masayasu. and dated 1942. For interest are there any stamp marks on it? For more examples of his work and background see this paper from NMB Downloads (at top of page):

John, rather confusing and I needed to check with wife, as I had/have no idea. As often occurs basic problems relate to words/characters originally from China. But it seems basically 午 UMA (or in Chinese Wu/Go) is the zodiac year 午年 and 馬 UMA is the animal (and the kanji represents its mane and legs). So your stamp is the animal horse? Looking further, in Chinese zodiac 午 was also used to indicate time and direction. There is shougo　正午 (shougo in Japanese) for “noon” (also called the hour of the horse), 午前 (gozen in Japanese) for “morning” and 午後 (gogo) for “afternoon”. Up to the Edo period a day was divided into 12 segments called “koku”.

Cheers for 2026 Year of the Horse 午 Uma

Maybe looks like 鯨 恒 dont know how to read , but its not about whales!

Top looks like Fujiwara 藤原　but not too skilfull

Pat, the NMB site also has a very effective search capability which is worth trying.

Thanks Thomas, OK I was not thinking of them.

@Hudson Pat, well the mounts look to be shingunto. Pics of nakago not too clear. left one is date: 昭和康辰春　Showa kou tatsu haru Showa year of dragon spring (1940). right one is the smith . Last two kanji are 作之　"saku kore" made this. I will look further into his name. 　 Edits now added. I added an example. Well made swords, initially made in Manchuria, under Japanese supervision then later in Japan. See the newer email by Kiipu

@Fusilier David, as noted smith signed Nobumitsu 信光 on tachi-mei, and date is Showa ju kyu nen ju ichi gatsu 昭和十九年十一月 Showa 19 (1944) November. Late war mounts as noted. Rather quick/rough signature, maybe was left-handed. But an arsenal product and Gi in sakura shows he was from Seki (Gifu) but could be working in Nagoya Arsenal. Its likely the suguha hamon is artificial. There was a Seki smith Sako Shinichi Nobumitsu, born Meiji 38 (1905) June 24, living in Seki, and registered as a WW2 Seki smith on Showa 14 (1939) October 26. He produced some quite good work ,, not sure if him. but towards end of war they were mass producing in arsenals. The painted numbers are 541 which are assembly numbers for the different parts.

@george trotter George, these questions are interesting, and yes you need to ask the tosho himself. I note you followed up Masakazu in March, 2022 and where he died. I also asked my wife (Showa vintage) about 信四郎 and she read NOBUSHIRO. However, several examples I found where translated as SHIN (but thats auto translate). So I dont know! I note that Sesko list for Tsukamoto Masakazu uses SHIN: MASAKAZU (正和), Fukushima – real name Tsukamoto Shinshirō (塚本 信四 郎), born Meiji 33 (1900), he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō. 1941: 5th Seat 6th Shinsakuto Denrankai. Missed 1942 Banzuke list. He died Showa 44 (1969) February 5. For interest, there are also other Tsukamoto smiths of the period: KIYOKAZU (清和), Fukushima – family name Tsukamoto (塚本), he is also listed with the family name Kasama (笠間). Said to be the older brother of Tsukamoto Okimasa (塚本 起正), 1942: jōkō no retsu (Akihide), 1941: 4th Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai. OKIMASA (起正), Tōkyō (ex-Fukushima) – “Okimasa saku” (起正 作), “Tsukamoto Okimasa saku” (塚本 起正 作), “Tsukamoto Ikkansai Okimasa saku” (塚本一貫斎 起正 作), real name Tsukamoto Shinpachi (塚本 新八), said to be descendant from the lineage of Yamamura Masanobu (山村 正信). Studied under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間 繁継), later married his daughter. Worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō and got several prices. Died young in Showa 35 (1960) May at the age 43 (or 46). Lived in Tōkyō´s Setagaya district (世田谷), 1942: kihin-jōi (Akihide banzuke), 1941 2nd Seat & Cutting Test at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai. [Slough, p. 139] MASAZUMI (正澄), Fukushima – “Tsukamoto Masazumi saku” (塚本 正澄 作), “Ōshū Iwashiro-jū Tsukamoto Masazumi saku” (奥州 岩代 住 塚本 正澄 作), real name Tsukamoto Jūjirō (塚本 十次郎). Born Taisho 6 (1917) December 14, younger brother of Tsukamoto Okimasa (塚本 起正). Studied under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間 繁継) and learned also from his brother. Later changed his name to Yoshimasa (?yoshi). MASAMITSU (正光), Tōkyō – “Masamitsu” (正光), family name Tsukamoto (塚本), he worked as guntō smith. 1942 ryōkō no retsu (Akihide banzuke). YOSHIAKI (喜昭), Tōkyō – “Yoshiaki saku” (喜昭 作), “Tsukamoto Yoshiaki saku” (塚本 喜昭 作), “Minamoto Yoshiaki saku” (源 喜昭 作), “Tsukamoto Ikkansai Yoshiaki saku” (塚本 一貫斎 喜昭 作), “Tōto-jūnin Yoshisaki” (東都 住人 喜昭). Real name Tsukamoto Shōtarō (塚本 小太郎), gō Ikkansai (一貫斎). Studied from 1939 under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間繁継) and from 1940 under his uncle Ikkansai Okimasa (起正). Said to be from the lineage of Yamamura Masanobu (山村正信). Born 1926, early he signed Masamitsu (正光). He died Showa 43 (1968) September 18 at the young age of 42.

Yes Ray has it Munechika 宗近 　　　

Peter, interesting examples of Tempo tsuba, especially #7 (7. 54,2 x 39,6 x 3,9 m). Good luck with sale

Thanks Colin, yes small hole in mouth. OK likely a gift happy item. If of stated material, then I suppose difficult to sell?

any idea of the material? I can see some type of grain elongate to the figure. Or a comment.

@Bugyotsuji @Matsunoki any clues what this is? I have no idea. May be just a fish? Came from Japan 30 years ago, 3.5 cm long.

@ubik Austyn, Fukumoto Kanemune was a Seki smith in the Amahide workshop. Examples and information in NMB Downloads (at top of page) find paper "Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide".

@Bruce Pennington @Kiipu here is an unusual shingunto mount for well known Gifu smith Amahide Yahoo!オークション - 【ASAHI】鍛え肌立つ健全豪壮で美しい一振り 一... 濃州関住一文字源天秀鍛之 Noshu Seki ju Ichimonji Minamoto Amahide kitaeru kore Torokusho (Showa 34 (1959) May, from Shimane) : notes an ura mei of Shigenaga 重長　(not sure if owner). nagasa: 63.6 cm sori: 1.5 cm not sure of fittings kanji and how to read: maybe "Jitsuyou......" practical ?? 　㐧 320020 号 (not sure how to read) Is this some type of patented hanger for gunto saya most unusual hamon

@Bruce Pennington from Chris Bowen "Tokyo Kindai Tosho" (1867-1945) lists: XIII. Tokyo Dai Ichi Rikugun Zoheisho (東京第一陸軍造兵廠) These smiths made swords at the Imperial Army's arsenal factory in Akabane, Tokyo (1943-45). These swords are usually inscribed 'Tokyo Dai Ichi Rikugun Zoheisho'. Others may have also worked here on a part-time basis. 1. Nobutaka (宣威) 2. Kanemasa (兼正) 3. Katsunobu (勝信) 4. Morikuni (守国)

Example sword: Yahoo!オークション - 村田刀 小銃兼正銘 長さ70cm 小烏丸造り 明治24...

Bruce, some background Tokyo First Army Arsenal Jujo Factory Tokyo Daiichi Army Arsenal - Wikipedia 6: Development as a "military capital" and after ~ Oji Takinogawa | Konomachi Archives | If you want to buy or sell real estate, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Real Estate "Army Ordnance Supply Depot Ruins, Inatsuke Shooting Range Ruins" Walking around the battle sites of Nishigaoka, Kita-ku

Tom, this is rather interesting due to the timeframe. Your mei is: Muratato Kanemasa 村田刀　兼正 Sesko lists: MURATA (村田) → TSUNEYOSHI (経芳), Meiji (明治, 1868-1912), Tōkyō. TSUNEYOSHI (経芳), Meiji (明治, 1868-1912), Tōkyō – “Murata Tsuneyoshi” (村田経芳), real name Murata Tsuneyoshi (村田経芳), he was born on the tenth day of the sixth month Tenpō nine (天保, 1838) as son of the Satsuma-samurai Murata Ransai Tsunenori (村田蘭斎経徳), he was the best marksman of the fief and fought among others also in the Boshin War (1868/69), 1871 he was as Imperial bodyguard sent to Tōkyō and was later promoted to a infantry captain, in 1875 he was sent to France and to other European states to improve Japanese firearms which resulted in the promotion to a major and the post of instructor at the Toyama Military Academy (陸軍戸山学校), 1880 he was involved in the development of the first Japanese-designed rifle, after that he was made head of the imperial artillery weapons factory and became a member of the Japanese Upper House, in 1890 he was promoted to the rank of a major general and six years later – in 1896 – he was elevated to the rank of a baron due to his merits in the Boshin War and the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, besides of that, he was also active as swordsmith and the army produced the Murata-tō (村田刀) swords named after him, for the latter, not only tamahagane but also western steel was processed and they were widely used during the Sino-Japanese and the Russo-Japanese War from 1894-95 and 1904-05 respectively, he died on February 9th 1910 of a lung disease. KANEMASA (兼正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Tōkyō – “Shōjū Kanemasa” (小銃兼正), “Kanemasa” (兼正), real name Murata Tsuneyoshi (村田経芳), he worked for the Akabane Arsenal (赤羽造兵廠)