mecox

Thomas, certainly a fantastic combo, with habaki dated Showa 8? (1933) and Imperial link. Other side has "Sato Taro" in odd kanji. Some stamp mania for @Bruce Pennington.

April, following Brians comments, this looks to be a very nice sword, well mounted and in very good condition by known swordsmith of the Shinshinto period, apparently made when he was 30 years old. The grooves are also a feature. Following is a summary of the smith and his picture, which may help you relate more to the sword (from Marcus Sesko data) : MUNEAKI (宗明), Bunkyū (文久, 1861-1864), Ōshū – “Kubota Muneaki” (久保田宗明), “Minamoto Muneaki” (源宗明), “Ichinoseki-shi Minamoto Muneaki” (一関士源宗明), “Rikuchū Ichinoseki-jū Kubota Muneaki saku” (陸中一関住久保田宗明作), “Rikuchū no Kuni Muneaki” (陸中国宗明), real name Kubota Fumikichi (久保田文吉, the first name can also read Bunkichi), he also bore the first name Mitsumasa (充昌), he was born in the second year of Tenpō (天保, 1831) as oldest son of Kubota Ryōzō (久保田 良蔵) who worked as a gunsmith for the Ichinoseki fief (一関藩) which was ruled by the Tamura family (田村), later Muneaki went to Kyōto and studied there under Koyama Munetsugu (固山宗次), in Ansei four (安政, 1857) he returned to Ichinoseki where he worked both as swordsmith and gunsmith for the fief, he died on the twelfth day of the eighth month Meiji 21 (明治, 1888) at the age of 58, we know blades from the Ansei (安政, 1854-1860) to the Meiji era, dense ko-itame mixed with some masame, the hamon is a gunome-chōji-midare in nioi-deki but can also be tempered in ko-nie-deki, the tip of the tang is a shallow iriyamagata-jiri, the yasurime are sujikai with keshō, he signed also in grass script, chūjō-saku. There is also another sword by him posted in 2016: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/profile/3758-bad_attitude/

Ido Hidetoshi worked in the Seki Nihonto Tanren Jo of Amahide:

“Kanesada” (兼定), real name Okada Sadao (岡田定男), born September 9, 1905 (Meiji 38), he worked as a guntō smith and died September 1, 1966 (age 61) . He was from Seki in Gifu and registered as a swordsmith in Seki on Showa 14 (1939) October 8. There were 13 registered on that day. In the 1942 ranking of 400 smiths he was in Ryōkō no Jōi group which was 6th of 7 groups. There was also another smith from Seki called Kanesada, with the same kanji (Ono Hiromi).

Good Steve, more info here: Mikasa-tō (ohmura-study.net). Mei is: "Mikasa houkou Nippon seikosho" Here is a link: http://kako.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT126643.htm

I cant get all the translation, but looks like a tanto made in June Showa 9 (1934) from guns of the pre-WW1 IJN dreadnaught "Mikasa". made by Toshihide (Horii Hideaki) Here is another example: 短刀　銘　三笠砲鋼秀明　昭和六年八月　桐箱入り(TA-110220)｜刀・日本刀の販売なら日本刀専門店の【銀座 誠友堂】 (seiyudo.com)

I wondered about this and missing "大" plus mei looked poorly cut. Thank you.

Thank you Moriyama san, I concluded the same about the mei, but can not relate the tosho and the date. Date looks to be Tensho roku nen hachi gatsu hi 天正六年八月日　1578 August, or am I way off?

For more information on (Murayama) Kanetoshi: #21. 兼俊 Kanetoshi (村山 喜之一 Murayama Yoshinoichi) Born: Meiji 38 (1905) Aug 3; Reg. Showa 14 (1939) Oct 8. Deshi in 1937: 1. 1937:Kamo-gun, Tomita-mura, Hanyu. 1939: same address. 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. Became Rikugun Jumei Tosho, also employed fulltime by Seki Token Kabushiki Kaisha. Hawley: KAN 2632 JSS: p.70. Example mei: Kanetoshi 兼俊 Noshu Kanetoshi saku kore 濃州兼俊作之 [from NMB Download, Gifu 1937 Police report] Also: Fuller & Gregory, 1983 oshigata for Kanetoshi (#279) dated Showa 16 Gatsu 9 (1941, September) no stamp. Looks the same work as Slough (p.70) 1941, June.

Herman, made gunto in the war, possibly for an arsenal. He was in Aichi Prefecture. As Thomas @Kiipunotes: 武久 = Takehisa, 昭和十八年春 = 1943 Spring (he likes to sign with year and season) and black paint: 五六七 = 567 ( this is to match blade with fittings). Not much info on him, but looks to be solid workmanship. The stamp is of note, but could be "M" or "W" (maybe for Nagoya arsenal) Some more info in this download: Plus some more examples:

Yes wife agrees with Morita san...electrical and/or communications/telephone components.

Takeyasu was a Toyokawa arsenal smith making stainless steel kai gunto 武泰作 with higaki yasurime. . Also had some mates called Takeyuki 武幸作 stainless steel with anchor in circle but osujikai filing and Takeyoshi 武吉作 (anchor).

John, Ishido is his family name. There is a further compilation of Teruhide/Mitsunobu here page 49

Following the lists of early Showa period sword exhibitions reported there is often an 8th Nipponto Shinsaku Tenrankai in March 1943 omitted. Peter @Itomagoi has added some great photos about this and I have attempted to expand on it and give it historic context. Of note to @Kiipu@PNSSHOGUN@Bruce Pennington@george trotter sword exhibitions 1943.pdf

Paul & Thomas, yes KIKUHIDE (菊秀), from Gifu, real name Murayama Kikuo (村山菊雄), born September 21 1905 (Meiji38), died April 8 1952 (age 47). Registered as a Seki swordsmith Showa 18 (1943) Feb 17 living at Seki-machi, Yoshida-cho. The sword is May, 1944 (any stamps on it?). He does not appear to have produced much. But the above reference from Bruce (Nove 2022) appears to show a blade stamped with star and Gifu on late war blade, but he is not in Rikugun Jumei Tosho lists.

Some very interesting material here on sword exhibitions thanks to: @Itomagoi @Kiipu @PNSSHOGUN @k morita To assist with following Peter's photos from the Tsuchika book about Kurihara, here are caption translations and some notes. Apparently there was an 8th Nipponto Shinsaku Tenrankai held in March, 1943, which was the last of these. The Army then took over sword exhibitions starting in November, 1943. This summary has now been updated. Sword Exhibitions + shinsa.pdf

Peter, terrific series of photos, thanks.

Gary, there is a useful 6 page summary of Kaga armour in Bob Benson's magazine Bushido: Burawoy, R. 1981.The Unkai School Armourers of Kaga. Bushido, 2, 3, 26-32, Honolulu, U.S.A. Here's a pic of armour from it.

The wire wrapped saya is interesting historically, as it reflects detailed work and a lot of time. Over the years I recall seeing a wide range of wrapped saya using string, cord, rope, rolled paper, leather and various tapes, also with cane (one is shown in F&G 1986 book...possibly by the Japanese officer?). Some of these are simple wrap around, but many others have detailed turns, knots and patterns. The knots often look like traditional naval knots. I have always assumed this wrapping was done near the end or post-war on captured or souvenir swords when the owner has plenty of time, such as waiting to be shipped or during shipping home. Any other ideas?

Adding one more Star stamped RS 東京第一陸軍造兵廠 宣威 Tokyo first Army Arsenal Nobutaka 昭和十七年十二月吉日 1942.12 Trystan, I think this smith is “Nobutake” (宣威), family name Yoshihara (吉原).

Need info on the blade......length of cutting edge (nagasa), length of tang (nakago). Yes nakago is shortened for remounting but may have been earlier, not necessarily for WW2. The ornament under the wrapping is brass of 3 cherry blossums (sakura). You need to search this site for info in "shingunto".

Possibly is “Taikei Naotane” (大慶直胤) of Musashi worked in Bunsei (1818-1830) and had many students. Looks to be an early war remounted traditional sword in budget koshirae. Nakago is shortened and part of mei missing. Saya has a mon of 3 leaves (pointing out) could be water lilly ? But not sure. An example: ヤフオク! - 大慶直胤 花押 乱れ刃紋 青海波紋ハバキ 長さ６... (yahoo.co.jp)

Bruce, I wonder if the larger slightly different anchor stamp could be a post-war made one?

I have bought from this seller in the past (around 10 years ago). One was a nicely made Seki Showato with a Sakura-sho stamp, with damaged wood/leather saya, clearly WW2 and I was pleased with it. The other was a shinsakuto blade, no shirasaya, nicely made, crisp mei of well known active Seki smith. I proudly sent a photo and oshigata to the tosho in Seki......he replied with a very nice Japanese card "thank you but it is not my sword". Having looked on and off at this seller, he does sell nice newly made blades with fake/forged mei, as well as other items. So you need to be sure what it is.

more on Kanehide in here: