mecox

@Bruce Pennington @robinalexander F&G 1983 have another example of the "square cut" Fukuda Sukemitsu (4 and 6 kanji). Their example below was in kaigunto mounts. Its possible these are smiths signing and the longer (8 kanji) better cut or cursive are by a mei cutter (nakirishimei). These two also have Seki stamp. (does yours on right have Seki stamp?) The Sukemitsu all looks to have sujikai yasurime, whereas the Kanetake has takanoha. Found this blog later: tsukamaki.net - Powered by Doteasy.com blade at right from Thomas Buck

Rob it may be Noshu ju Fukuda Sukemitsu , definitely Fukuda, and there were 3-4 in Seki. Seki stamp. “Sukemitsu” (祐光), real name Fukuda Yoshiji (福田吉二), born October 10th 1909 (Meiji 42). Registered as Seki smith Showa 16 (1941) Sept 12. Living in Seki-machi, Sakai-cho. Another example from Fuller & Gregory, 1983. Nicely cleaned nakago!! But could also be Fukuda Kanetake in a search found this one from Bruce P Take your pick.

George , about Type cut-off dates, Nick Komiya put up great material and I tried to summarise in my Fukuoka paper on NMB Downloads. But basically there was a "few" years (2-3?) of overlap in both design and production, looked like: Type 94 produced from 1934 (official decree). (and was also with Zoheito). Type 98 produced from 1938 (official decree). Rinji Seishiki (never a formal "type", 1938 design started, August 1940 design completed with initial batch produced. But also the swords (koshirae) were being produced in different locations, so no strict end period as far as I can see.

Ray got it Kanehide

Not sure about the mounts but the blade is Ishihara Kanenao KANENAO ( “Kanenao” (兼直), real name Ishihara Kanenao (石原金直), uses old kanji "Nao" , born 1908/May registered as Seki smith !939 October 27. Showa stamp so early war.

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

Could be Kanehide 兼秀　?

@Jon D Hi Jon, there are examples and history of your swordsmith Katsumasa in the NMB Downloads (top of page) in paper Kojima Tokijiro Kanemichi and Kojima Tosho Family

@Kaigunto230 Michael, did you look in NMB Downloads.....Japanese Naval Swords Part 2, has many examples.

Larry, it is a good example of an early 1940's Naval kaigunto, stainless steel but custom mounts with same covered scabbard (saya). As noted the mei is "Tenshozan Tanrenjo saku" the place where it was made. The paper below has a good explanation of Naval swords. Look for your mei, also see table P. 118. The surrender tag says "Kaigun Taisa Nakane Ganjiro" Naval Captain Nakane (given name Ganjiro).

As further information here are some summaries I produced back in 1993: