mecox

@John C @TomP1 "Malcolm Cox has a little info in his Aichi Prefecture document, page 13 (if it is the same person)." Thanks for reference, but this is a different smith Yagi YOSHIKANE 八木 義金

Yes looks to be Munenaga (宗命), real name Seibu Takeo (西部 武夫) born Meiji 34 (1901) October 1, from Gifu, Bugi-gun, registered as Seki smith Showa 16 (1941) Nov 19. Date on blade not clear but likely 1944 (Showa ju kyu nen) 昭和十九年 also has Seki stamp.

@Bruce Pennington mei can be read as Kuroda Saburo more like a copied real name, and yes date is Showa 13 (1938) October. Cutting is rather strange style.

Maybe poorly stamped Gifu-sakura

@Babyboomer1 Ken, here are the pics correct way up, but they dont show much. One shows part of name "Mitsu" the other part of date "16" which likely is 1941. Unfortunately the cleaning/polishing of tang has ruined the value. You need to show the rest of blade and fittings.

This may help. Tenshozan Tanrenjo naval, date Showa 17 (1942) Nov

@CNS_44 Chansen in NMB Downloads more info on this smith and swords

@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 ??