PNSSHOGUN

From the limited pictures of the Hamon it has a twinge of Ishido school, perhaps the cut off character could be the top of "是" for Korekazu?

Thank you Piers, perhaps the first obscured character is Fuji 藤?

My rudimentary skills are no match for this apart from the last character, could a kind soul please help with the first three Kanji?

Horimono can be added for a variety of reasons, some less noble than others. Poor quality Horimono are an easy fix for unsightly flaws or to simply "tart up" an otherwise unremarkable blade. When done correctly Horimono are absolutely beautiful and greatly enhance a sword.

Well that's certainly fine encouragement for other comments from members here. My apologies for attempting to clarify reliable information, rather than furthering inane tabloid level rumours about well respected martial artists and Tosho.

Some of the information presented in the book 'Samurai Swords for the Material Battle' seems spurious at best. Yoshichika was one of a few Tosho that made swords for Emperor Hirohito's Ascension Ceremony, there were worn (or given as gifts) to various nobles or dignitaries present at the ceremony. In regards to Nakayama Hakudo, where have you read about this supposed relationship with Tosho in exchange for free swords? He was a highly respected instructor and Tameshi-Shi who worked closely with numerous Tosho including Hayama Enshin, Watanabe Kanenaga, Kojima Kanemichi, and Kurihara Akihide, to improve their sharpness and strength for cutting. Boiling these relationships down to something so mundane is rather tactless.

For active rust on the Nakago best to stabilise with a light gun oil and GENTLY rub down with a cotton rag until no more red rust appears. Please do not attempt anything more to these, as you will quickly ruin historical value. Depending on where this museum is located there may be someone close by that can provide advice.

As you've found out it's all too easy to spend large sums on very little. Invest in some patience now and decide what really interests you.

Navy Kyu Gunto Koshirae with Mon on the screw type Mekugi, typically seen on Naval Dirks:

A curious example on a Fujiwara Kanenaga sword where a Mon has been engraved on the blade, authenticity unknown:

If you're after an original WWII sword then getting a return would be a good idea. There is a huge amount to learn about Japanese swords and original Gunto fittings, as you're likely well aware now.

See Horikawa Kunihiro school. https://www.sho-shin.com/sai19.htm

Swords by Kanemasa (Baron Murata Tsuneyoshi's Tosho name) can sometimes be found with stamped numbers from this period.

Checked my four chain example and couldn't find any stamps, there's an existing thread recording various examples:

You could probably buy a nice Gunto over there selling those, the field grade tassels can fetch over two hundred USD each, same with the belts and hanger.

Does it come with a complimentary eye wash kit?

Congratulations, glad the blade cleaned up nicely. Onkashi had the important differentiation of having "Kinsaku" added to the Mei, they seem to have been only made at the Yasukuni Shrine forge.

Hi Tyler, welcome to the forum. The photos do need to be the other way round but I can see a fairly typical WWII style of Mei that more or less reads "Noshu Ju Seki Kane___Saku". This basically means "Made in Seki by *smiths name*". The small stamp indicates this was a non-traditional officers sword made during the war. In terms of restoration your options are limited, at the very least don't attempt anything yourself beyond keeping the blade thinly coated in a light gun oil. https://japaneseswordindex.com/showato.htm

Check the link on wayback, it should be saved.

Thank you all again for your assistance, the registration came in this envelope. It's interesting to see an early registration certificate, and that it was first registered in Shimane Prefecture followed by Toyama prefecture.

Have to agree that the blade looks to have some interesting qualities. After examining these closer photos the Horimono is somewhat unfortunate for my eyes at least, but that particular subject of Fudo Myo-o tends to look awkward even when done by known Horimono artists of repute.

Thank you all for you assistance, it's accompanied by a Torokusho for 1953 in I believe Toyama Prefecture so 1951 makes sense.

Any help would be appreciated:

For those who've studied Gassan school smiths and seen their Mei in hand, it's rather apparent how finely the Nakago is signed and finished. Don't think you've missed anything important.

Well I'm not sure if that's a Type 94, if you look closer the Tsuba appears to be solid and the Ito & fittings don't have the detail seen in early swords.