Beater

I hope these photos cover the points you wanted to see. They are taken with my i-phone and I tried with and without flash. Best I can do. I’ve used Slough’s pages on Nagamitsu as a backdrop, as, from the photos you requested, I’m guessing you want to compare alongside his example? To my eye the similarities are evident and although the nakago-jiri of the long signature example in Slough differs slightly from mine, you have only to turn the page to see another example which is a dead ringer. Slough says that one is Shoshinmei, so I’d conclude Nagamitsu’s nakago-jiri show slight variation.

Thought I’d share my sword with the Military sword / gendaito enthusiasts. I’ve read many of the old threads on NMB regarding Ichiryushi Nagamitsu and the debates around the many mei used to sign his (or in many cases his students) swords. In my mind this rare example, having both his “full-Monty” mei and a date is, undoubtedly, the work of the man himself. “Bizen ju Ichihara Ichiryushi Nagamitsu saku” and dated to May, 1944. There are no stamps whatsoever to be found on the nakago. Original, wartime polish. Slough’s book shows a similar example and I have only found reference to two others similarly signed pieces. Mine has quite a late date. I suspect that the green-blue ito and use of Type 98 mounts, rather than the more common Type3 seen on other later Nagamitsu blades, points towards this being a special order / custom made sword. Any observations, comments or new information regarding this fascinating smith greatly received. Kevin.

Here’s another by him I found on line…shorter mei and uncommon stamp. Also used name Osamura Kiyonobu and made gendaito which have papered. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/gendai.htm

Looks to be the work of Noshu Nagamura Kiyonobu, a Seki smith. Longer signature than other examples I’ve seen by him and the absence of a “Seki” stamp, so possibly a traditionally forged? I’m sure others with more interest of gunto will fill in the gaps but looks authentic to me. Regards, Kevin.

Appreciate your input Steve. Agreed, much more information available now than the early Fuller & Gregory works, although they get my total respect for the pioneering work they did. Both men helped me no end back in the 80’s. It would appear there’s a typo / error somewhere. Also, it was indeed Gassan Sadamitsu who I meant as unlikely to be making Showato. Kind regards, Kevin.

Bruce et al, The earlier thread didn’t really address Eric’s question. Clearly not the famous Gassan family member. The mei and workmanship just isn’t what we would expect. Opinions seem to suggest the previous sword was a Showato, with which I concur. The Sadamitsu from Markus book, says he is a student of Akihide and achieved a position in the First Seat in 1941. Slough also shows him to be Matsumoto Sadamitsu from Ehime. I am very surprised he was making Showato a couple of years later. If you look in Fuller & Gregory’s list, from Swordsmiths of Japan, 1926-1946 (attached), you will see two Sadamitsu listed with no oshigata or comments for either. There are quite a few smiths who they identified from various sources but about whom little is known. I would suggest this and Eric’s previously posted sword, are by one of these. Just a thought. I also couldn’t help noticing the OP’s name - Matsumotoken and that a smith named 松本 貞光 (Matsumoto Sadamitsu) is in another low-ranking list - 中下作 (CHUGE SAKU). Has the OP already identified his maker? However, this all appears to be at odds with Marcus’s entry… Regards, Kevin.

Hi Paul, I believe this is “Seki ju Mori Toshiharu saku” The Sho stamp indicates it is non-traditionally made. Regards, Kevin. Opps - sorry SteveM, you already replied!

Thanks for your reply Chris. Yes, I saw him listed in Slough’s, page 221 and noted the name in F&G’s earlier booklet ‘A guide to Showa Swordsmiths’, at #34. There is of course, no oshigata with that one, so I wasn’t prepared to make the connection. Thanks also Mal, as ever, for your clarification. Kind regards, Kevin.

Hi Chris, Do you think it is odd that the tang you show above (link below) and Karl’s blade are both mounted in kaigunto, when it is said he was RJT - army certified swordsmith? Or is it common to bat for both teams? Not my interest, so just asking. I noted that when you expand the write-up IMA provide (press the ‘read more’ link) regarding this sword, it is a load of waffle about another smith, so just wondering how reliable his info is? https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-wwii-Japanese-navy-officer-p1937-kai-gunto-handmade-katana-by-tsukahara-kanetsugu-with-scabbard?variant=40001105592389 Regards, Kevin.

In case you are unaware, your sword is signed: “Noshu ju Tsukahara Kanetsugu kin saku”. (Respectfully made by Tsukahara Kanetsugu, living in Noshu province.) Another similar oshigata can be found on page 95 of “Swordsmiths of Japan 1926-1945”, by R. Fuller & R. Gregory.

Chris I may have misunderstood but the mei you show is “Toto ju nin. Ikkansai Kunimori kin saku”. (東都住人 一貫斎国護謹作).This is the mei used whilst he worked at Baron Okura’s tanren Jo. It is widely thought blades were actually made by his pupils and merely signed by Miyaguchi. They are not thought to be true gendaito. Every one I’ve seen was mounted in good Shingunto mounts and would date from around 1937 onwards, after he left Yasukuni. Regards, Kevin

Thank you for your replies, as I said at the outset, “I really don’t know” but the seller has, in my experience, always been trustworthy and I’m sure would be devastated, if the doubters are correct. I’m sure you will be aware that British sword makers certainly did make swords for the Japanese, so that concept at least, sits easy with me, although I am not saying this one is (or indeed, is not) correct. Here’s another example of a British made sword for the Japanese market… https://www.antique-swords.com/Wilkinson-Sword-Japanese-Civil-War.html Military swords are not my area of collecting and I bow to the more knowledgable here. I know there are many who revel in the study of the minutia of tiny stamps, manufacturers marks found on fittings etc and I posted this to invite comment and opinions from which we may all learn. Nice swords John. I think you may be missing the point though…the ones you show are, without doubt, genuine home-grown swords. This one purports to be one made in Britain. Of course it isn’t identical; a one-off could never achieve the detail / attributes of those made in Japan where they had tooling and moulds to produce consistent parts. Bruce - all good here thanks mate. Agreed, the quality doesn’t compare but not bad if it is a one-off, in which a British naval tailor has done their best to fulfil an order, perhaps only having had the opportunity to view another example and make drawings? I too see the signs of verdigris / age and also wear to the brass gilding but I guess it’s possible to fake this, if you could knock up a sword like this? The blade is of British origin and as far as I know, Fisher & Hart were outfitters, not sword cutlers. Military outfitters, such as them, obtained the swords they sold from one of the established cutlers (Wilkinson, Mole, Pillen, Reeves etc). Brian has listed some British sword patterns and whilst being of fairly typical form, it does not precisely follow any of the usual patterns, so to me anyway, very much looks like a one-off. If this sword is fake, 100% s**t and shonky, as has been suggested, has anyone seen another? Surely the person responsible for this creation would not go to such lengths to make just one. The Chinese and Pakistani copies of NCO swords are ubiquitous, so where are its brothers? I have certainly not seen anything quite like it before and for me, the jury is still out and therefore repeat - I really don’t know. Kevin.

Hi everyone, I thought you might find this sword interesting. I often buy British swords from this seller, who rarely gets anything Japanese. I think his hypothesis as to the likely reason for this having a British-made blade is quite plausible but I really don’t know. Certainly looks authentic enough and, like he says, it may be unique? I’m not in the market for it so thought I’d share here in case someone else fancies a go. https://www.greatscottantiques.com/en-GB/antique-swords/Japanese-naval-officer-s-dress-sword-/prod_11604#.Y4HheC-nz4A Regards, Kevin.

Can’t make out from your photo but my Masatsugu had small, tightly packed choji hamon. A really nice sword. (My oshigata attached). Mal Cox, forum member here, wrote a great article about this smith which you can access from the archives here. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/51-taguchi-kiichi-masatsugu-hakuryushi-tadataka/?do=download&csrfKey=ebdaa3536536cc1f901337c962aae165

I recently saw a sword blade on another forum which had a mei which was translated as follows: 謹大華鑛株式会社作之 Respectfully made at the Daika Ore Co. LTD 満州国建国十同年記念 10th anniversary of the foundation of Manshuko Manchuria was essentially a Japanese puppet state from 1932, so I'm assuming this dates to 1941/2. I believe it would not be wrong to refer to this as another type of Mantetsu-to, assuming the company named in the mei is indeed situated in Manchuria. It has a full length bo-hi and, from the photo, appears to be quite a long sword. The mei is neatly cut but the file marks on the nakago are quite crude in comparison. If you'd be interested in seeing the photos, link provided below. I am interested if anyone has encountered this producer before as it would seem to be evidence of more sword making in Manchuria. I hope you will find this of interest. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1019245

I think it should be "Ishihara Michihiro saku", who I believe was a Seki swordsmith. 石原通廣行

Yabushita Yoshimitsu 義光 (Yoshimitsu) 藪下 (Yabushita) A Seki Kaji Tosho. civilian name = Yabushita Fujio (藪下不二夫)

Thanks Klaus, for the information. Regards, Kevin.

Thanks gents. Agreed - the example in Boston Museum of Fine Art by Takechika bears no resemblance of kanji style nor in general appearance of workmanship. It seems to be well carved, so hoping someone will know more about Issai and perhaps another example by him is known? Kind regards, Kevin.

Having had my eye on this one for quite some some, I finally took the plunge. The seller had it down as late Edo period. Signed Issai Saku and that the maker also went by the name of Tsuchiya Takechika. (No reference as to where this info came from.) I believe Takechika is a fairly respected maker from the Naga school? It is in fact signed, "Hagi (no) ju ? Issai saku". There was a hand-written note under the cushion in the tsuba box, which suggests the missing kanji could be "Shi"? A friend (with more reference books than me) informed me that he found a few Issai tsuba-makers but none from Hagi or indeed Choshu. I understand the landscape depicted is the island of the distant mountain of immortality - a popular Chinese Daoist theme? Can anyone confirm the translation and is there any information known about this maker please? Many thanks in anticipation. Kevin.

Hi Jean, I appreciate you taking the time to explain your initial thoughts and concerns about those particular yajiri. I do see the features which you highlight; both the neck and tang finishing. Many thanks for your reply. Regards, Kevin.

Ok, thanks for letting me know. I knew absolutely nothing about them but as they were just thrown in to a sword deal, I haven’t lost anything. Can you indicate which ones and I might consider a cull. Regards, Kevin.

Thank you. It’s a very cheap DIY job. I bought the frames in “The Range” for under a fiver, stuck felt to back board and drilled small holes for elasticated thread to hold them in place.

No sir.

And I thought my miniature screen was a novel idea...never mind! I’ve also got some more which I put in a more conventional picture frame. All this talk of fakes has me slightly worried but luckily I was almost gifted these, which were thrown in as a sweetener with a sword purchase.