Utopianarian

Yes, Nao. Correct. My dyslexia Must be kicking in

Yes Thank you. The first character is a tough one. It’s really difficult to Identify but looks like Noa is the most probable

Hello, I recently aquired a WW2 gunto but having difficulty translating the mei signature and date. The second character looks like Hiro but cannot translate the first character or the date. Can anybody please translate. Thank you, George

Regarding Hada: Blades with masame hada often have some linear so-called "masaware" Which in some cases are acceptable and a trade mark and aren’t seen as a forging fault or flaw. There are some areas of Itame hada mixed in this blade but Generally coarse running masame hada.

Thank you Austus. Many here on the board are much better obtaining pictures/ lighting etc.. there is even a thread I believe created here by a member on this subject. Nihonto photography is an art onto itself. Thank you for your comment but I am very much an amateur here trying to learn.

Habaki close up pic

Additional pics

Another pic

One hole on the nakago is punched the other looks drilled obviously at a later time prob during Ww2.

Yes definitely fascinating. So interesting that this sword had a more utilitarian use to actually be used in war versus a ceremonial sword. Here is a pic of the family mon on the gunto fittings. Added history that makes this even more interesting

Yes I agree it appears to be one of the mass produced war swords during the Sengoku period. Rays assessment I think is correct. When I acquired this sword it was fitted with WW2 Gunto fittings with Family Mon

Thank you Raymond

Additional pics

More pics

Hello, I have a katana which I have had a difficult time identifying. Appears to have mostly masame hada with openings in some of the graining. Nagasa 70cm Motohaba 3 cm sakihaba 2cm Kasane .8cm Length of kissaki 3.2cm length of nagasa 19.05cm. Nakago appears to have dark well established patina and is ubu and mumei. Yusurime katte sagari. Gentle oroshi Iori Mune. Hamon Suguha with some activity in it. Boshi from what I can observe may be Hakikake. My best guess it may be a school of the Yamato tradition but unsure of age. Maybe Muromachi.

I will definitely keep you all informed of how things turn out. Also to note the yusurime or file marks on the Nakago appear like a pattern called Sen Suki which are irregular vertical traces created by a sen which is something similar to a plane used in shaving iron. This pattern was also used on pre-koto swords and early koto blades. It looks revealed where some of the patina has flaked off

Lol I am kinda new to posting as of a few days ago. I guess it does look ridiculous

An interesting thing to add is on the back of the Mune it is not Iori Mune but rounded. I think the term is maru Mune

Also an interesting thing to note that both sides of the sword the Hamon has an identical Hamon pattern almost like it was in a mirror

Seems to be a sort of repeating pattern with Hamon with box like tops to activity. Hard to capture in pics but a little noi just under the peaks but little activity below. Well grained

No signature on Nakago

I don’t know if worth polish

Also a long tiger tail on Boshi

It looks like a strong Mino influence

Better view of boshi