Ray Singer

My impression is that this is a katabami kamon (not the aoimon of the Tokugawa shogunate). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katabami_inverted.jpg

G Bryant, your sword is signed 虎徹 (Kotetsu). It would be more helpful if you could take better, clearer photos. Swordsmith information (create an account to access). https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=虎徹 Examples. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=6de80325d8c97b9b&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&sxsrf=APpeQnsD-W631RT89SOJ9p08pR9QSnwb2g:1782318299769&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832VTJOOCxW_fyN-Q_ezyf8gI6tmCs2mGkqzilSWVScXUu-36F1xwJ6s2wRb7OWrvmXKhJLrQZNmI9gm2AYQW4Uizn2b8TkT7RybSEBZdtaCwnr8ep1FfDZpTyTkz03KmpKMoTvXnkTHHyQHvNfMh4ViFw0QP3ntipu8Gg32MSfCIb3zcfbg&q=長曽祢興里入道虎徹&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiXmomJpaCVAxXEliYFHZAJNNQQtKgLegQIFxAB&biw=1536&bih=791&dpr=1.25 https://www.google.com/search?q="okisato+nyudō+kotetsu"&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&oq="okisato+nyudō+kotetsu"&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgcIAhAhGKsCMgcIAxAhGKsCMgcIBBAhGKsCMgcIBRAhGI8CMgcIBhAhGI8C0gEHODI3ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 A togishi in Australia. https://touken-togishi.com/ WWII Army koshirae. https://web.archive.org/web/20250228085100/https://ohmura-study.net/900.html

Chikuzen (no) kuni Katsutoshi.

Perhaps 相模守源則(廣) - Sagami (no) kami Minamoto Nori(hiro) The last kanji is cut off, but look into Norihiro as a possibility.

The way that all images have been photographed at angles and cropped, partially cutting of sections of the inscription make readability difficult (like trying to read a sentence that has been fragmented into a number of separate images with words randomly cut off). It is best to provide a single vertical image that shows the entire inscription in one photo. The sword is a Seki made showato arsenal blade, not fully traditionally made. I believe the smith is Kanenobu ( there were several individuals using that name working during the war). Best regards, Ray

This may be Ido Kanehiro saku, but it is much better if you can show a photo of the mei (inscription), rather than a handwritten version.

I believe this is Nobukuni Yoshinao.

Hi everyone, I now have a full release of the mobile app version of my kanji flashcards. As mentioned in my previous post, I have started with a version for Android and will be moving forward with an iOS version for iPhones and other Apple devices next. This app includes the original three sets of flashcards for mei, nengo (time periods) and kuni (provinces) and includes quite a bit more content as well. Please see below for a link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordsofjapan.flashcards Best regards, Ray

This is a swordsmith who worked around Kanbun period (1661). He claimed to be a 5th generation descendant in the lineage of Mino Kanemoto. 兼元五代目兼直作 - Kanemoto godai-me Kanenao saku

In the same way that you would not give someone a paragraph to read by providing separate images showing one letter at a time, it is much better for individuals trying to provide you with a translation to see the entire and full inscription clearly. From what I can see this may be: - Kanemoto godai (fifth generation Kanemoto) - Kanenao saku However I would much prefer to see the entire inscription of these two swords, with clear vertical images of the entire mei for each.

Here are other references for Myochin Munekatsu. https://www.nihontocraft.com/Myochin_Munekatsu_Tsuba.htm

That is my impression, yes (gimei).

Kanenori November, 1943.

The mei is Bizen (no) kuni Kiyonori. This mei indicates a smith of the Bizen Yoshii school, however the mei unfortunately does not have an authentic appearance. Regardless, the sword itself is an authentic, antique Japanese katana in shingunto army koshirae mounting for WWII.

Please see below for Sako Nobumitsu. https://www.google.com/search?q="sako+nobumitsu"+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za%2Fnmb&sca_esv=1e191da9c85b6632&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&biw=1536&bih=791&sxsrf=ANbL-n48yk3ZyVgr6TN-KJ4PTXgjzmm0Eg%3A1780519250520&ei=UpEgaqO5H-zUp84PxpPUuQ4&ved=0ahUKEwijqsWL9-uUAxVs6skDHcYJNecQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq="sako+nobumitsu"+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za%2Fnmb&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiLSJzYWtvIG5vYnVtaXRzdSIgc2l0ZTp3d3cubWlsaXRhcmlhLmNvLnphL25tYkj3XlAAWIRdcAB4AJABAJgBmAGgAewOqgEEMy4xM7gBA8gBAPgBAfgBApgCDKACiAzCAgYQABgHGB7CAggQABgHGB4YCsICBRAAGIAEwgIHEAAYgAQYDcICBxAuGIAEGA3CAggQABgIGAcYHsICBhAAGB4YDcICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgUQIRigAcICBRAhGKsCmAMAkgcEMS4xMaAHjC6yBwQxLjExuAeIDMIHBTAuNi42yAcmgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Hi everyone, I am in the process of launching a mobile app version of my kanji flashcards. The digital app includes expanded content. In additional to being digital versions of my existing flashcards with names, places and time periods, the mobile app also includes flashcard sets for terminology, schools and examples of famous swordsmith mei. Please see below for a link to the Android version of the app. For those who are on iPhones and need an iOS version, that is still in development and a link will be shared here in the future. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swordsofjapan.flashcards If anyone needs assistance with access to the Android link, please let me know. As I am in the process of transitioning from the test to production release, it may be necessary to add your Gmail address to my access list. Please email me at raymondsinger@gmail.com with any questions. Best regards, Ray

The mei is not in good enough condition here that I can give you a specific generation, however it is likely a legitimate example from one of the generations of Yoshimichi from the Mishina school. In spite of the nakago being in somewhat rough condition , with less definition than we would like to see in the mei, please be sure not to do anything at all to remove rust or clean the nakago (tang). Leave the condition of that part of your sword as it is. Best regards, Ray

Still Seki stamp, no change to earlier feedback.

Seki stamp (sideways). This indicates it is a WWII showato arsenal blade (not fully traditionally made).

Please show the entire nakago including the presence of any small arsenal stamps above the mei (inscription).

This is the Showa era smith Kunihiro. Please see below.

The inscription is kikumon Tanba (no) kami Yoshimichi. There were several generations in this lineage, it may help if you could provide a clear vertical image of the inscription to evaluate further. Best regards, Ray

Unfortunately Bruce this appears to be a fake. Not Japanese.

I am sorry for the bad news, but this is not authentic nor Japanese. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

Inoue Shinkai. Dated Enpo roku nen ni hatsu hi. (井上真改 / 延宝六年二月日 - A day in the second month of the 6th year of Enpō, 1678) Echigo no kami Kanesada, made with nanbantetsu. Sagami no kuni Tsunahiro, dated Bunka go nen hachi gatsu hi (相模国綱廣 / 文化五年八月日 - a day in the eighth month of the 5th year of the Bunka era, 1808)