Toryu2020

CP? clearly not the blade he was after, maybe the menuki, the fittings on the handle, if you aren't too tired of taking photos I would be interested to see. Otherwise your photos show a pretty standard Showa-to with civillian mounts. A shame that so many out there, including us "experts" don't know the true value of these swords... -tom

　John A is correct, Seki Kanetoshi, wartime production from present day Gifu-ken in Japan. Looking forward to more photos, be sure to show us the scabbard and handle as well. I wonder how old your "translator" was? Not a lot of young Japanese know the rules of reading sword signatures but certainly most should be able to make out these kanji! and 10k was a great offer, if we are having fun at your expense don't take it out on the deer... -tom

My understanding is that they had a factory/workshop where they did most of the work and the blades were finished at the shrine in the presence of the gods. For the most part these were machine made with a few supposedly "Han-tan" or half forged, hand-finished. Definitetly Showa-to since they were made in that era, not true Gendaito as they never used 100% materials and methods as some other wartime forges did... -tom

and I forgot "Jidai Oan koro" Period (circa) : 1368-1374 -tom

Klaus - George sussed most of it out, here is what I see; 無銘　伝中島来　時代応安頃　刃長弐尺壱寸有之　昭和癸丑如月上浣　福永酔剣（花押） mumei Den: Nakajima Rai Hacho: 2 shaku 1 sun kore ari Showa Mizunoto-Ushi Fukunaga Suiken (Kao) or Unsigned In the tradition of: Nakajima Rai, Length: 2 shaku 1 sun (Executed) early February 1973 (by) Fukunaga ... The order of the kanji is Aru Kore but should be read Kore Ari - "Den" is not as strong an attribution as just saying Nakajima Rai outright but still not a bad attribution to have. Would love to see pics of the sword itself should you get around to it. -tom PS my stupid computer refuses to learn the old kanji so some of these are the simplified versions...

Most definitely not Suishin-shi Mashide Can't see the photos unless I join the Wermacht... -tom

Bill - Just to add my bit, none of which hasn't been said already really; 二つ同　小川重良（花押）分石　斉藤長式所持之 Omote - Futatsu-Do (Cut) Ogawa Shigeyoshi w/Kao Ura - Bunkoku Saito Nagamochi Shoji Kore Most of which has already been rendered as; Ogawa Shigeyoshi (cut) two bodies (with this sword) Bunkoku Saito Nagamochi Carried (owns) this As has already been said your inlay appears to be recent and the presence of all that red rust suggests recent "aging". The To character (藤) if it even is that is rather poorly presented as are some of the other kanji - The Bunkoku is likely a Go, or naming for the sword - a very odd choice. Doesn't seem to make sense if you say Bunseki or "separated rock" but that is a literal translation and not how it would be written in Japanese - 石割　or Sekiwaru would be more likely as in "Rock splitter". If we consider this as "Koku" a unit of rice it might make sense in Japanese but I can't seem to make it work which suggests this might be a clever fake by someone who knows kanji but maybe not Japanese... -tom

Jock - You've been busy my man. Your sword is signed; Kii (no) Kuni Yasutsugu 紀伊国康継 You'll need to look at the blade for confirmation but I believe your man is and Edo period Ishido smith - let us know what you find out about him... -tom

Thus thanks to Mr Moriyama - Tenshozan Fujiwara Akimitsu Taishuko wo motte saku kore or Fujiwara Akimitsu made this at Tenshozan using Anti-rust steel Tenshozan was a small forge and shrine set up within the precincts of the Komyo-ji temple in Kamakura. They made swords for the Navy, based just around the bend at Yokosuka. Being as they were meant for use at sea they used a modern steel that was supposedly rust proof. There may be some hammer-monkies on this list who understand and can explain the steels better. The group that worked here was quiet small so production was limited. This is a nice example, often they have been badly abused, and it is a little unusual to have the smiths name included. many of these works have the Ikari (anchor) stamp on the tang. The little shrine is still there BTW - a short walk from where we used to live in Kamakura... -tom

Will - Welcome, I would say go for it! Post Away! there are lots of folks here eager to tackle toguh questions and provide answers. -tom

I believe the signature correct - Dotanuki remember did not command a lot of respect or high prices until modern times - when TV and movies made them more well known and when rich collectors started seeking out swords made in their home town. This mei has age and I would expect Dotanuki gimei from more recent fakers. on top of that the workmanship seen in the blade fits the school - I have a little Dotanuki wak myself the diffeences I see in the mei look to be the usual variation one might see in your own signature... MHO -tom

All - I would add that the mamorigatana (Yomeiri tanto) was for protection - protection against treacherous in laws indeed but also carried the message from a father who had gone to the trouble of arranging a good match as in; "Don't come home alive!" Tough love indeed! -tom

I would say they are trying to say Mihara Ju Maszane Saku looks modern and could very well be a dremel or other tool that cut this, as already posted... -tom

Yes Kuni! and it makes a hellavu lot more sense. Thank you Mr Moriyama, -t0m

Heres what I see; 別働隊　玉友 Bestudôtai Tama-tomo Bestudo-tai is translated as "detached force, flying column; partisan." Tama-tomo if this is in fact what we see would be "friend of the jewel" or more likely "a friend [as precious as] a jewel". So your original translation is pretty close, this may not be a recognized group or unit but something for a "Third Column" member. The tama I am not so sure of, maybe will see it as something different with your new photos. Just MHO but don't think the stamps are military look more like postage cancellations to me, then again looking forward to seeing those pics for more info... -tom

Thanks Martin - Had never seen one like this- would be neat to have as "markers" for all my swords... -tom

James! No fair teasing us like that! How about pics of the blade - the tempered side, if there is one and the rest of the kozuka. A neat find lets get a good look at it. thanks, -tom

"Skin, curves and parfume" Carlo - "Nioi", exactly!! Well put. -tom

Klaus - Look for 誠至刀 or just 至誠 in your dictionary Very cool but doesn't help us determine who the maker is. Nakago looks very fresh so I would guess Shinshinto or even Meiji period country-smith. I would also not agree with the description, not a "high class" koshirae... -tom

There are stranger names out there, I am surprised not to find this name in my references, since it appears to be a fairly well cut mei - I wonder if he has any connection to Higo Koreyoshi or some later smith - do you have pics of the blade you can share? -tom

Found it! On page 6 in the October 2001 Volume 33 number 6 issue of the JSSUS there is a short article by Charles Saweikis; "A WorldWar II Samurai Sword with a Baseball History." In it Mr Saweikis breifly introduces his Ishihara Masanao sword that came over with a ribbon attached identifying it as a prize in a baseball tournament. I am interested in contacting Mr Saweikis and learning more about this blade, if anyone here can help put me in touch it would be most appreciated. Thanks, -tom

I would read it like this; 天ノ一吉是 -tom

-tom

I'll take a stab at it! Hoping this spoiler thing is workin... -tom

On translating Tanobe; Anyone remember which issue of the JSSUS had an article on his sayagaki and how to read them? I love that his hand writing is so clear but I can never make sense of what he wrote... -t