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Translation assistance on this Katana tang Looking for feedback. . Thank you

Bruce Thank you for pointing me in the direction for Katana maintenance. I've already emailed them. Dan Thank you for the advice on removing the Habaki. I only collect Type 98 swords (for the present) and try to stay away from project swords. However this one always intrigued me. I will give it the old college try and report back with results VR Ed

Thomas The Habaki is on pretty solid and there looks like scratch marks where a previous owner tried to pry it off. I can't get it off and I haven't tried very hard. No Arsenal stamp that I can see on the tang or markings on the spine that I can discern. I've posted pictures of both sides. I took the pictures today. With all that said, I could use advice on where to get the Tsuka rewrapped. In the USA would be nice VR Ed

I know that this is an old thread however I thought that I would add to it. One of my swords is a older brother to the above mentioned item. I ran your thread while researching a translation that Thomas provided. 兼定 = Kanesada. 昭和十八年十二月 = 1943 December There isn't a Hamon that I can see. The Habaki is on pretty solid and there looks like scratch marks where a previous owner tried to pry it off. I can't get it off and I haven't tried very hard. The Tsuba and Seppas look similar to the above mentioned sword. Has a similar Tsuka however it's missing the silk wrap, ray skin and Menuki(s). No Arsenal stamp that I can see on the tang or markings on the spine that I can discern. I've posted pictures of both sides. I took the pictures today. With all that said, I could use advice on where to get the Tsuka rewrapped. In the USA would be nice VR Ed

Thomas I will check it out and send more photos! Thank you VR Ed

Translation assistance on this Katana. . And other considerations / concerns Unusual scratches on the blade near the Habaki

John and Bruce Cant thank you enough! Great information and I especially like the links and the treatise on the post war swords produced for souvenirs for the Army PX. Very in depth. My father had German nazi war items from WWII that look authentic but are stamped "souvenir" which would make you wonder if they were real and stamped souvenir to skirt export or war price prohibitions. With that said, there were a couple things that made me scratch my head about this Katana. One was the atypical Tsuba as mentioned and the other is the lack of a locking mechanism for the blade such as a snap or locking latch. Also makes you wonder if these post war Japanese pristine / unused swords have any real value.

Looking for help with the translation of the symbols on the tang. Also this sword has a canvas wrap on the rather than Ray Skin. This concerns me but may not be a concern. Thoughts? Arsenal stamp?

Mark Perfect! Thank you! VR Ed

Is it possible to ascertain the approximate year of manufacture from the signature?

Thank you!!!!!!!!!! VR Ed

Could use some translation assistance on this Katana . .Thank you VR Ed

Thank you!

sorry. don't see any other markings or stamps Thanks again for everything VR Ed

Kiipu I will look . in the meantime I don't know if this helps VR Ed

I will include pics of the complete sword and blade VR Ed

Thank you

cant win them all i suppose

thanks

And of course another Katana to evaluate I've included picks of the sword and tang. . . .both sides thank you ed

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! VR Ed

Thank you! in retrospect. I think that you have provided what I needed! thanks again! Ed

UWE Is there a good meaning for Bishū Asano Jū Mano Kuniyasu kore o kitaeru besides the name of the artisan? Thanks Ed

Very nice! Thank you again for your efforts!! VR Ed

I have another Katana which i could use some help with translation. This is my very first acquisition which started me on the path to collection. You can see that the tip is chipped/missing . . .still razor sharp though Nothing on the reverse side of the tang :-) I will include pics of the complete sword and blade VR Ed