Japanese sword: can you translate the tang inscription?

[teddy1066]

I'm having a lot of trouble identifying the maker/town of this Japanese sword. The incised characters were difficult to read but I've done my best to make them as clear as possible in the links below. I've had suggestions from local dealers in my area which have been all over the place so I'm glad I've found this forum. Any assistance you can give me would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much.

Inscription http://imageshack.us/a/img688/6414/014editvertical.jpg

Inscription http://imageshack.us/a/img23/4989/014ed ... optimi.jpg

Dragon Motif http://imageshack.us/a/img28/3289/005optimized.jpg

Sword & Scabbard http://imageshack.us/a/img14/1125/003optimized.jpg

[cabowen]

Shibayama Kaneyasu

 

柴山兼保

[David McDonald]

Dear Teddy 1066

 

 

Koshiyama Kaneyasu

 

 

Is what I see.

 

good luck

david mcdonald

jswords@mcn.net

[teddy1066]

Shibayama Kaneyasu

 

柴山兼保

 

Thank you Chris...much appreciated!

[teddy1066]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate your expertise and apologize in advance if I use incorrect terms, I am new to this. The tang reads "Shibayama Kaneyasu 柴山兼保" so I'm assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) that this blade was made in Shibayama, Chiba. Would Kaneyasu be the actual maker? I couldn't find a WWII-era sword smith by this name so wonder if anyone has an index of period makers. To my novice mind this is a “Type 98” Shin guntō circa. 1938-1945 but your expertise would be invaluable. The scabbard is bamboo so I'm assuming it was produced late in the war when Japan was running out of metal.

 

What concerns me most is that the blade might be older as I've seen the name Kaneyasu pre-Meiji. I realize that the new military swords made for WWII may have included older blades owned for generations for officers. Could you look at the blade and tell me if it's WWII-era or a lot older? Thank you for your patience and help. It is much appreciated!

 

Teddy

[cabowen]

WWII era blade. Shibayama is smith's family name. There are many unrecorded smiths from the war years.

[Brian]

Looks like some kanji above the name (location maybe?) were deliberately removed?

Sword is WW2 vintage, but the mounts are private. Maybe mounted for Iai or some other reason?

 

Brian

[teddy1066]

Looks like some kanji above the name (location maybe?) were deliberately removed?

Sword is WW2 vintage, but the mounts are private. Maybe mounted for Iai or some other reason?

 

Brian

 

Thank you again. Very much appreciated!