Translation Help ... Gunto Katana in sirasaya

[max_levy]

Hi there,

A friend of a colleague just came to me to ask if I could find more details on a Katana they have been given. I believe it to be a 20th century gunto katana in sirasaya with cat scratch copper habaki. The blade is so immaculate my knowledge isnt great enough to be sure if it's nihonto or machine made, it does have a nice bold hamon and is signed to the nakago, the marks of which can be seen below. Any information or translation assistance would be truly appreciated. MAny thanks for sharing your knowledge!

 

[Kai-Gunto]

Made in August ,1943 by Akihisa.

[george trotter]

Hi,

I know his work well. He was Yamagami (Shigetsugu) Akihisa of Niigata prefecture. He was RJT smith. Worked in the family forge with his elder brother Yamagami Munetoshi. During the war years Munetoshi was senior, but after the war Akihisa became more known.

Akihisa was born 1910. 1934 he became 8th student of Kasama Shigetsugu and later 11th student of Kurihara Akihide from whom he got his "Aki" mei. Became RJT in 1941.

He and his brother used a circle stamp with "Matsu" in the centre as a tradel? mark and a number system (pic shows Munetoshi's RJT star stamped nakago...note slightly different shape nakagojiri).

Akihisa is mentioned and pictured in Ono 1971 p.174 and again 1977 p.84 and in other works...a good maker.

[max_levy]

Wow! Huge amounts of information and so fast! Cheers I really appreciate that and will let him know! Great to know the history is back with the sword! Thanks again!