Naval Gunto (Nihon to?)

[Max C]

Hello everyone,

 

I am helping a local regimental museum to identify part of their sword collection, among them are many nihonto and a couple of gunto. This one grabbed my attention as it seems to be a naval officer sword with a nihonto blade. I am unfamiliar with naval sword tassel so if anyone could name the rank it identifies I would be grateful. Also can anyone identify the mon and translate the mei? Thank you for any help you can bring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cabowen]

Ishihara Kanenao saku

[george trotter]

Hi Max,

here is a little bit more info.

As Chris says he is Ishihara Kanenao.

Although the mei is nicely cut (as opposed to the usual "factory" cut mei), all signs point to him being a Seki gunto smith.

Ishihara Kanenao's professional name and his real personal name are the same but different kanji.

He was Ishihara Kanenao...real name Ishihara Kanenao ...registered as a Seki swordsmith (kaji) on 27 Oct 1939 (per Jinsu Kim's list of Seki Kaji).

 

The silver mon on the kabuto gane is "four bars in a circle" (maru ni hiki). This was the mon of at least 16 families/clans some of whom were Daimyo (lords). After Meiji period anyone could use any mon so these can no longer be relied upon as ID for an owner.

 

The red/brown tassel is for an army sword ...navy is plain brown.

 

So, it is probably a better made showato by a middle level Seki swordsmith of WWII. Maybe better pics of the blade would help, but almost nothing is known about him.

Maybe a member can check Markus Sesko's book which may have more info...I don't have it

Hope this helps,

[Max C]

Thanks to both of you. I'll try to post some more pictures tonight when I get home, I don't think any of them really shows it but there was some kind of a faint hada going on.

[Kai-Gunto]

He was born may 25 th 1908.

He studied under Amachi Suzuichi and worked as a Gunto smith.

 

The tassel is for army ,as mentioned above.

[Max C]

Thank you Thomas.

 

It appears that the blade has a couple of kitaeware. I believe this would be indicative of a folded (if somewhat badly) blade?

[Soshin]

Hi Maxime,

 

I just purchased and it is in route a 28" nagasa Showato in a newer uchigatana koshirae that was made by Kanenao of Seki. It will be a new training sword for Batto assuming no major problem overlooked by the seller. I have a two week inspection period so I am not worried. The mei is identical to this example I found on Dr. Stein's website: http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/kanenao3.jpg and different then yours. The above example is only one of three examples he has on his website of Kanenao. Kanenao is also list on the following page: http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/seki.htm as a Seki Kaji Tosho. I will post some photos latter when I get the sword in hand.

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning all,

 

The Kamon can also be referred to as Maru ni Mitsubiki. (three bars in a circle)

 

Cheers

[AikiScott1]

If I might also add something that may be of interest, it looks from the tassel that this sword was owned by a field officer, though not a general, as they had a different tassel pattern.---Scott.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

Here is a iPhone photo of the nakago of my new sword. The nakago is signed "Seki ju Ishihara Kanenao saku" (関住石原兼直作), with "sho (昭)" inspection stamp above the mei not show in the photo below. The blade is in old polish but displays a nice gunome hamon throughout the length of the blade and has o-maru boshi at the point. The hada is tight ko-itame hada with no forging flaws that I can see. Keep in mind I do collect tosogu and far from an expert on the subject. I am a bit surprised the sword has a "sho" (昭) stamp on the nakago but the swordsmith was officially listed as a "Seki Kaji Tosho" but was also likely a "Rikugun Jumei Tosho" (produced both good and poor blades together).