Read this signature, please? Thank you.

[cmjohnson]

I have the opportunity to buy a sword locally featuring the tang described below in photos.

 

Unfortunately, the blade itself is a victim of someone armed with a power sander and a buffer.

 

What can be learned from the photos below will determine if it might be worth buying and having it restored.

 

Your input on the mei and nakago will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

 

 

[kunitaro]

豊佐作 Toyosuke saku

and Navy stamp ?

[runagmc]

Hi cmjohnson, I'm sure this sword is not traditionally made, and wouldn't be worth the effort and expense of restoration...

[cabowen]

Stainless, non-traditionally made.

[cmjohnson]

That's what I'd figured out after spending some time Googling it.

 

I think now that the blade isn't a grinder/buffer casualty. It's as it was made. There's even a fake hamon on it.

 

What confuses me is that a smith that could do a really very decent job of making the nakago and file marks, and

has a good clear mei, would even bother to sign such an unimpressive piece of metal.

 

Maybe he just had low standards.

 

Thanks for your help.

[Lance]

It wasn't so much a lack of skill (even though the person who made this probably wasn't a trained smith)

There was a demand for Swords made from a rust resistant steel for the navy, and this is one of the results of that. If the blade's all scratched up and the shinogi is rounded it was most likely done later as they were usually finished quite well for what they were, and even though from an artistic standpoint there isn't much merit, most likely the person who made it thought they were doing their patriotic duty.

Regards,

Lance

[vampiro13]

Instead of making a duplicate thread I figured I'd ask here. Does anyone know what the mei says? So far what I know is it was on a piece I got from a pawn shop that was badly scratched up, it is not magnetic but if it is then it is too weak for me to notice. My guess is some kind of alloy.

 

[Kai-Gunto]

Tsuba looks like newly made/ fake.

[Brian]

Yeah...it is definitely cast in and not cut. Either a fake, or something off a modern training sword/repro?

 

Brian