Any help identifying maker or age greatly appreciated

[Donkeyotay]

I've only been collecting swords for the last year, and it's been as a sub-collection to compliment my main hobby, which is collecting Japanese uniforms, medals and equipment. The swords I've been trying to track down have been very specific, and not necessarily the same as other collectors are eager for. I've got 3 of the late war, low quality blades of decreasing hideousness, with aluminium, single piece handles- the worst of which was forged in the Phillipines. These were the cheaper ones to purchase but have been hard to find in good condition and considering the quantity forged are quite scarce today as they were the first to be destroyed and the first to disintegrate through use or storage.

I'm now working backwards to the more expensive, better quality swords; looking for perfect examples of well forged Shin Gunto swords from the better military arsenals, as well as those with customised fittings,mons, etc and also good examples of family blades which have been mounted into military fittings and brought into service.

Of the family blades brought into service there are some divisions also, the 2 main ones are old but good quality blades which were recycled due to pressure on foundry productivity in late war, and those old blades with deep family history which were used to substitute perfectly good contemporary blades so that an officer could carry his family's honour, history and spirit into battle.

A recent purchase of a Shin Gunto described as "a civilian blade in military fittings" has presented me with a bit of a mystery and dificulty in understanding the context of the sword. The blade itself is not in good condition, having had some attempt made to sharpen it in spots, or perhaps to remove burrs. It still retains a good polish and has a great hamon but has definitely encountered some damage from another blade and from being handled without gloves. The damage is of less concern to me than it would be for other collectors, but trying to establish the age/quality of the blade would help me to classify it's place in my collection.

I purchased it from a very reliable source, a military antiques shop in London who have developed expertise in various areas of military equipment through 3 generations, and who have acquired some amazingly rare and special items for me overs the years. Here's some pictures that I hope might help identify the blade - the kanji are unusual and I've been unable to see anything like them in any of the catalogues of Mei linked to on the site, and have only been able by process of elimination to confirm that they don't refer to a showa, date,or any of the more common swordmakers/foundries

 

Any help in translating the Mei and pointing me in the right direction to be able to understand the context of this sword would be greatly appreciated,

 

Paul

Ireland

[Brian]

Your mei pic is upside down. Edit it, then you can edit your post and re-upload.

 

Brian

[Donkeyotay]

Thanks Brian,

I did have that fear, and did search for the "upside-down" kanji too, while trying to find a translation.

hope that makes it easier,

 

Paul

Ireland

[kunitaro]

I think,

兼玄 (Kaneharu)

戸松直太郎 (Tomatsu Naotaro) 1926-1989

[Donkeyotay]

Thank you so much for the translation.

This gives me a good starting point for my own research and should help me to understand the origins of the blade.

 

Paul

Ireland

[Brian]

I think,

兼玄 (Kaneharu)

戸松直太郎 (Tomatsu Naotaro) 1926-1989

Kunitaro san,

Does that mean he worked from 1926 to 1989...or be was born in 1926 and passed away in 1989?

Because if the latter...then he must have been forging swords in WW2 around 18 years old?

 

Brian

[k morita]

Hi, :D

 

1926-1989 is a span of Showa period.

[kunitaro]

Sorry Mistake,

He is registered S18 (1937)

[NihontoEurope]

He was born 1917.

 

/Martin

[cisco-san]

from Markus´s book :-) :

Kaneharu (兼玄), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Kaneharu“ (兼玄), civilian name „Tomatsu Naotarō“ (戸松直太郎), born October 14th 1917, he worked as guntō smith