Information on WWII Smith Requested

[hxv]

Greetings,

 

I recently purchased a WWII gendaito, signed "Noshu Ju Minamoto Sadatsugu Saku Kore" with a Tan stamp and dated Showa 17. It's quite a beautiful sword, in good polish, although under magnification, it looks like the previous owner uchiko'd it a bit too hard. Still, the damage is not bad. I can't find any info on this smith. He surely is not THE Minamoto Sadatsugu (Minamoto Sadatsugu never signed this way), but there seems to be nothing about him out there on the internet. The workmanship is just incredible for an unknown Seki smith. Any information on him much appreciated as always.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[SwordGuyJoe]

His name is Takai Sadajiro (高井貞次郎) - http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/seki.htm.

 

I couldn't find him in the GTM, but it looks like he rated Chuge Saku in the Tosho Banzuke and 5th seat in the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai - http://www.jp-sword.com/files/seki/gendaito.html - If you believe the website has the "tsugu" kanji wrong, which I have found multiple errors so I believe it is. These aren't AMAZING ratings, but it is good that he was listed and won a seat at all.

 

OUT ON A LIMB TIME!

 

The "tsugu" kanji, is the same used by the Kasama Shigetsugu school. In my files, I can't find any smiths with the Takai family name, but given the volume of students that passed through Kasama San's school, it begs to reason that he may have, but wasn't recorded. Also - a further leap - is that the nakago is less-like a Seki finished nakago yasurime (most but not all in Takanoha) and most (certainly not all) of Kasama Den that I have seen practice Kiri yasuri (As your sword demonstrates). Now keep in mind that ALL of what I just said may be wrong, but if one was to leap, there is logic behind it.

 

Now to reign it back in, it looks as though you have a pretty decent gendaito sword by a lesser known smith. Perhaps this is due to training by a very good teacher or perhaps its due to the balance of nature and skill (from a recent post), tipping more towards the former, rather than the latter. Either way - Enjoy it!

 

Edit: One more thing. He was a Rikugun Jumei Tosho - http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/gendai2.htm

[hxv]

Joe,

 

Thank you for the load of good info. It's such an attractive sword for a minor, low-ranking smith. I'm totally blown away. I guess this sword is the poster child for: "Every sword has to be judged on its own merit."

 

EDIT: Looking up under Takai Sadatsugu brought me to a recent thread here on NMB viewtopic.php?f=50&t=19418&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0

 

Such interesting reading! What really struck me is the difference in the way the mei are struck (no punt intended) and the workmanship, and by the same guy? I am completely blown away.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[SwordGuyJoe]

Well that - and my posturing - all sound familiar. For some reason I thought that was around Kanetsugu. Sorry

[cabowen]

What is this?

 

[hxv]

Chris,

 

It's the Tan stamp.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[cabowen]

Thanks, I thought it looked like some type of stamp but couldn't make it out...

[hxv]

Joe: No need for apologies! I asked for any info, and info I received. It looks like I'll have to keep digging around or wait for another sword of this smith's to show up - not an impossible task but takes a lot of patience and luck.

 

Chris: You are welcome. Do you have any thought/lead on this smith?

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[cabowen]

Not much info available. I posted my thoughts on the smith in the thread posted above...If I find something more I will be sure to post it...Looks like a nice sword!