Help With Id, Ww2 Shin-Gunto? Kanetomo 55?

[acedraven]

Trying to ID this sword. This is my first "Collector" Nihonto.  

 

I believe it to be a WW2 Japanese military sword a Shin-Gunto.  Its almost exactly like this Kanetomo 55.  I believe its a early war model since it has a metal scabbard and not a wooden. 

 

http://quanonline.com/military/military_reference/Japanese/sword_55.php

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated.  

 

Sorry for so many pics, but I know details are crucial with these things. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kai-Gunto]

The Wood sayas dosnt indicate late war.

Please turn photos with tang end down.

Like this......

[acedraven]

My apologizes, I flipped the images around.   I was going off the assumption of something I had read about post 43-44 blades being given wooden sayas due to shortages in materials. 

[Kai-Gunto]

Then we talk about the NCO shingunto late war with Wood saya.

[Geraint]

Hi Philip.  

I think your sword is in fact much nicer than the one you linked to, certainly in better condition and all present and correct as far as the fittings go.  It has a Seki stamp and of course the signature.

A good start but beware, you are on the slippery path to collectormania!

 

Enjoy.

 

All the best.

[acedraven]

Thanks! I know this could be a very costly bug to catch...    I thought the condition was almost too good, it made me slightly concerned.  

 

Any info on decoding of the blade? Id love to look into the history of it. 

 

Is this just a mass produced blade since it has a Arsenal stamp or could it be hand made? or "traditional" 

 

Hopefully I didn't do too bad paying $700 for it? 

[reeder]

In that condition $700 is a decent deal. You should be able to make a little money if you decide to resell it for any reason. You shouldn't lose any money at least. It was also a fair price for the seller as well.

 

It has the seki stamp as previously mentioned so it will not be traditionally made but that does not necessarily mean it was not hand forged or semi-hand forged. The mei reads Noshu Ju ?? Masa? Saku. I'll have to look up the rest in the books or online. Or you can try to finish it out here (assuming that smith is listed there) by trying to match up the characters. Just look at the signatures that begin with "masa". http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/index.htm

[Wouter]

Hi,

 

The sword "Kanetomo 55" is actually sitting on my desk. So it was a nice surprise to see you make the reference.

I purchased it in May this year.

 

I did run to this forum to find out more about the smith and the sword, so if you do a search on my name, you will find those posts and hopefully find some useful information.

 

If you do find out more yourself, please do not hesitate to share. Always happy to learn more.

 

Cheers,

 

Wouter

[acedraven]

Looks like its Masayuki (Noshu)  ?

 

Id like to get a break down of the Era / date / (sword #) / sword smith and an idea if it was non traditional or not. 

 

 

[Peter Bleed]

Boy, it looks like a Masahiro to me - not that it matters a lot

Peter

[SwordGuyJoe]

Agreed - masahiro

[acedraven]

I was going by the last character,  Sorry, not sure how they are read. 

 

So we are at 

 

Noshu Ju ?? Masahiro Saku ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only Masahiro I see around the ww2 period is this guy.  Does this seem accurate?

 

[reeder]

Your sword is probably made in 1942-1943. If it's signed on the other side that will be the date.

 

Being seki stamped, as previously stated, it is not traditionally made. In regards to Peter's comment, a seki stamped blade is a seki stamped blade. In general, they're all about the same regardless of who made them, and are of little interest to most of the members on this board.

[GregD]

Hattori MasaHiro