Help With Unusual Mei Please

[Mark]

I have a katana, at first quick glance i thought it was a fake, but looking closely it is certainly Japanese WWII era. The mei is in 2 parts, kanji above the mekugi ana and 2 below, i thought the maker is maybe Yoshi___?  but not even sure about that.

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[george trotter]

Hi Mark,

The top two characters are Tsuku shi. Tsukushi is the old name for Chikuzen and Chikugo provinces, and also to the whole of Kyushu. It is classed as Fukuoka now I think.

I can't read the two lower kanji, maybe   "Yoshi   ?   "

I have seen Tsukushi used like this before (separate above the hole) on swords by Suetsugu Shigetsugu and Matsunaga Mitsuyasu who made swords for naval officers mostly.

This mei is one for Morita sensei I think...What are the blade and fittings like?

Regards,.

[Mark]

George, thanks!

 

Fittings are plain wood saya, army tsuba and tsuka has plain brass f/k, seem low end or late. The blade is covered with dirt and sciffed, the temper is a small chogi gunome, looking i would say it is clearly hand made

[george trotter]

Hi Mark, not much to be told from the fittings except it is army (tsuba and tsuka?).

Is it dated?

I see from the pic it has a number in the place usually reserved for work connected to the Army RJT scheme...so maybe it is an official military scheme sword. Any star stamp?.

Maybe post a couple of pics?

Regards,

[Mark]

no date. no star stamp, that would have given me a lead. will try and get some pics when i am home

[k morita]

Hi,

 

Mei says Yoshitsura(yoshi-tsura)

義連

 

This smith is unlisted smith on meikan.

Unusual sword,i think.

[Mark]

thank you Morita-san. Makes sense as i could not find anything that matched