Blade markings

[Chris]

Hello Every one .

I'm new here and was wondering if some one could please help with reading this blade for me .

I would greatly appreciate any help you offer.Thank you Chris

[Lorenzo]

Ah Chris... you don't trust me

[Rich S]

I believe it's Kanenao; Showa smith from Seki.

 

Rich S

[Lorenzo]

I am not sure about the second kanji of the name, but the date is showa 17 year, july, one day. So one day of july, year 1942

[Chris]

Thank you Rich S

and Lorenzo .very helpful.

Would it be a sword stamped out for the war effet or a real tamahagane .

Thank you Chris.

[Brian]

Chris,

It has the Seki arsenal stamp. Although this isn't a 100% indicator at all, it is very likely that this is a wartime oil quenched more mass-produced sword. Lack of grain and activity in the steel will confirm this if the polish is good enough, but I am 90% sure that it isn't a traditionally made one.

 

Brian

[Chris]

Hello Brian

The blade does have a temper line but I guess that means nothing .Did they still clay harden these war time blades to produce the harmon, Thank you Chris.

[Brian]

Chris,

I am not sure of the exact composition of the wartime coating, but I am led to believe that they still coated the blades and then oil quenched them instead of water quenched. This was easier, less stressful to the blade and assisted the mass production.

Obviously a smith still worked on the blade, it wasn't just stamped out of a solid billet, but it wasn't forged and folded from tamahagane, and the steel was mill steel.

So the edge is hardened, but without the care and activities that traditional methods impart.

 

Brian

[Chris]

Thank you very much Brian.

Chris