Gunto by Kaneuji

[m4l700]

Hello everyone,

 

Just added this Gunto to my collection. 

 

It is signed (Yoshida )Kaneuji and dated 1943. It probably is a machinemade, or at best a semi-handmade blade(?). There is a very, very faint hamon present that cannot be seen by the camera. And I think I can see some hada(Konuka), but it can also be that my eyes and brain that are fooling me, so dont trust me on that one

 

Above the date on the tang there might be a faint stamp(I think), or a mistake in the steel? I can't make out what stamp it can be, if it is a stamp at all.

 

 

Cheers,

David

[Bruce Pennington]

David,

The rust layer obviously makes the stamp ID difficult, but I’m leaning to a “Na” of the Nagoya arsenal, so not like to be gendaito.

[m4l700]

David,

The rust layer obviously makes the stamp ID difficult, but I’m leaning to a “Na” of the Nagoya arsenal, so not like to be gendaito.

 

Hi Bruce,

 

Thank you for your thoughts about the stamp. I wasn't opting for it to be a Gendaito, there isn't such quality in this blade. Even a newbie like me can tell

 

I also see alot of blades(machine and handmade) that are signed from this smith with a Kakihan, or 'personal seal'. Why and when would a blade be given such a seal?

[Bruce Pennington]

David,

 

Maybe some of our Nihonto experts can fill us both in on that question. The practice goes back before WWII, but I don't know how far. I have just begun collecting them, and don't know much about their use. I have noticed some blades, by the same smith, where one will not have a kakihan and another will.

[m4l700]

I was just looking at this Gunto and I spotted a stamp on the Haikan. My other Gunto's dont have this, and as far as I know, I have not seen this before? 

 

Is it readable? Might look abit like a seki stamp?

 

[Bruce Pennington]

David,

That would have to be my guess too. It's incomplete, but it doesn't resemble any of the known manufacturer stamps, so I'd lean to Seki. Definitely an unusual place for it, but I have seen stamps on fittings before.

[Kiipu]

Is it readable? Might look abit like a seki stamp?

 

Yes, it is readable and it is as you say.

関

Seki

 

Edit: You need to rotate the picture 90 degrees clockwise to see it clearly.

Edited September 16, 2019 by Kiipu

[tbonesullivan]

I handled a Shin-gunto by Yoshida Kaneuji, dated 11th month 1941.  Definitely an arsenal made blade, with a seki stamp.