Little Help from my Friends?! Please!

[Bruce Pennington]

A weakly struck mei on a Rinji Seishiki (Type 3). I tried really hard to break this one myslef, but no luck. The date is April 1945, if I have that right.

 

Can someone translate this one for me, please? (my guess is "Kunihiro", but I'm usually wrong!)

 

[Ganko]

Pretty poor penmanship. I'm thinking  "Katsu Masa"

[uwe]

Why do you think 1945 Bruce?

....

[Stephen]

How do we read it showa ni ni?

I understand (4)shi is same as death.

[uwe]

yon (よん)......I would suspect Stephen!

[Bruce Pennington]

Why do you think 1945 Bruce?

....

Thanks guys!

 

My first thought was "2 2" i.e. "4" also, but that would make this blade made in 1929. While that is certainly possible, I think it unlikely. That was a very low time in the era of sword making, except for the western style blades. While Murata had instituted oil quenching, I doubt it was being used for the old-style blades like this. Admittedly, I'm weak at my ability to distinguish between oil and water quenched hamon, I think this one was oil quenched. (pictures added).

 

Additionally, almost all blades in Rinji fittings are from the '42-44 years. Exceptions are out there, but the odds of this Rinji housing a '29 blade are slim.

 

What I think we are seeing is a very weakly struck "10". I've enlarged and noted the lines of it. I can see a very faint vertical line and a very faded bottom strike of the line.

 

I suppose, it will have to be called a "probably 1945" on the date, with a "possible 1929" noted.

 

[Tom Darling]

I can't tell, whether oil or water.  Peace.

 

 

Tom D.

[k morita]

Yes, Katsumasa  勝正, 1945.

[Bruce Pennington]

My humble thanks to each of you!

[BANGBANGSAN]

昭和二十年

勝正