1940 Kamenichi Officer’s Sword. Symbol meaning?

[Rmueller9]

The experts here identified my sword 2 months ago. Can you tell what the imprinted symbol on the tang means?

 

Thanks,

Rich

[Ray Singer]

This is a SHO stamp, indicating that the sword is a mass produced item. Not a traditionally made Japanese sword (not a gendaito).

[Dave R]

"Sho" means that it it did not fulfil a rigid set of specifications to be judged as traditional. I would pull back a bit on calling it mass produced, which is how the NCO blades were made. More likely made in a small workshop, possibly a decent sized factory, but still involving a lot of skilled handwork. 

[Bruce Pennington]

It also semi-dates your blade, as all known examples of the stamp were used between late 1940 to early 1942 - so most likely 1941.

[PNSSHOGUN]

In many ways I would say "Sho" stamps are more often than not better quality than Seki stamps.

[16k]

... and SHO is short for Showa. By the way, your sword was made in Seki if you don’t know that already.

[Dave R]

 There is a fair amount of back and forth on the "exact" meaning and origin of the marks, with Mr Ohmura giving one story, and Mr Komiya another. But from what I can gather, the Sho(wa) stamp was ordained at the national government level so that a non-Nihonto could not be passed off as one. The Seki stamp was ordained by the city of Seki to mark a blade as being made there and having passed their quality tests, very like the way Sheffield and Solingen mark their products.

[vajo]

The stamp say only it is not traditionel forged. It says nothing about the quality of the blade. There are low up to high grade showa-to.

Some less smiths have made superior grade showa-to. So it is important to take the view on the blade and the smith.

 

https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2017/3/13/2/e/6/2e64fae2-0821-11e7-83b3-11d3ab8a2f75.jpg

[Rmueller9]

More pictures

[Rmueller9]

Another

[Bruce Pennington]

Rich ,

 

Pics of the blade, as clear and close as possible, help the guys make a judgement about how it’s made.

[Dave R]

 I am always wary of judgement calls based on photo's, if possible get it to someone who can see it in hand. (Yeah, I know we are in lockdown so it will be a while). The mounts are good quality, so I would guess that the blade is at a higher end as well.

[Rmueller9]

Picture of blade

[Rmueller9]

Another photo

[16k]

Do you have close ups of the Hamon?

[Rmueller9]

The hamon egged!

[Rmueller9]

That was hamon egger from a Three Stooges episode

[Peter Bleed]

Interesting date! Looks to me like it is dated 2600 year of the imperial founding, ie 1940. Neat.

Peter

[16k]

Well, sorry, but I can’t tell you much more. The Hamon is too blurry to say anything much. Most Showato were at least oil tempered rather than water tempered, so it’s probably the reason for the SHO stamp, but it could be other elements. Probably the origin of the steel too. If a collector from this board lives in your area, Dave is right, in hand opinion might make a difference.