Help me please is this a Kanemichi?

[- Dean -]

My first sword which i purchased from a recognised dealer,

 

I am told that the blade is by Kojima Kanemitchi, as you can imagine i am a complete novice and desperate to try and find out as much out about my sword as possible, i have attached some pictures of the kanji, mon and wrapping and would request any help that any of you experts could give me regarding translation and the maker.

 

Is it a traditionally made blade or oil tempered? is it gendaito?

 

Are there any clubs or interest groups in the central UK region?

 

Kind regards

 

Dean Sargeant

[paulb]

Hi Dean

I think the nearest group to you is the Northern Token which meets in Manchester wvery other month.

Your sword has a showa stamp on it. Depending which books you read and whose opinion you believe the generally held view is/was that swords with this stamp on are factory made, possibly hand finished but not regarded in Japan as traditionally made swords. There seems to have been some movement in this recently but I think that is still the general belief.

The characters on your blade are typical of a showa made sword.

There are many kanemichis, the first and most famous known as O-michi or Daido was the father of Kinmichi who founded the Mishina School in the Edo period. Other Kanemichis crop up throughout the Edo period.

I should try and get a copy of John Sloughs book on modern swords you may find this mei in that.

hope this helps

Paulb

[shan]

Hi,

He was an Army designated sword smith during World War II. one of the swordsmiths of the Rikugun Jumei Tosho lived from 1926-1988 i think. but there were many by this name.

 

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:bzjM ... cd=3&gl=uk

 

 

regards

Shan

[- Dean -]

Thank you so much for your replies so far, I am fasinated please please keep the replies coming!

 

Can anyone provide an exact translation from the kanji too maybe?

 

Kind regards

 

Dean

[Nobody]

Mei:

以安来鋼兼道作 (Motte Yasuki-hagane, Kanemichi saku)

= Using Yasuki-steel, Kanemichi made.

 

Date:

紀元二千六百一年 (Kigen ni-sen-roppyaku-ichi nen)

= 2601st imperial year = 1941