Shin-Gunto with Mei ending in Kyo 京 ? Also, tang looks to be cut.

[tbonesullivan]

This looks to be a somewhat interesting regular grade Shin-gunto, however it's a bit odd, and I can't make out the first character of the Mei, or if it even is a signature, or something else.

 

As far as I can see, the second Kanji is definitely  京 KYO, but I can't find any listing of a Showa era smith signing blades using that character.  The other side of the tang is 昭 和 十 六 年 九 月  - Showa 16 (1941) 9th Month, though the Roku is missing the right leg.  The tang itself also definitely is quite short and looks like it got cut or broken off at some point. Haven't seen that before.

 

Any ideas on whether that is the name of the smith? I checked under the alternate readings of 京 as well.

[Nobody]

兼宗 - Kanemune

昭和十八年九月 - Showa 18th year, 9th month

[tbonesullivan]

I was just going to add that I thought the first might be 兼 KANE, compared to other tangs I have looked at in the past. I'll have to look out for that Mune looking like Kyo.

 

Now I just need to figure out why someone cut it.

[Peter Bleed]

Can't judge his smithing, but his penmanship was - ahhh - dodgy

Peter

[tbonesullivan]

Can't judge his smithing, but his penmanship was - ahhh - dodgy

Peter

 

With the condition the blade is in, you wouldn't really be able to tell.  Oof.