Kyu gunto ?

[Alex1984]

Hello, please tell me what the blade is and what the brand is. Sincerely, Alexander. 

[Kiipu]

I have never seen this logo before.  The character inside the gear is 日 as in 日本 [Japan].  Is there any other markings on the tang or tang top?  What is your opinion as to the type of blade, traditional as in water quenched, nontraditional as in oil quenched, or machine made from one piece of steel?

 

Attention: @mecox, @Bruce Pennington & last, but no means least, @BANGBANGSAN.

[Bruce Pennington]

Never seen that one either.  Aliaksandr, along with Thomas' question about other stamps, how about a couple of clear close-ups of the blade tip and a body shot, for the hamon?

 

The 2 ana implies it might have been a kyu and remounted in the kai fittings.

 

Also, it that obstruction in the stamp something that could be cleaned out with soap and a toothbrush?  It won't hurt the blade to do so.

[Alex1984]

There are no other markings. A delicate hamon is présent.

[Stephen]

Lower case a?

 

I see it loop now be so not a A

[Bruce Pennington]

5 minutes ago, Stephen said:

Lower case a?

That’s what I see. Which is why I would love to see that gunk cleared off of it to get a better view.

[Alex1984]

This is the maximum cleaning

[Bruce Pennington]

Ah,  looks like Thomas was right.  One for the “Unknown” file!

[BANGBANGSAN]

@Kiipu

Maybe that mark relate to 日本特殊鋼合資會社？

日本特殊鋼合資会社（読み）にほんとくしゅこうごうしかいしゃ
世界大百科事典内の日本特殊鋼合資会社の言及
【特殊鋼】より
…以降，特殊鋼は兵器の材料として軍需を中心に生産された。大正に入り1915年に電気製鋼所(現，大同特殊鋼)，16年に日本特殊鋼合資会社(現，大同特殊鋼)と民間の専業メーカーが設立された。しかし軍需中心は変わらず，第2次大戦終結前の生産のピークである44年の63万tは戦争継続のための増産によるものである。

 

[Kiipu]

18 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Maybe that mark relate to 日本特殊鋼合資會社？

 

Nippon Tokushu-Kō KK used a different logo on manufactured items.  See the link below for an illustration of the company trademark.

Japanese Military Training Small Arms Companies, Post #52

[BANGBANGSAN]

5 minutes ago, Kiipu said:

 

Nippon Tokushu-Kō KK used a different logo on items manufactured by them.  See the link below for an illustration of the trademark.

Japanese Military Training Small Arms Companies, Post #52

Is 日本特殊鋼合資會社 and 日本特殊鋼株式會社 the same company?

[Kiipu]

10 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said:

Is 日本特殊鋼合資會社 and 日本特殊鋼株式會社 the same company?

 

I am going to have to change your name to "eagle-eyed" BangBangSan!  Yes, they are one and the same company.  The advertisements up to 1936 used 日本特殊鋼合資會社 and after 1938 used 日本特殊鋼株式會社.

[PNSSHOGUN]

For what it's worth this looks to be a Murata-To pattern of blade by the Bohi and etched Suguha Hamon.

[Bruce Pennington]

While not proven, we believe we have examples of logo/stamps that changed over time.  The Kobi shop is one where we think the mysteriaous "Ichi" and "K", both in sakura, were from the same shop that changed stamps at some point in time.  Gunboards has a few posts on the multiple changes of the "Mukden" arsenal stamp that changed over time.

 

Seems plausible that this was an early stamp of the Japan Steel Co.  But, of course, until evidence pops up it's an "unknown."