Gimei Minatogawa

[crotalus358]

As promised, here are additional photos.  As others have stated, I believe the date is 1936, which is before Moriwaki was appointed as a master smith for the Kikusui Tanto Kai.  The Kikusui appears to be hand-done, but has good detail.

 

Hopefully these photos help - I've tried to capture the activity; however, we don't have the best natural light here this morning.

 

Steve

[crotalus358]

[crotalus358]

[crotalus358]

[crotalus358]

[crotalus358]

[crotalus358]

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[crotalus358]

[Ray Singer]

I am glad to see the sword arrived safely Steve.

[Stephen]

Shows to go ya pic's can be misleading.

Good for you Steve, you have a nice sword ther.

[Brian]

Amen to that. Latest pics look a TON better than the first ones, the carving of the symbol specifically. Congrats!

[vajo]

I was hopefull for this sword. Good decission to buy it. 

👍

[Bruce Pennington]

I like these better too.  I've put together a little collage comparing 1935 and yours and 1937.  I think there's plenty of room for a "2" or even "3" in there.  So, I think the date is later than 1935, which solves your smith's dating problem.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Here’s a 1938, Yasumitsu blade,  that shows the “3” fitting in.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

I'll stop soon, but here's a 1940 with a "5" that very well could be what yours is with the top and bottom strokes obscured by the corrosion.

 

[crotalus358]

All,

 

Thank you for the comments and input.

 

Bruce,

 

Thank you for the date analysis - a 1940 date certainly looks plausible with the way you laid it out.  This would line up with Moriwaki's appointment to the Shrine in 1940.

 

All considered, I am thinking about having this piece polished and having shirasaya made.  Would be curious to get others opinions on that.

 

Thanks to all that looked, and especially those who've taken the time to provide their opinions - very much appreciated.

 

Steve

[Bruce Pennington]

All I can say is I've never heard anyone say "Dang, I wish I hadn't had that blade polished!" Ha!  Costly, but if it's worth it to you, then that is the real determiner.