Unusual metal Mekugi

[Baka Gaijin]

吉

永

?

[Bugyotsuji]

吉

次

 

Malcolm. 

[Baka Gaijin]

Yoshi Tsugu perhaps

[Kiipu]

2 hours ago, Baka Gaijin said:

Yoshi Tsugu perhaps

 

Yoshitsugu 2

[Baka Gaijin]

Thank you Piers and Thomas

 

Greatly Appreciated

 

Now comes the questions:

 

What do we know about Yoshitsugu, and why is there no Showa Stamp?

 

Are we dealing with a Factory workshop or individual Swordsmith?

 

And last of all was this produced by whole or part traditional methods?

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Sesko lists 2 wartime Yoshitusugu, both from different prefectures:

 

"YOSHITSUGU (吉次), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Kumamoto – “Yoshitsugu kore o saku” (吉次作之), “Yoshitsugu” (吉次), “Hishū Yatsushiro-jū Yoshitsugu saku” (肥州八代住吉次作), real name Yamada Junji (山田純次), born April 15th 1931, he studied from 1952 under Minamoto Moriyoshi (源盛吉) (see picture right)
YOSHITSUGU (吉次), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshitsugu” (吉次), real name Yoshida Jinrō (吉田任郎)"

 

You've posted a couple of good shots of the blade, so many someone can opine on how yours was made.

 

A 1944 blade would not have had a Showa stamp.  Those went out of use in 1941.  By '44, the Gifu and arsenal inspection stamps were being used.  But the reality is that half of all blades observed, by those who observe such things, have no stamps.  Many were sold privately to shops.  There were over 1,000 sword and antique shops selling swords during the war.  Another aspect is that while 70% of blades were made in the Gifu (Seki) prefecture, where the Showa and Seki stamps were used, 30% were made elsewhere and would never have been inspected by the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association. 

[Baka Gaijin]

Thank you Bruce