Translation Assistance

[HenryG]

[Geraint]

Hi Henry.

 

Welcome to NMB!  Others here are much better at this than I am but so far I think your sword is signed 'Okada Kanesada saku', which means made by Okada Kanesada.  Do you see any signs of smaller stamped marks anywhere on the nakago, sorry, the tang?  The sword is in Shingunto mounts and was made and carried during WWII.

 

Feel free to ask any more questions and to post some more photographs.

 

All the best from another Celt.

[Kiipu]

Henry, ditto what Geraint said.  So as to save @Bruce Pennington the trouble, any markings on the other side of the tang, such as a date?

岡田兼定作 = Okada Kanesada saku.

 

FYI, one can find him in the @mecox monograph below.

Japanese Swordsmiths in Gifu 1937

[HenryG]

Thank you so much both! Amazing! I will take some more photos when I'm next at my parent's house  

 

[HenryG]

[Bruce Pennington]

The '8' is likely part of the assembly team process.  Are there any '8's stamped on the fittings?

 

The large Seki stamp is likely the inspection mark of the Seki Cutlery Manufactures Assoc. This stamp is seen on blades made from 1940-1945, but the massive majority of the dated ones were in 1942.  So, odds are for this year with yours, but that just the odds.  These tend to be found on some good looking blades.  Don't know if your budget would allow for a polish, as they will run over $2,000.  But if you have it to spend, I bet it would be a gorgeous blade afterward.