Request for Help Translating a Type 98 Mei

[CrossOfLorraine]

Hello,

Before I get to my question I would like to thank all the board members for sharing their knowledge.  I recently inherited two Shin Gunto from my grandfather, one Type 95 and one Type 98, and have enjoyed learning more about them by reading related posts.  Both swords were purchased at least 40 years ago, probably in Europe along with a variety of other swords I have received, but that is the extent of what I know about their provenance. 

 

On the Type 98 nakago there is a Showa stamp above the mekugi-ana but I haven't been able to identify the hot stamp or the mei, and can only decipher a few characters of the date.  Any help in translating these would be greatly appreciated.  

 

Thanks,

Mark

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Mark,  Your sword is signed KANE-UJI, with a "SHO" stamp, The date is Oct. 1941.  Fuller and Gregory has an oshigata (#123) of one of his swords dated 1942 with the same hot-stamp/ personal seal, which is his name incorporated into the stamp.

 

Tom M.

[mecox]

Yes Mark and Thomas, smith is Kaneuji and dated October, 1941 (10th month, Showa 16).  There are 2 Kaneuji listed, he looks to be  “Kaneuji” (兼氏), real name Yoshida Reiichi (吉田鈴市), he was a Seki-based guntō smith.  Shown in Slough p. 72.

[rebcannonshooter]

Thanks Mal, I never even thought to look in Slough's book!  Absolutely the same guy as in F& G, Tom M.

[mecox]

Yes F&G has lots of info.  Also he was born Meiji 14 (1881) January 13,  real name Yoshida Suzuichi ,  in Naka-machi, Seki and was  early on a registered smith in Seki on Showa 13 (1938) September 9 , at age 57.  He is in the 1942 Kurihara tosho list as Ryoko no Retsu (Ge Saku) 7th level of 7. 

[CrossOfLorraine]

Thank you Tom and Mal for all of your help, this is even more information than I was expecting!  I'm not yet familiar with the Kurihara tosho list, so that is especially interesting.  Is 7th level out of 7 the lowest rank or the highest?  

[Bruce Pennington]

That's the best Kaneuji hotstamp I've ever seen!  It'll be in the next revision of the Stamps of the Japanese Sword document.