Can anybody tell me any info about this sword makers engraving

[Lennon]

I found a sword my great-grandfather brought back from the pacific it’s a gunto 

but there’s no numbers on the tang there’s an inscription I asked someone and they said someone named yoshida made it any info?

[Bruce Pennington]

Gonna' need some photos, Lennon.  Welcome to NMB!

[Lennon]

Thanks for the welcome!

IMG_2203.HEIC

IMG_2203.HEIC

[ROKUJURO]

Lennon,

the tang photos are upside-down. Please load them up here on this site.

YOSHIDA is correct, but we will have to see the full blade (tip-upwards, directly from above, light from the side, dark background) without HABAKI (copper collar) to make a guess. It could well be a copy made after the war, but I am no expert in this field

[Bruce Pennington]

Can you post a picture of the saya (scabbard), also?

[mecox]

Hi Lennon

well there is a KANEYOSHI (兼吉), Gifu,  real name Yoshida Ushinosuke (吉田丑之助), he worked as guntō smith, Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

Below is an example.  But note on your sword the "yoshi" is incorrectly cut (like by a non Japanese?).  Not sure what this means.  Best you show more of the sword and fittings.

Added another example from F&G, hard to read but shows Seki stamp and correct "yoshi"

 

 

               

 

[Lennon]

Thanks for the info I will add more photos later I will show the fittings is there a certain part you want to look at or should I be showing all the fittings? Thanks!

[Bruce Pennington]

Folks usually post an overall of the whole rig and a closeup of the tsuba/seppa set.  Others if something stands out, like writing on the wooden end of the tsuka (handle) or stamped numbers on the fittings.

[Bruce Pennington]

5 hours ago, mecox said:

But note on your sword the "yoshi" is incorrectly cut

Mal are you refering to how the box at the bottom of the kanji was cut?

Japaneseswordindex.com has 2 Kaneyoshi.  Here's one with a similar yoshi:

 

I'm totally uneducated, so forgive the question, but could this be a case, like the multitudinous variations of how "kane" is cut?

 

But to add to the mei question, I'm seeing black same' (rayskin) and the ito (handle wrap) is of the late-war & post-war souvenir color.  So still waiting to see the whole rig, with more details.  But maybe this was a very late war sword and mei cutting was done by inexperienced workers.  

 

[mecox]

I was referring to the cross strokes on "yoshi".  The top one should be the longest.

[Lennon]

Here is a picture of the fittings I hope this helps 

[Bruce Pennington]

3 hours ago, mecox said:

I was referring to the cross strokes on "yoshi".  The top one should be the longest.

Ah!  I see now.  Hm

 

Lennon (is that your first name? Everybody normally puts their first name, and maybe a last initial. But I don’t mind calling you by your last name if that’s how you want to post it.)

 

The tsuba is very worn down, to the point that most of the fine detail is no longer visible. I don’t know what to think of that. It looks legitimate, just really worn down or rubbed down, or buffed down. The aluminum colored seppa, along with the color of the handle wrap, are typical of late war swords. Can you show us a picture of the scabbard?

 

And since you know that your grandfather brought this back, it eliminates the idea that it is a modern fake. But there are strange things about it for sure.

 

 

[mecox]

Being picky I guess, but sword looks to be missing one of large seppa and the retaining clip.  Do any souvenir swords have the clip (and tsuba/seppa with holes)?  And yes the tsuba does look buffed. 

Also does it have a Sho/Seki stamp? 

[Lennon]

Yes, the sword is missing a seppa and the mekugi was cracked in half when i brought it home. i will post a picture of the saya soon 

also i had a question about shin gunto do they usually have hamon cuase mine does and i was wondering what kind of steel it might be?

anyway thanks.

[Lennon]

Oh! and i was wondering how might i be able to remove the rust stains from the blade?

[ROKUJURO]

Lennon,

you will not be able to do this without damaging the blade, so please stay away from any DIY attempt! Rust is not something "on" the surface of a blade; it is steel turned into oxide! It can only be done by a traditionally trained polisher.

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes, officer blades always have a hamon.  Sometimes they are hidden with the wartime polish and years of poor treatment.

 

Here is a good page for caring for your blade: https://japaneseswordindex.com/care.htm.  You can get a cleaning kit online: Online sellers of kit.

[Lennon]

Oh and is this a factory made sword or is it a gendaito?

[Bruce Pennington]

Adding photo from the .heic pic above

 

Your photos aren't close enough, nor detailed enough, of the blade to say for sure.  Slough's book said he made medium to low grade showato, so it's most likely not traditionally made.  

[Lennon]

Gotcha!

[Lennon]

Should it have a stamp?

[Stephen]

On 12/20/2023 at 7:06 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Here's one with a similar yoshi:

One of mine and pic set to Rich.

Mei was above nakago Ana. 

True gendaito, miss it, should a could a sword. 

[Stephen]

Not same Kaneyoshi as one in question.  

[Lennon]

What do you mean? Im sorry i don’t really understand

[Lennon]

What i mean is are you saying its a gendaito? I finding it hard to determine anything since only the name is on the tang no dates stamps or anything.

[Stephen]

I was talking about the one Bruce posted....not same Kaneyoshi.  Not relevant to your sword,  sorry I confused the issue. 

[Lennon]

Gotcha thanks

 

[Bruce Pennington]

9 hours ago, Lennon said:

Should it have a stamp?

There isn't a "should" or "shouldn't".  The Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Assoc. stamped blades as they inspected them.  It is claimed they only inspected showato.  Arsenals also stamped blades they inspected and accepted.  We believe those stamps are only on showato.  The only gendaito blades we know of with stamps are the blades made under the RJT program, and they have a star, and sometimes small seki, "na", and other stampings.

 

Having said that, there are many, and I mean many, blades that went to market that were never inspected by either the Assoc. nor the arsenals, and a good percentage of them were showato.  So, an unstamped blade could be either showato or gendaito.  Only an informed inspection can help determine which one a blade falls into.

[Lennon]

Where should I go to figure out details about This sword?

[ROKUJURO]

Lennon,

the nearest sword club or a sword exhibition or Japan ?