Inherited Sword From Great Grand Father (WWII)

[Codyjonz1]

Hi,

 

I inherited a sword my Great Grand Father took from a Japanese Officer (along with a huge rising sun flag) around 1945 on the island of Mindanao in Davao City. Based on my research I believe the blade was made by Iga no Kami Kinmich Fujiwara (3rd generation) based on how he signed the "So" in Nihon Kaji Sosho.

 

I am interested to learn who might have made the tsuba and how old it is. While I've had success researching the sword I cant find much info on the tsuba. It appears to be a branch and leaf pattern that was (at one time) covered in gold leaf.

 

Also if anyone has information on the (I believe they are called) Fuchi and kashira. There is a Maru ni Mitsu Kashiwa Mon symbol. Wondering if this traces back to a certain family.

[Codyjonz1]

[Nobody]

As for the tsuba, it was made in late Edo period.

因州住 – Inshu ju

正充 - Masamitsu

[Codyjonz1]

Thank you!

 

[Bruce Pennington]

You'll find a few mon experts on this thread, if you care to post yours there:

 

 

[Stephen]

What a great legacy, not a WW2 gunto but a true Nihonto. I love the matching mon on the F/K. Thank you for sharing. 

[Stephen]

I thought we seen this before, you posted this a few years back. Uwe gave you the tsuba mei then maybe you missed it.

You asked about polish then, I hope you didn't have it done it looked fine back then