US Army Infantry Collection: Kai-Gunto Help

[chgruener]

Hello all,

 

Here is a Kai-Gunto in the collection. This one caught my eye due to its size. It is extremely short, much shorter than all the other examples by at least a couple inches. 
 

Please see the Imgur link for detailed photos of the signature and blade. 
 

https://imgur.com/a/yAknlES

 

[xiayang]

下総守吉宗 = Shimōsa no Kami Yoshimune

[chgruener]

1 hour ago, xiayang said:

下総守吉宗 = Shimōsa no Kami Yoshimune

Thank you so much! Do you have an approximation for date? 

[xiayang]

13 hours ago, chgruener said:

Thank you so much! Do you have an approximation for date? 

 

I have not been able to find any record for this smith.  There was a 下総守宗吉 (Shimōsa no Kami Muneyoshi) around the end of Muromachi/beginning of Edo period though.  My kantei skills not the best I'm afraid, but I could imagine that this blade might have been made around the same time.

[Bruce Pennington]