General Officer’s Sword Translation Help

[chgruener]

Hello all, 

 

Been awhile since I posted anything new from the museum. I believe this is a general officer’s sword, but if anyone can confirm or deny, that would be helpful. 
 

Any additional information about the technicalities would be very appreciated!

More photos due to size limitations:

 

https://imgur.com/a/MZ0Ggtb

 

[Ron M]

From the pics…I feel like the same may be artificial, the seppa are replacements, the tassel doesn’t look authentic, and the mei is the Showato style…imo a Franken-sword

[SteveM]

濃州住行宗鍛之　Nōshū -jū Yukimune kitae kore.

 

Means: Yukimune of Nōshū Province made this 

 

WW2 smith. 

[Conway S]

I was literally typing the reply when I say you posted... 

 

Conway

 

[DTM72]

The Brown/Red color of the tassel is indicative of a field officer grade (Major or Colonel). Generals had brown and gold tassels. See attached picture. Company grade officers had a Brown/Blue tassel (Lieutenant, Captain)

Problem with tassels is that anyone can buy a tassel, and stick it to any sword. Without any provenance, it's just a tassel...hard to prove it was original to the sword.

[PNSSHOGUN]

This would be a field grade officers sword from the red & brown tassel. Looks like there is writing here, which may be the officers name: 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Posting nakago shot for posterity