Kai Gunto identification help needed

[bigred96]

What can someone tell me about this.  Does anyone recognize the mei?  I can barely make out the kanji symbol or what the enameled print means

[John C]

1 hour ago, bigred96 said:

what the enameled print means

The painted numbers are a type of control number. Looks like A (in Katakana) 15563.

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

We'll need a Jedi Master like @Ray Singer or @SteveM for the smith.

 

Could it be:

良重 (Yoshishige)?  But the second kanji looks more like a 貞 sada.  Sesko lists some 良貞, but doesn't show any Showa era ones.  I'm probably way off, though.

[mecox]

Bruce, that Yoshishige  良重 looks pretty good.    Sesko has this one:  YOSHISHIGE (良重), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshishige” (良重), real name Komiyama Ryōzō (小宮山良造).

He was born Meiji 35 (1902) January 19. and registered  as Seki tosho Showa 17 (1942) November 1, living at Seki-machi, Tokiwa-cho. 

There is detail in my Naval swords #2, pages 26-29.   The date on this sword looks to be Showa 18 (1943).

His blades are typically signed ni-ji katana-mei.   Of note, he is a Seki smith but one of his swords (1943) in good kaigunto koshirae has seppa stamped with TEC and Toyokawa anchor-in-sakura.

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/63-Japanese-naval-swords-swordsmiths-workshops-part-2/?do=getNewComment

[bigred96]

I don't see an anchor stamp.  

Is this sword rare or special in any way?  Traditionally forged?  A higher ranking officials sword perhaps?

Thanks all so far, this is cool info!  I couldn't track down anything!

I can clearly see the yoshi sign, good call there.  However, I'm not seeing the shige,  it doesn't look like the symbol you put.

I can post better pics shortly.

[ROKUJURO]

Isaac,

to help us make safer comments, you should improve your photos. It is not easy with swords and it may take a lot of experience. Try to post images that are:
 

- well focused, not foggy or blurry
- made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast
- made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos)
- made directly from above (not at an angle)
- made with correct orientation (vertically tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO photos and TSUBA) 
- without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI 
- made in high resolution to see details
- showing details (in magnification) like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. or the fine work on TSUBA
- presented as cut-outs so very little background is shown
 

If you cannot provide good photos (..."these photos are all I have from the dealer...."/..."I do not have a good camera but only an old mobile phone...." ), DO NOT POST BAD ONES. They will not be helpful.

[Bruce Pennington]

It is quite common to see unstamped blades in kaigunto.  Just means the blade was sold to a private sword shop.  The photos aren't good enough quality to make a judgement call on whether it was gendaito or showato.  Odds are it's a wartime showato, but better photos will tell.

[bigred96]

More pics!  Help appreciated!

[bigred96]

Actually Bruce,

Is this a twin to your sword or did I happen to end up buying your sword?
https://gmic.co.uk/t...kaigunto-navy-sword/

[Bruce Pennington]

2 hours ago, bigred96 said:

Actually Bruce,

Is this a twin to your sword or did I happen to end up buying your sword?
https://gmic.co.uk/t...kaigunto-navy-sword/

Wow, Isaac, how do you like that!  Similar Japanese numbers stamped on the tsuba, too.  This one 155 and mine 15.

 

Could you give me a full length nakago shot of the date?  I can't see all the numbers in the photos above.

[bigred96]

Here u go

[bigred96]

Also, what would the value be approximately,  cause I'm pretty sure I got ripped off.  Was told there was an anchor stamp, which would place it at Tokogawa and be worth more than a Seki-stamped.

Not at all hand-forged, right?  I'm guessing $500-$1000?

[Bruce Pennington]

Isaac,

Thanks for the added photos!  We have 7 Yoshishige on file now - 1 just an oshigata; 4 in kaigunto; 2 in Type 98.  1 a 1942, the rest 1943.  So, you're in good company!

 

The large Seki stamp is found on non-traditionally made blades, but good quality.  And Kaigunto, much more rare than Army gunto, go for much more than gunto.  I just checked ebay and they are ranging from $1,600 to 3,800, depending on condition, blade, saya style, etc.

[RobCarter3]

On 11/3/2024 at 1:53 PM, bigred96 said:

Also, what would the value be approximately,  cause I'm pretty sure I got ripped off.  Was told there was an anchor stamp, which would place it at Tokogawa and be worth more than a Seki-stamped.

Not at all hand-forged, right?  I'm guessing $500-$1000?

 

I don't think there's any real value difference between a Seki showato blade and an anchor-stamped Toyokawa stainless blade in kai gunto mounts, all else being equal.  Stainless blades are very common in kai gunto.  Kai gunto are less common than army Type 98 mounted swords and command more in the current market for comparable examples.  IMO, any complete kai gunto in reasonable condition that hasn't been ruined in some way is worth at least ~$1,000-$1,200 on the low end, going up (potentially way up) from there depending on the rarity/desirability of the particular variation.  Yours has a tassel which is nice and a $150-250 value by itself. 

 

Your Seki-stamped blade was "hand-forged" in the sense that it was forged to shape by a gunto smith from bar stock using a power hammer.  It's almost certainly more hand-forged than an anchor-stamped Toyokawa stainless blade, which are usually considered "machine made" by collectors.  I've never seen documentation or a detailed description of how exactly the mass-produced wartime stainless blades were made, but I suspect they were made by their own unique process given the very different requirements for working and hardening stainless steel, and that process was probably consistent with "machine made."  

 

There was some discussion on the topic of "hand-forged" vs "machine made" in this recent thread here.