Help identify thus Katana

[leonstargazer]

Hi Everyone 

this sword comes from an estate sale in the USA.  I’ve had it for about 17 years.  A Japanese friend said the signature was Kanehisa?  Blade is heavier than my presumably much older blades.  Hamon seems legit but grain in the hands hard to discern but I have seen hand forged swords from t th e 1800’s lack it also.  Anyhow any help much appreciated 

thanks

Leon 

[Jacques D.]

Chinese fake

[Ron M]

If you say it’s signed then let us see that. That will prove it’s legit or not.

thanks for posting 

[leonstargazer]

Hi All

 

thanks for replying.  I will get a photo of the tang.  I recently took it to an experienced dealer who was keen to buy it so I don’t think this is a Chinese fake…bare with me & I will pay again 

thanks 

Leon 

[Matsunoki]

Tsuba is 100% fake so chances are the rest follows suit. 

[David Flynn]

The Tsuba is  early Showa period, civilian.

[Rivkin]

The tsuba is most likely modern. "Fortunately", its of the type which is made after a real tsuba design and is popular on yahoo Japan and in some martial arts circles, so there is some chance it was just added to the package.

We need nakago, overall shape, activity. 

If you want an opinion, got to put in the work.

[leonstargazer]

Hi All

 

yes I was told by Lanes Armoury that it was about 1920’s & civilian possibly magistrates….really appreciate you taking the time…will get more images to you very soon

 

thanks again

Leon 

[Brian]

Oh dear. Lanes.
Btw, we need pics of the tang to confirm one way or another.

[leonstargazer]

Will do Brian 

[raaay]

Just the usual 100% BS  from the lanes appraisals , i agree it is a  fake / repro copy 

[leonstargazer]

Hi all

 

ease find attached with tang 

many thanks

Leon 

[leonstargazer]

[Nobody]

大澤兼久 – Osawa Kanehisa

One of WWII smiths in Seki.

[leonstargazer]

13 minutes ago, Nobody said:

大澤兼久 – Osawa Kanehisa

One of WWII smiths in Seki.

Many thanks so my Japanese buddy was correct!  So assume this is Showa pre war civilian …but is it forged in the tradional way or arsenal?  Hamon looks legit…blade is heavy 

thanks

Leon 

[Rivkin]

What's quite possibly happened is someone recently used a gunto blade (likely a showato) to create a "samurai" package featuring "civilian" mounts. Now how much of the mounts are modern can be concluded with images, the tsuba is modern, but maybe some other elements are old.

[leonstargazer]

Hi Rivkin

thanks for your comments….interestingly the tsuka has been bound in black cord (ray or sharkskin is underneath) it may well be that someone as you say has taken the blade & mixed with a different koshirae although that does seem old also.

[GeorgeLuucas]

I once owned a sword by WW2 smith Osawa Kanehisa. His blades often have a kokuin (hot stamp) of his personal seal that says "Kanehisa". You can see an example in my image below. The mei on your nakago looks a bit rushed compared to the example in my image. 

From Marcus Sesko's book, Japanese Swordsmiths:
KANEHISA (兼久), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Kanehisa” (兼久), real name Ōsawa Kan´ichi (大沢勘一), born January 2nd 1915, student of Kojima Kanemichi (小島兼道), he worked as a guntō smith and died July 7th 1945, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide, skilled artisan).

What I find particularly interesting is that this swordsmith died in 1945 at just 30 years old, only months before the end of the war. 

Best of luck,
-Sam

[Tohagi]

Hello,

I had the same kind of koshirae on a shinto satsuma sword: tsuka made of wraped lacquered string or sometimes wale phalenum, saya tachi style covered with leather with urushi... 

 

Looks legits parts to me except  tsuba.

Maybe end of shinto ...

 

Best regards...

 

Éric 

[leonstargazer]

Thanks Eric & Sam

So in essence a showato blade …I don’t see a hot stamp & I believe he had an active career from the age of 20 so possibly pre war & placed in a Shinto koshirae.

 

cheers

Leon 

[raaay]

now we can see the tang,  i agree it is a  Kanehisa showato blade

[Stephen]

And another jump to conclusions, before using the calling fake card one needs the rest of the story

[leonstargazer]

Thanks again Everyone for your input, opinions & experience.  If the tsuba is modern (personally I am unsure) it was very well matched to the rest of the fittings.  I have some other pieces that you may find interesting but I work at sea (cruise liners) so it may take time to post them up but one I suspect is a chu mihara wakizashi.  Anyhow many thanks once again . 

[Tohagi]

Hi Léon,

Chu-mihara is in my interest range.

Happy to share if you have pictures.

 

Best,

 

Éric 

[leonstargazer]

Will do Eric…give me a few days👍

cheers

Leon