Sword Identification Help

[Johnnykumite]

Sorry if this is the wrong location to seek help! Please delete if so!

New member and my first post! First, I’d like to say that any information obtained here is simply for me to get an understanding. I’m not looking for information for sale purposes.

 

Secondly, I’m not into swords, but wanted some information on this sword. This will likely be my only post. I just wanted to be upfront. 
 

My father passed away a few years ago and left this sword to me. I know that it’s old, but don’t know a whole lot about it. My dad received it from his father, and it was tossed around in the trunk of his car as he grew up moving place to place. Long story short, a friend told him it was old. My mother had it sent to restoration services in Pennsylvania for Father’s Day one year, and had a new handle and guard made for it. The sheath is also new. This is something that will stay in the family so I have no interest in selling it. I’m just looking for some information on it.  I was able to do some research on how to remove the handle, etc. and have taken some photos shown below. Any information, or help is appreciated! 

 

-Johnny K.

 

 

https://ibb.co/XD9XZ8P
https://ibb.co/VV5BSz1
https://ibb.co/rvwxy0W
https://ibb.co/yNCXMyH
https://ibb.co/kQtrWyV
https://ibb.co/zhP53ht
https://ibb.co/Fg7DQjL
https://ibb.co/sqjMkpB
https://ibb.co/phhLyVc
https://ibb.co/dbpQtBm
https://ibb.co/0DZp4X8
https://ibb.co/bK8hwVj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SteveM]

Hello Johnny,

 

Your sword has the name of Fukuda Sukemitsu (福田祐光) on it. Fukuda Sukemitsu was a war-era swordsmith, so your sword is from the mid 1900s. 

I couldn't see all of the pictures..I got an error message halfway through. (Could be an issue with my browser?). 

 

Anyway, if you search on the internet for that name, pluse some other keywords (swordsmith, gunto, etc.) you should be able to find more info. 

 

 

[MaximisDecimisMeridius]

I ran the photo through AI and it came up with a different answer. This sword is way older than previously stated. See attached photos

 

[moriarty]

1 hour ago, MaximisDecimisMeridius said:

I ran the photo through AI and it came up with a different answer. This sword is way older than previously stated. See attached photos

Greetings Trice, 

 

As with everything, AI is bound to make mistakes and unsubstantiated claims, as in this case, the kanji given in the screenshots does not correlate to the given image, nor the first translation. 

[SteveM]

I can see all of the pictures now. The "Seki" stamp on the top of the tang also identifies this as a WW2 blade.

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

It is definitely a WWII blade.  The large Seki stamp was only used between 1940 and 1944.  Most blades with date, bearing the stamp were made in 1942.  Posting a couple of photos for posterity.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's a good link for caring for your blade: Sword Care - Japaneseswordindex.com