Help requested with a Kai-Gunto Handmade Showa Blade.

[tbonesullivan]

It's been a while since I haven't been able to find really anything on a blade. I'm having trouble with the second to last character before SAKU, but I'm also questioning the one before that. Basically the name of the smith. The other kanji I think I have gotten correct. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Signature: 関 住 髙 井 貞 ? 作 - SEKI JU TAKAI SADA ???? SAKU

 

I noticed that this uses the 髙 variant of 高 (TAKA), which is supposed to usually be used in names.

Dated on tang: 昭 和 十 八 年 八 月 吉 日 - Showa 18 (1943) 8th Month (August) Lucky Day
 

[Conway S]

David, 

 

It looks to be signed Takai 高井Sadatsugu 貞継.

 

Conway 

[tbonesullivan]

On 1/30/2025 at 3:06 PM, Conway S said:

David, 

 

It looks to be signed Takai 高井Sadatsugu 貞継.

 

Conway 

Thanks so much! I should have seen that, but I couldn't find that name anywhere. I wonder if there's any information out there on them.

[Bruce Pennington]

6 minutes ago, tbonesullivan said:

if there's any information out there on them.

From Sesko's list:

 

SADATSUGU (貞次), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Sadatsugu” (貞次), family name Takai (高井), rikugun-jumei-tōshō, ryōkō no jōi (Akihide), Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

[tbonesullivan]

54 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

From Sesko's list:

 

SADATSUGU (貞次), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Sadatsugu” (貞次), family name Takai (高井), rikugun-jumei-tōshō, ryōkō no jōi (Akihide), Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

Oh wow thanks! I guess they chose to use a different kanji for the second character. I see them in the Hikosaburo rankings as 貞次 but in the 1939 Seki Tanrensho Booklet they are 貞継.

Which book is that information from? I really need to purchase a copy, hopefully digitally so I can easily copy and past the information.

[Conway S]

David, 

Here is the link to Sesko’s Swordsmiths of Japan. 

 

E Swordsmiths of Japan

 

Conway