Please Help ID this Sword

[greenberet496]

Hello. My name is Dustin. I am trying to get some info on my Katana. I have posted this to other forums in an attempt to gather as much information as possible about it. So maybe you guys can help me out. Anyways I have had the MEI translated to NoShu Seki(?) Ju KaneMitsu Saku. I have also heard that it is probably a Japanese WWII sword made in the 30-40's. That is about all I know right now. Here is a link to the Pictures. http://s637.photobucket.com/albums/uu99 ... 96/Katana/

[estcrh]

Hello. My name is Dustin. I am trying to get some info on my Katana. I have posted this to other forums in an attempt to gather as much information as possible about it. So maybe you guys can help me out. Anyways I have had the MEI translated to NoShu Seki(?) Ju KaneMitsu Saku. I have also heard that it is probably a Japanese WWII sword made in the 30-40's. That is about all I know right now. Here is a link to the Pictures. http://s637.photobucket.com/albums/u...ret496/Katana/

Dustin, I tried your link and it did not work for me. Can you check it out or if someone else here can verify if is working or not, thanks.

[greenberet496]

Thank you for letting me know about the broken link. I have fixed it now. Anyways oddly enough I think you are one of the people you helped me on another forum. This must be a small world. LOL

[huntershooter]

Yes it is a small world.

Link worked for me. Appears to be a "Showa" stamp on nakago, above mekugi ana. I find no reference to this KaneMitsu in Gendai Toko Meikan or Modern Japanese Swordsmiths. Most likely a "Showato".

Perhaps George will have some insight.

[SwordGuyJoe]

From my perspective, I thin better photos of the nakago and blade are required. If there is a sho stamp, then I would tend to agree with "huntershooter" (don't forget to sign your name after your posts. I do find it interesting that the nakago is cut short. I don't know of any reason why they would do that, as each blade was designed in parallel to the matching fittings. The nakago and close ups of the blade should tell the story, but in the end, I suspect this is not a showato at all.

[greenberet496]

Any suggestions on how to make better quality close up pics of the nakago. I know this is not a photography forum but any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Stephen]

Dustin

 

any scanners close by? you can get good results from a scan, be sure to cover with something dark like a blue folder or cloth.

[george trotter]

Hi Dustin,

I had a look at your pics and I would have to agree with the Showato opinion...the sho stamp virtually guarantees it...also, your smith was one of two WWII Seki tosho named Kanemitsu who made military swords. There were two:

Kanemitsu (GOTO Matsumasa?) worked Seki from 1939 Oct 26

Kanemitsu (OGAWA Mitsuo) worked Seki from 1942 July 3

The kanji after Noshu is most probably an abbreviation for Seki. I haven't seen it abbreviated this way before so it may be his "personalised" trademark...but which of the two he is I can't say.

Regards,

George.