Conway S Posted August 15, 2023 Report Share Posted August 15, 2023 Here is the signed side of the tang. From the pictures, there is no anchor visible. Conway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 15, 2023 Report Share Posted August 15, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcstroud Posted August 15, 2023 Report Share Posted August 15, 2023 It reads Inaba it is a signature believed to be shared by Nakata Isamu Kanehide and his brother Matsubara Shozo the three digits are normally seen on RJT blades ,likely the work of Kanehide but that is just my guess there are others on this forum with much more expertise. John S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcstroud Posted August 15, 2023 Report Share Posted August 15, 2023 Interesting symbol is the same as the first reference point ofthe 1940 navy spec drawing followed by what appears to symbols for 2 shaku could an approval stamp verifying it passed length spec ? Now that is what you call "spec."ulation. I have only seen these on Inaba blades. 😁 John S. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 15, 2023 Report Share Posted August 15, 2023 This has caused me to review my files on Inaba, and I've re-discovered this conversation where we found a couple links to the Inaba Tanrenjo or forge. Inaba Tanrenjo Discovered. I have been mistakenly calling all mei with this stamp "Inaba", but the stamp is found on blades with two mei, actually. This one shown by Conway is really Inaba, and the other is Hiratoshi. Hiratoshi Inaba I have several navy blades on file with stamped numbers, but they are very few compared to army blades. 12 are mumei, 2 are Shigemitsu, 2 Mitsunobu, 4 Hiratoshi, and this 1 Inaba. I also have one with the Tenshozan Tanrenjo mei - all stainless except the Shigetsugu & Mitsunobu blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 15, 2023 Report Share Posted August 15, 2023 Is this the stamp referring to the 2 shaku? Or something else? Not sure if you guys saw this post as it was on the previous page. Conway 13 hours ago, Conway S said: Greetings, Has anyone identified this stamp? It's on an Inaba marked Kai Guntō. Thanks. Conway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcstroud Posted August 16, 2023 Report Share Posted August 16, 2023 In reference to this stamp I personally have not seen this one before but it looks like an entrance to a shrine "Inaba shrine" perhaps?....this shrine is located on the grounds of Gifu castle a beautiful location fyi. John S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted August 16, 2023 Report Share Posted August 16, 2023 Looks Mukden http://www.japaneses...dex.com/military.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 We’re going to need @Kiipu @BANGBANGSAN @SteveM on this one. There is more to the character than is highlighted by the white powder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiipu Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 The portion highlighted in white is 襾. However, I agree with Bruce that this is not the complete character which looks more like 酒. However, Trystan has forgotten more than have learned so take it with a grain of salt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveM Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 Definitely looks like 酒 (sake, saka). By itself it means liquor/wine. But I would guess it is shorthand for a location (just the same as 名 is shorthand for Nagoya arsenal). 酒井 or 酒田 or 酒谷 or something like that. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 I’m with Steve,酒 for 酒井 or some other name with 酒。 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 @Conway S Do you have more photos of the sword? Any other markings on the nakago? The only military place I know of (not that my knowledge of military manufacturing is that extensive!) is Osaka. But they used a different kanji on blades. 阪 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 @Bruce Pennington See below. There is an anchor stamp. On the reverse side there is only the "酒" Conway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 17, 2023 Report Share Posted August 17, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 Great, thanks! I think I see it close to the end, right? Also, thanks for the additional "Inaba" stamp and stamped number "453". Didn't have that one in the files! Safe to assume this is in kaigunto fittings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 Yes - Kai Guntō fittings. It has a quite shrunken leather-covered wood saya. I posted a picture of the tsuka in the "Kai Gunto Tsuka Question" thread. Overall, the hardware is not in the best shape. Conway 1 hour ago, Conway S said: Greetings, Can anyone clarify if the black fabric same found on souvenir swords was also used on wartime production swords? And if so, when does this variation appear? I am referring to the sword pictured below, which is the Inaba sword I posted in the Arsenal Stamps thread. Thanks. Conway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 18, 2023 Report Share Posted August 18, 2023 3 minutes ago, Conway S said: Yes - Kai Guntō fittings Thanks Conway, just what I needed. You probably already know this, but that semegane that is split really goes much lower on the saya. Might be able to move it back down there and glue the split cack together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 @Bruce Pennington 伊奈波 兼波之（作） Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcstroud Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 47 minutes ago, BANGBANGSAN said: @Bruce Pennington 伊奈波 兼波之（作） Hey,Trystan where did you find this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 19, 2023 Report Share Posted August 19, 2023 I just noticed the painted character on the Takayama Masahiro posted in the NLF thread resembles the "I" 伊 in Inaba. Conway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 11 hours ago, BANGBANGSAN said: @Bruce Pennington 伊奈波 兼波之（作） Trystan, What sort of gunto was this in? Also, what are your thoughts? Do you think he's saying his art name is Inaba Kanenami, or is he saying he is Kanenami of Inaba (forge)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 7 hours ago, Conway S said: Takayama Masahiro posted in the NLF thread resembles the "I" 伊 in Inaba. Yes, I saw that too, Conway. Just overcome by moving events to follow up. I just checked Sesko's list of Masahiro, and he has EIGHT Showa era smiths listed! Inaba Tanrenjo was located in Seki (Noshu), and only one of the Masahiro in his list was from Gifu: "MASAHIRO (正弘), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Masahiro” (正弘), real name Hattori Kazuichi (服部一市), born July 30th 1907, he worked as guntō smith" So Inaba isn't part of his real name. Maybe the mei is indicating he was Masahiro of Inaba Tanrenjo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mecox Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Bruce, Hattori Masahiro is discussed here with examples: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 3 hours ago, mecox said: Bruce, Hattori Masahiro is discussed here with examples: Thanks Mal, I checked your write-up and it states he worked at the Toyokawa forge, so maybe he's not our guy on this one. The mei in all your examples is completely different too. Seeing that Sesko lists 8 of them, and knowing that his record doesn't always have every WWII smith we come across, it's possible this Inaba Masahiro was simply one of the unknowns. Another mystery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcstroud Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Thought this would be appropriate for the conversation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Pennington Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 Yes, if I recall, that shrine was brought up in the discussion of the Inaba forge. I think they are all connected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John C Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 @Bruce Pennington Bruce: Could this be a fake sho stamp or possibly an attempt at removal (not saying the seller is responsible, just curious)? https://www.ebay.com...3:g:hSYAAOSw5KZk27O9 John C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conway S Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 @Bruce Pennington Check out page 30 left hand side of the pdf shown above. There is a Hattori Masahiro mei without the polisher reference. I assume the sword in souvenir fittings I am referencing is a Hattori Masahiro sword. It has the Takayama-to short & thick kissaki. ***I don't want to take this great thread on arsenal stamps on too much of a diversion... Let me know if there is a more appropriate thread to move this discussion to. Thanks. Conway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BANGBANGSAN Posted August 20, 2023 Report Share Posted August 20, 2023 On 8/20/2023 at 12:37 AM, Jcstroud said: Hey,Trystan where did you find this one? On FB,only this photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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