help with identifying this blade and its markings

[mrniceguy2282]

[John A Stuart]

A sword by Tomonobu, I think. 友信 John

[W K Clifford]

see here:

 

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4281&p=32333

 

the three specimens, one here and two in the thread above, all have different signature styles (meaning: carved or chiseled by different hands), why?

[mrniceguy2282]

im sorry but what do you mean that the three specimens all have different signatures

 

thanks

[mdiddy]

the three specimens, one here and two in the thread above, all have different signature styles (meaning: carved or chiseled by different hands), why?

 

I think the two specimens above are the same sword, just photos from different angles (one zoomed out). The difference in signature styles probably has to do with being nakirishimei. See Dr. Stein's site here (reference the line about Showa Era/WWII smiths): http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/promei.htm.

[Grey Doffin]

Hello, whoever,

Never touch the polished portion of the blade (everything other than the tang) with your hands. Acid in your sweat will leave etched marks. Here is a link to a sword care and etiquette brochure that you need to read.

http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm

Grey

[W K Clifford]

I think the two specimens above are the same sword, just photos from different angles (one zoomed out).

 

No, the one in the link has a much better mei

http://www.token-net.com/katana/3k19-tomonobu0803/tomonobu.html

 

 

nakirishi mei explains why the meis of different smiths look the same, but in this case one smith have three quite distinct mei styles.

[mrniceguy2282]

yeah they are same picture but from different positions

[mrniceguy2282]

so does anyone know the era or maybe a value on the item and is it a good thing that the blacksmith did 3 different styles

[mdiddy]

nakirishi mei explains why the meis of different smiths look the same

 

Nakirishimei also explains why there are different styles for the same mei. The swordsmith had his style. Student A had another style. Student B had another style. The cutting specialist had yet another style. In Seki there were many smiths working together and perhaps signing each others swords as a matter of convenience. For example, see the variations on Asano Kanezane in Slough's pg. 76-79.

[mrniceguy2282]

so can any one please help on the era of the sword blade and maybe if its hand made or machine made

[cabowen]

WWII era blade made in Seki by non-traditional means.....

[mrniceguy2282]

hi thanks but what do you mean non-traditional i do not see any serial number on the blade

[cabowen]

hi thanks but what do you mean non-traditional i do not see any serial number on the blade

 

It was most likely made with western steel and quenched in oil. It may or may not be forged. That is what the showa stamp at the top of the nakago (tang) means.....It is not a nihon-to. These blades are called showa-to and are considered factory made.

[Daniel]

Hi non-traditional could for example mean that your sword is made from other steel than Tamahagane, it could be oil quenched instead of water quenched.

Daniel

[jason_mazzy]

Seki made non traditional forged blade. most likely oil quenched, tho' some western steel were water quenched. Made after 1926 thanx to the showa stamp, and most probably during the 40's. Make great cutters, strong swords.

[mrniceguy2282]

ok so it is real and not worth restoring or selling

[SwordGuyJoe]

I am not sure what you mean by not worth selling or restoring. If you mean is it worth polishing, then I think not. Keep in mind a Japanese polish costs approximately $100 per inch and your blade is probably 26-27". Not worth that. Is it worth selling? Well, do you want to keep it? Or do you want to sell it? If you have more than $1,000 into it, you may not get that back - although tough to tell actual value based on the pics you attached. The market isn't what it used to be.

[mrniceguy2282]

hi thanks ok so if i kept it as is then what would you say i could get out of it i have 500 into it

[jason_mazzy]

not sure, but seems like ebay is selling them like hot cakes. just take lots of pictures of the blade, lots of pictures of the mei, and show alot of pictures of the mounts. shouldn't be hard to get ur money back. But at the end of the day it's a gamble, sometimes the seki ones sell for 1k sometimes for $3-$400.

[mrniceguy2282]

i was thinking about that but i have no idea what i would put as the title as i do not know what type sword it is thanks

[jason_mazzy]

simple.

 

antique ww2 Japanese sword samurai gunto shin gunto

 

any combination of those words. If you can get the mei translated it would help to pinpoint which smith did it.

 

there is a huge market on ebay right now for these swords especially if the fittings are ok. Beats me as I have seen them go higher than a nice koto or shinto sword. i just don't have 2k to drop on one on ebay.