mei help

[peter]

Hello guys ,i just recieved this sword and wonder if you could help with the mei, i tryed a little myself and came up with Katsunori, also the blade seems late war maybe stainless with a split or crack in the hamon the entire lenth of the blade through the yokote into kassaki on the mei side, what would cause such a thing and could it have been there since it was turned out,

many thanks,

Peter

[Grey Doffin]

Yes, Katsunori. The crack (exceedingly long tate ware') is a defect in the forging and has been there since day 1. Usually tate ware' aren't considered fatal flaws but one of this length probably is.

Grey

[peter]

Thanks Grey, do you think this is ww2 or earlier going by the mei?

peter

[Brian]

Wow..that is a new record for ugly flaws

Sorry..but has to be said. I wonder if it could be a bad weld between the core steel and the skin steel? Is it only on one side?

 

Brian

[peter]

HI brian, yes it is only one side and goes all the way from the tang to kassaki,

could you help with the smith, ie age of the blade, i see a nice hamon although doesnt show in pics,

peter

[Basho12]

There was a Seki smith who signed with those kanji. Considering the cut of the mei I'd be surprised if it's any older than Showa.

[peter]

Thanks a lot guys, as Brian says it is a long split, as can be seen going all the way past the mei,

Peter

[lionel]

cant help with the swordsmith peter but i know that this style of engraving is found on mid to late war swords as i have had a few which match the style