Polisher signature in strange location

[patrick7813]

All

 

I have a shin gunto with a blade forged by Masayasu. Other than his 2 character signature there are no other markings or stamps on the nakago. However, it is also signed with the 2 character polisher’s name (as I have been told) on the shinogi-ji, adjacent to the machi and under the habaki (see picture). I have never seen a signature in this location. I have not yet attempted to translate it. Can anyone shed any other information on this placement?

 

Cheers and regards,

[Bruno]

I have never seen that king of marks as togishi signature. One learns every day!

[cabowen]

While not common, I have seen this more than a few times...It is indeed related to the togi....It is generally not done these days but during the war, perhaps to put some accountability into the production process, it was done.

 

I think this says Toyama 遠山

[patrick7813]

Chris, thanks for this insight and the translation. I learn more each day.

 

Regards,

[takakage]

Hi,

 

An other togishi mei on a gunto

 

[Bazza]

  cabowen said:

While not common, I have seen this more than a few times...It is indeed related to the togi....It is generally not done these days but during the war, perhaps to put some accountability into the production process, it was done.

I have a ca1600 Kanemoto katana in Shingunto koshirae that has a polisher's mei with date Taisho 6 (1917), so it appears it was occasionally done well before WW2. I think I have a note somewhere of a polisher's mei in Meiji period?? I recall seeing a sword with a mokume pattern done in that place where the polisher's mei occurs and have a photo of it somewhere...

 

Regards,

Barry Thomas.

[cabowen]

I have never seen one dated-that is rare indeed.....perhaps the accountability hypothesis is incorrect....

 

I have also seen the mokume pattern design a few times....