USkragnut Posted August 3, 2011 Report Posted August 3, 2011 This is a rather wide, large blade that I believe is gendaito, even though it has what looks like a seki or chrysanthemum stamp. When the blade is clean (it is in oil in the pictures) there is a visible hada on the shinogi gi when viewed in bright light at an angle. I dont know how comon this is, but the blade is signed in hirigana rather than tradtional kanjii. Trying to sort through Japanese shorthand has left me scratching my head. I at first I read it as YOSHI DA KANE TOSHI but now I think it it KANE KUNI or maybe KANE KUMI. I can find no reference to any such smith. The saya is the late war field replacement type and the tsuka needs to be re-wrapped. I do not think either are original to the blade, as the tsuba is of very high quality iron type, cherry blossoms with a pure silver disc installed for a moon (mostly tarnished now) and is signed with a makers name and province. It would be unusual wouldnt it, to find a quality pierced tsuba like this on a machine forged and oil quenched showato, wouldnt it? Sean Quote
USkragnut Posted August 3, 2011 Author Report Posted August 3, 2011 Heres the signature....... Sean Quote
Bazza Posted August 3, 2011 Report Posted August 3, 2011 Sean, Not hiragana. Looks like cursive style of kanji called gyosho, if my memory serves me correctly... I'm sure someone else will hit the nail on the head... Regards, BaZZa. Quote
cabowen Posted August 3, 2011 Report Posted August 3, 2011 Yoshida Kanekado Seki smith. Looks like a Showa stamp which means it is not a traditionally made blade. Most likely forged western steel, oil quenched.... Fairly unusual to find a non-military tsuba on a gunto but not unheard of...Not sure if I would characterize this tsuba as high quality.... Quote
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