Japanese Katana - opinons please

[Pozieres]

Hi,

I've recently been offered this katana. It's obviously in pretty rough shape and I'm almost certainly going to pass, but thought I'd run it by the forum for opinions, particulary on the signature. Can anyone translate it please?

Thanks in advance.

Poz

[Pozieres]

2

[Pozieres]

3

[Pozieres]

4

[Budo45]

not 100% on this...looks like the first kanji is san...? Yoshikane dont find one on Dr. Stiens site under Oshigata...or n Sloughs book.


edit to add does look like it has a interesting hamon.....possible true nihonto???

[Pozieres]

I've had some more information from the seller that the signature might be 'Mishina Yoshikane'. Does that look right?

Apparantly a Seki smith - there is a reference here to a Seki smith called Yoshikane. I note the site also refers to the poor quality of the Seki blade. Does this seem a likely contender for this sword?

[Budo45]

WW2 seki blades were mass produced for the war ....id ask over on Nihonto message board, Chris Bowen knows most of the era smiths ...does it have a stamp that we cant see? That will tell you alot. Some Seki smiths did make good blades.....more research is needed.

[rabbit indy]

Mei is Yoshikane. Budo45 is correct.
Yoshikane is Seki Swordsmith in Showa era and his real name is Mishina Yuichi 三品由一.
So he has two Mei, Yoshikane and Mishina Yoshikane.
You can find his name at follwoing URL.
(Please put Yoshikane).
http://www.jp-sword.com/files/seki/gendaito.html

rabbit indy

[Pozieres]

Thanks for the replies.

Poz