Japanese Sword with Signature Evaluation Please!

[muddinman04]

Hey guys,
I just picked up this sword and know absolutely nothing about it. I have collected Japanese rifles for many years and know my way around them quite well. However, when it comes to swords I have never even owned one.
This came through a local gun show last weekend and I picked it up reasonably enough. It felt good in the hand and looks all original. However, I know that the Chinese are getting very good at faking these.
I am looking to get the experts blessing (or pooh pooh) on this sword and a translation of the signature on the tang. I took the best pictures I could, but would be happy to post more if need be. I added white chalk to the signature to help it stand out during photography.
Thanks guys!

[Stu W]

Looks like a nice IJA Officer Type 98 from the WWII period. The small stamp is the Seki Arsenal mark. I don't have my kanji cards at hand so can't help you with that name at the moment. Will check back later though and if nobody else has got it I'll see what I can come up with.

Regards,
Stu

[muddinman04]

Thank you very much for the quick reply, Stu. I really appreciate it.
I had forgot to mention that it came with a hang tag that read:
"signed
'Komori Katsuyuki'
seki stamp
WWII Gunto"

So at least we know the arsenal was true!

[Stu W]

You are welcome and given that your tag has what is most likely the correct name if will probably be simple to confirm it by working backward from a known to the appropriate kanji. I'm sure it will be done within 24 hours.

Regards,
Stu

[GHP]

[関] 小森 勝幸
[Seki] Komori Katsuyuki

Hmmmm .... googling the kanji I came up with two Russian sites (and Other site).

LARGE Image of another of Komori's work.

squama 29-01-2012 20:54
Хотелось бы узанть примерный возраст меча. Уважаемый BurN уже дал информацию по подписи "Штамп арсенала в Нагоя.

小森勝幸 (Komori Katsuyuki) Комори Кацуюки, он же Комори Харуо."
Но найти что-либо про этого мастера не смог. Есть только предположение что это гунто. Клинок трёхслойка, на хвостовике это проглядывается, но нет фото. Хамон под травлением не различается, киссаки не геометрическое, просто обозначено шлифокой и протравлено.

[Google Translate] squama 29-01-2012 20:54
I would like to uzant approximate age of the sword. Dear BurN already given information signature "stamp arsenal in Nagoya.

小森 胜 幸 (Komori Katsuyuki) Katsuyuki Komori, Komori aka Haruo. "
But to find anything about this master could not. There is speculation that this Gunto. Blade trehsloyka, the shank is looked through, but no pictures. Jamon by etching is not different, not geometric kissaki just indicated shlifokoy and etched.
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Cheers!
--Guy Power

[muddinman04]

Thanks, Guy! I too found that Russian post, but couldn't really make much sense of the conversation even with Good Translator.

Thanks again guys! I really appreciate the help and any other information is greatly welcome!

[GHP]

Glad to help.

I notice the second link I posted had junk in the url and won't open. Try this:
http://нихонто.рф/mcat/katana/antiq/antiq_18.html

Still, it's in Russian!

100% Japanese katana sword in shirosaya. Showa period.

Size Length 36.8 "93.5cm

Blade Length 25.2 "64cm

Carve 0.4 "0.9cm

Blade Width 1.2 "3.1cm

The signature on the tang: KATSUYUKI KOMORI

Stamp Seki. It was used from 1937 to 1943.

This master is listed among Seki for 1939.


Stamped "Seki" it means belonging to the corporation Seki token.

The very same factory was located in Atsuta, the central area of the city of Nagoya. And, accordingly, belongs to an army arsenal Nagoya.

小森 胜 幸 (Komori Katsuyuki) Katsuyuki Komori, Komori aka Haruo.

Warning: This sword sold

Interesting ... Google Translates actually applied a different kanji in the English translation:

小森勝幸 (from the Russian page)
小森胜幸 (English "translation" side)

Cheers!
--Guy
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NB: The link won't open!

Server not found Firefox can't find the server at %d0%bd%d0%b8%d1%85%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82%d0%be.%d1%80% d1%84.

But if you cut and paste into the address window, it opens!

[Luis22]

Really nice Shin gunto!!!!