Help ID'ing Japanese sword

[gadaru_kanaru]

A good friend of mine has this sword and was wondering what it is and aprox. what its value is. I told him not to get his hopes up too much as the condition is not too great. The handle is down to exposed bare wood. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[gadaru_kanaru]

more....

[gadaru_kanaru]

Thanks for taking the time to look!

[gunto]

Its a ww2 blade made in Seki by Kane-Kai. Im not sure about the Kai.
The Guard and the signed metal part on handle and the handle looks much older , like
1700-1900.

[GHP]

Its a ww2 blade made in Seki by Kane-Kai. Im not sure about the Kai.
The Guard and the signed metal part on handle and the handle looks much older , like
1700-1900.

Looks like Hayakawa Kanenori to me:

早川兼式

<table bgcolor="#BDBD56" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="290"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#FFFFD9"><td align="center" valign="top" width="100">兼式</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="100">早川 　一</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="90">S15.09.28</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="border-collapse:collapse;" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" align="center" width="400"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="299">

兼式 (Kanenori)

</td> <td align="center" valign="top" width="161">

早川 　一

</td></tr></tbody></table>
--Guy

I thought it was "Kaneshiki" until I found the second reference writing it as "Kanenori".

[gadaru_kanaru]

Hi Gunto & GHP! Thanks for responding.

I never would've been able to figure out those kanji without your help. I have an older book on swords but was unable to get anywhere researching on my own.

So if understand correctly, the blade is a WW2 era manufacture piece that may have been fitted on to an older handle and the other pieces might be older as well. I guess the wood handle would've been wrapped in something.




Anybody have an idea of what something like this might be worth? My friend isn't a Japanese or blade collector. He's been trying to get me to take it (in trade for old Coke signs) but the condition makes me think it's collector desirability is low.

Thanks again!

[Stu W]

If the blade is straight and free of edge nics the sword as shown would be worth a mximum of a couple hundred USD to me. I place little value on the fittings. Others may have very different views so wait for a cross section of responses. Mine is based on a specific purpose I have in mind for the blade.

Regards,
Stu