Please help me with this Katana

[nachomenorca]

Hi! New to this forum, not new in WAF, altough my main area is German WW2, I have this Katana , nothing very special I guess but as it has for me a high significance any info will be wellcome, sorry for the pics, are the only avalaibles at the moment, thanks in advance.

[gunto]

The seppas need to be placed right

[GHP]

I cannot read the first three kanji, but it is made by Fukumoto Kanemune.

...住福本兼宗作
...shū jū Fukumoto Kanemune saku
Made by Fukumoto Kanemune resident of ....

The first three kanji MIGHT be 濃州関 Noshū Seki .... I can see the "No" ... and possibly the tail of "Seki" ... but I sure cannot make "shū" out of the second kanji.


Kanemune's "regular" signatures can be seen here.

--Guy

[nachomenorca]

Hope this can help you, thanks







one more

[Stu W]

Looks like a Type 98 IJA Officer sword.

As Gunto (Thomas) mentions the seppa (washers) have been placed back on incorrectly. The big ones go adjacent to the tsuba (hand guard).

Regards,
Stu

[Stu W]

Have a look here ...

http://ohmura-study.net/934.html

Regards,
Stu

[GHP]

Hope this can help you, thanks

Thanks for the additional photographs; however, it was the actual script engravings -- not the photograph -- that was (is) hard for me to read.

Sorry,
--Guy

[nachomenorca]

Thanks to both Guy & Stu, now I know much more about my sword than before, can you establish the fabrication year? or the place where is made? for what I can find on the net Fukumoto Kanemune was a medium-low rated blacksmith, son of another blacksmith, do you have a number of th swords that he produced? best regards

[Stu W]

You are welcome.

Is there any kanji on the other side of the nakago (tang)? If so it is likely a date and we should be able to read it if you post a clear picture in a vertical orientation.

Regards,
Stu
PS: Care to tell us at least a first name we can call you by?

[Stu W]

While you are checking for more kanji also check for any tiny stampings up around the mekugi ana (peg hole), particularly of the Showa or Seki type as depicted on this page ...

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/showato.htm

Regards,
Stu

[nachomenorca]

I can't find any new marks on it, will check it again tomorrow in the sunlight

Regards

Nacho