Old family blade in Army off sword?

[dasboot2011]

Hi all,

I just picked up a worn but not too rough Ww2 officers sword with what I think is an old or at least traditional blade (28 inches long). Can anyone translate what it says? More photos to follow once I make it home.

Thanks

[gunto]

Kanemitsu.

[Bob Coleman]

I do not mean to diminish the help of our Danish comrade but it says Kanemoto.

[Beater]

Ato-mei Bob? Looks low and the yasurimei-me under it applied later than on lower tang. Be useful to see blade - probably sanbonsugi hamon?

[dasboot2011]

Here we go. Looks better in person, but unfortunately I am not the best at taking pictures of blades, especially on Japanese swords.. Any thoughts on age? I googled the smith, but seeing a few generations and circa 1500. Else worst case it's a nice display piece.

[dasboot2011]

More

[dasboot2011]

And more

[dasboot2011]

Last pic of the tip shows the hamon better than the rest. Damn phone or my lack of photography skills... Else thanks Bob and gunto.

[gunto]

.

[gunto]

I do not mean to diminish the help of our Danish comrade but it says Kanemoto.

Im to fast sometimes, my wife says that too

[nickn]

Looks atomei to me
From what I can see it looks to
Have Typical mino hamon

[Bob Coleman]

Looks atomei to me
From what I can see it looks to
Have Typical mino hamon

I agree.

[dasboot2011]

Thank you everyone.

Some final rookie questions.
I see that atomei means that the signature was added after the blade was made, no hints from the yasurimei-me perhaps as to an era? I was looking at different types of yasurimei-me on a website but did not see a similar style...

Else last questions, I see it is being mentioned as "typical mino hamon", is that signaling that the blade indeed seems to be from the mino period or simply a reference to the region? Also if indeed the period, I was looking that up and see there is early, middle, and late. Any idea on which or perhaps where I can learn more about that and the other basics? Book tips, websites, would be appreciated.

If sick of questions I understand and will continue searching, thanks again for all the help thus far!

[Stu W]

This should keep you reading for several years...

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com


Regards,
Stu

[Bob Coleman]

Thank you everyone.

Some final rookie questions.
I see that atomei means that the signature was added after the blade was made, no hints from the yasurimei-me perhaps as to an era? I was looking at different types of yasurimei-me on a website but did not see a similar style...

Else last questions, I see it is being mentioned as "typical mino hamon", is that signaling that the blade indeed seems to be from the mino period or simply a reference to the region? Also if indeed the period, I was looking that up and see there is early, middle, and late. Any idea on which or perhaps where I can learn more about that and the other basics? Book tips, websites, would be appreciated.

If sick of questions I understand and will continue searching, thanks again for all the help thus far!

Atomei is an attribution added to an unsigned blade. They can be gold inlaid or red lacquer on blades with an uncut tang. Unless signed by an appraiser of some reknown, they are meaningless.
Mino school is a school and tradition of swordmaking.