Swordsmith

[Gregory1]

Good day all. Trying to identify this sword smith. The sword was made January 1943 from the pictures of the opposite side of the tang. Below is a pic of the signature.
Wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. By the way, thank you all in advance for the help

https://imgur.com/a/wjMh5

Photo is poor. Not my sword. Probably going to pick it up this weekend

[GHP]

Good day all. Trying to identify this sword smith. The sword was made January 1943 from the pictures of the opposite side of the tang. Below is a pic of the signature.
Wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. By the way, thank you all in advance for the help

勝正
Katsumasa

He is listed as 中上作 (CHUJO SAKU) level on Dr. Kim's site.

Here.

The "2" note indicates that he (along with others) was awarded second seat at a "New-Made Japanese Sword Exhibition" in 1941:

"...winners of the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai (新作日本刀展覽會, 1941) were reported at Nihon Kendo Oyobi Token (日本劍道及刀劍) by Hagio Takahashi. From Special Honor Seats to the 5th seat (S: 特別名譽席(鍛刀總匠), 1: 國工, 2: 準國工, 3:優秀, 4:佳作, 5: 新進), about 250 smiths were given....."
....
金谷 勝正 (Kanaya Katsumasa) 2
...

準國工
Jun-Kokushō
Semi-National Artisan


--Guy

[GHP]

Regarding the prizes and rankings I mentioned above, allow me to freely quote myself from an earlier post:

Dr. Kim's website -- with some arbitrary "free translation" on my part [e.g., the "guild" ranks master craftsman, journeyman, etc. that I render in green]. Remember, I'm not an art-sword expert, and these war-time ranks might already be definitively translated.

High Honor Seats:
S: 特別名譽席(鍛刀總匠) Special Honor Position (Overall/Comprehensive Sword Smiths)
1: 國工 Kokushō / National Artisan
2: 準國工 Jun-Kokushō / Semi-National Artisan
3:優秀 Yūshū / Superior
4:佳作 Kasaku / Honorable Mention
5: 新進 Shinshin / Up-and-Coming


Rankings
最上作 Saijō saku; Superior
= 神品の列 Shinpin no Retsu; inspired works/ Master Craftsman [literally, "works of god"]

上上作 Jōjō saku; High-Level Work
= 貴品上位 Kibin Jō-i; Valuable works, upper rank/ Master Craftsman

上作 Jō saku; Upper-Level Work
= 貴品の列 Kibin no Saku; Valuable work /Journeyman

中上作 Chū-jō saku; Mid Upper-Level level Work
= 上工の上位 Jōko no Jō-i Artisan, Upper rank

中作 Chū saku; Mid-level Work
= 上工の列 Jōko no Retsu; Artisan rank

中下作 Chū-ge Saku; Lower Mid-level Work
= 良工の上位 Ryōkō no Jō-i; Craftsman, Upper Rank

下作 Ge Saku; Lowest Work
= 良工の列 Ryōkō no Retsu; Craftsman


--Guy

[Gregory1]

Absolutely Amazed at the knowledge on this forum. Thank you so much for the Information. Once I get the sword, I will post some good pictures of the set up. Looks to be from a pretty good maker. Interested to get a look look at the craftsmanship and condition of the blade. I understand that values very greatly upon condition of the blade, I would also have to assume that some value has to be attributed to the fittings. Lets just say that a sword with solid fittings, but has either a scrubbed blade or moderately pitted blade still would have to fetch $500? I know from searching online sellers, most decent 1943 guntos in fittings are fetching much more.

[Gregory1]

Oh and Guy-...special thanks to you!!!

[GHP]

Oh and Guy-...special thanks to you!!!

Thanks -- but remember: I'm just taking a semi-educated, non-scientific, wild-gas guess! There is a *great* possibility the sword is made by someone other than the person I listed. Tread warily.


--Guy

[Gregory1]

I think I hit a home run with this sword. Picked it up this morning. The story behind the sword is that the gents grandfather was a colonel stationed in Japan at the end of the war and that this sword was given to him at an occupation ceremony. Of course non can be proven. Nevertheless, it is difficult taking pictures of shiny objects, but here they are:

On a side note, I see either the number 20 or 80 at the bottom of the tang below the sword makers signature. Wonder if that has any meaning?

https://imgur.com/a/fa0JQ

https://imgur.com/a/1QZUP

https://imgur.com/a/9JOya

https://imgur.com/a/MMmFh

https://imgur.com/a/soNtK

https://imgur.com/a/5HJ6E

https://imgur.com/a/2AVR5

https://imgur.com/a/V0kEJ

https://imgur.com/a/S6a9d

https://imgur.com/a/UOOUa

[BruceP]

Gregory,

Definitely a lovely gunto! The month is more likely March, as there are 2 small tic marks above the longer line.

The painted numbers on blades are from the factory, and are believed to mark blades and fittings to keep them together. All the fittings are custom fitted to the unique shape and size of each blade. With as many as 800 of these going through a factory per month, it would be a mess if parts started getting mixed around.

[Gregory1]

[QUOTE=BruceP;8005379]Gregory,

Definitely a lovely gunto! The month is more likely March, as there are 2 small tic marks above the longer line.

The painted numbers on blades are from the factory, and are believed to mark blades and fittings to keep them together. All the fittings are custom fitted to the unique shape and size of each blade. With as many as 800 of these going through a factory per month, it would be a mess if parts started getting mixed around.[/QUOTE


Thanks for the kind words. I think what I am talking about is in the 2nd picture down, all the way at the bottom of the tang, left side, there is an 80 or a 20 that looks like it is stamped in the medal. I don't recognize them as inspector stamps.

[GHP]

Gregory,

Definitely a lovely gunto! The month is more likely March, as there are 2 small tic marks above the longer line.

Yup, March.

昭和十八年三月
Showa 18th year, 3rd month
March 1943


--Guy

[BruceP]

Gregory,
These numbers are usually painted on. From the picture it actually looks like glue! If you say it’s something permanently imprinted in the metal, it’s unusual and I️ really haven’t seen anything like that.

[Gregory1]

Gregory,
These numbers are usually painted on. From the picture it actually looks like glue! If you say it’s something permanently imprinted in the metal, it’s unusual and I️ really haven’t seen anything like that.

If you scroll down through the picture #2. Lower left hand side, you will see two digits. They look like a 20 or a 80. Stamped in the tang. You have to scroll to bottom of picture

[Gregory1]

When at the bottom left of tang. Enlarge and you will see the digits

[BruceP]

I believe this is what you are talking about. If so, it looks like "80" to me, and it appears to be overlaid onto the filemarks, rather than stamped into them. If you enlarge, you can see that the substance is on top of the file marks.

[Gregory1]

Maybe this will help.

https://imgur.com/RFMXPGJ