Japanese sword type 3

[Beater]

An uncommon maker. Not listed in any of Fuller & Gregory’s extensive lists.
His relative anonymity is confirmed here, in the undocumented Showa smith section
https://japaneseswordindex.com/showa.htm

I note this is a late War sword, so he may have only become a swordsmith towards the end of the war and hence few examples of his work are seen?

[Remka]

Thank you for your help and for the translation!
The link is very interesting Beater. Why were these blacksmiths not repertorized elsewhere? Their work is therefore rarer to find?

Also, what does the inscription in red on the nakago mean?

Best regards.

[Beater]

Thank you for your help and for the translation!
The link is very interesting Beater. Why were these blacksmiths not repertorized elsewhere? Their work is therefore rarer to find?

Also, what does the inscription in red on the nakago mean?

Best regards.

In the world of Japanese swordsmiths, fame and fortune is linked to their reputation which during the 1930's and 40's would come from entering swords into national contests and being ranked against their peers. So generally, the more information that is known about a swordsmith equates to their ability and ranking.
Therefore when you find a sword it is normal to do research to establish how the smith was ranked. If, as in this case, your man doesn't appear in any of the lists, it is usually because they had not achieved any recognition. Your choice of description for him (blacksmith) was probably quite accurate. I doubt he had completed and possibly not even begun any apprenticeship as a Kaji. Most swords produced in WW2 were made by metalworkers who made swords rather than fully trained swordsmiths.
So yes, rarer he may be but that is not a good thing.

The red paint marks are numbers and these aided assembly, ie the blade was matched to a saya and fittings.

[Remka]

Thank you very much for these explanations Beater.

[GHP]

...
The red paint marks are numbers and these aided assembly, ie the blade was matched to a saya and fittings.

III 三五三
[Roman numeral] III 353

Sometimes 五 is written without that initial top stroke.





--Guy

[brannow]

The blade in the sword that started the thread is modern. Its basically a metal tsunagi to hold the mounts together.



I sell these for 800 to 1200 USD complete with the original blades. The one that started the thread with the modern blade is worth about $400.



Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN