Help with Sword Signature

[monkeyboy]

Hello, I'm hoping for help with the pictured sword signature and date. The blade is Sho stamped and in typical Type 98 mounts. I can see it's dated 2600, but beyond that I'm stumped. Thank you.

[Kiipu]

濃州関谷川一心作 = Nōshū Seki Tanigawa Isshin saku = Made by Tanigawa Isshin in Seki City, Nōshū Province.
濃州 = Nōshū is the old fashioned way of saying Gifu Prefecture.
谷川 = Tanigawa is his last name.

皇紀二千六百年ＸＸ Guy, I am drawing a blank on the last two characters.

[ghp95134]

記念
Kinen/Commemoration of 1940 [Kōki 2600 year = 1940].

His engraved kanji are very nicely done ... not the "chippy" style often seen in Showa-era swords.

-- Guy

[ghp95134]

"Register of Names of Seki Forge Swordsmiths Since Showa 14, October [1939]"
一心 谷川慶治 S16.09.12
Smith name: Isshin
Legal name: Tanigawa Yoshiharu
Licensed/Registered with Guild: Showa 16 [1940] September 12

From Markus Sesko's Japanese Swordsmiths:
ISSHIN (一心), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Isshin” (一心), real name Tanigawa Yoshiharu (谷川慶治), he died on November 1st 1945 and worked as a guntō smith.

-- Guy

[Kiipu]

Kinen/Commemoration of 1940 [Kōki 2600 year = 1940].

Would this be in the sense of the 2600th anniversary of the founding of Japan?
紀元二千六百年記念行事

[ghp95134]

Yes. Although I do not know if the sword was specifically for the official “Commemoration.”

[Bruce Pennington]

All but 1 of the 1940 blades I have on file (showa stamped) are dated with the 2600 year, but only 1 other, a Kanetake, says "Commemorative Sword" at the end, and it's written slightly differently:

[Kiipu]

That Kanetake is the exact same sword as seen over at NMB back in November 2022.
Type 98 Army “2600 Years of the Japanese Empire Commemorative”

濃州関住人兼武之作 = Nōshū Seki jūnin Kanetake kore saku.
皇紀二千六百年記念刀 = 1940 Commemorative Sword.

[monkeyboy]

Excellent information. Thank you all very much. The help is greatly appreciated!

[Kabuto]

hello, I have something similar on the tang of my Kai Guntō...
Is there anyone who can help me translate it ?
(no kanji on the other side..)



I read : (logo SEKI) Nō shū Seki ?? ?? ?? ?? Saku Kore.

Many Thanks