Katana Translation

[wizardman]

Hello everyone, i was hoping someone could help me with a family name, maker and period on this Katana..Thank you

[ghp95134]

福田鉄心斎祐光
Fukada Tesshinsai Sukemitsu

次玉鋼鍛之
Forged with Tamahagane


--Guy

[wizardman]

Thank you for that..i looked him up and hes a WW2 maker

[Shamsy]

Interesting replacement tsuka... bet that sword has a story to tell.

[ghp95134]

His civilian name was
福田吉二
Fukuda Yoshiji
Born 10 October 1909

Marcus Sesno's "Index of Japanese Swordsmiths", Page 191 third smith from the bottom.

I found this searching in English: "fukuda sukemitsu."

--Guy

[ghp95134]

Thank you for that..i looked him up and hes a WW2 maker

Yes .... but the fact that this sword is traditionally made should make it more desirable ... especially if it were in full polish [if the experts think it is deserving].

Caveat: I am NOT an expert by any stretch of the imagination.


--Guy

[ghp95134]

Interesting replacement tsuka... bet that sword has a story to tell.

It looks to me like the handle wrapping was taken apart, then a GI (sailor showing off his knot skills) did some fancy knot-work to keep the tsuka-ito together.

--Guy

[wizardman]

This was an Australian Vet bring back, according to him (40 years ago) he bought it home and put it under his bed, he said he had never taken the handle off. so im not sure.

[ghp95134]

This was an Australian Vet bring back, ...

Okay ... perhaps a Jack Tar did some fancy knotwork?

Then again, are there examples of Japanese doing knotwork on their swords? As sticklers for formality as the Japanese were/are ... I didn't think someone would dolly up his tsuka ... especially naval knot work on an army sword.

Where did I misplace my caveat ..... Oh, here it is:

CAVEAT
Guy Power is NOT an expert in the field of collecting Japanese swords.

Sincerely,
Guy's Management

There ... it's good to keep a caveat or two around .... never know when they'll come in handy.

Cheers!
--Guy

[wizardman]

haha Dont worry about that caveat! you were so helpful.. i dont know about the knots, but in general Australian troops generally didnt tamper with things. He said he got this off a Japanese Captain and another off a lieutenant..i did take it all apart and it has amazing material underneath where that knot is, it was so set in place it clearly hasnt been off since the war. It would be interesting to know if this is seen elsewhere.