Nakago translation

[ziomanno]

Hello dear collectors;
may I ask your help in translating this mei? I’m just able to read “made by” and the date (‘44?).
Thanks in advance, any input will be really appreciated. 🙏

[ghp95134]

昭和＊甲申年八月日
Showa * Kinoe Saru 19 Year [1944]，August

神妙★建依別阿部弘昭造之
Shinmyou ★ Takeyoriwake Abe Hiroaki
Miraculous Takeyoriwake [invoking a Shinto god's name] ★ Abe Hiroaki Made this

I can't find anything on him, but I saw a Japanese auction result listing of this same inscription for about $2,550.00 -- all depends on condition of the blade.

★菊水刀「神妙 建依別 阿部弘昭 造之、昭和十九年七月日」★ \255,000 ...

-- Guy

[ziomanno]

Great! Thank you very much Guy for your help. Actually master Hiroaki seems to be totally unknown, at least using the web resources: quite odd, since he should be an RJT smith. ��

[ghp95134]

Agreed. I expected to find him in Marcus Sesko's book of Japanese swordsmiths, but not there.

-- Guy

[Kiipu]

May I ask your help in translating this mei?

If this sword is still at hand, what is the serial number on the nakago mune that is partially visiable in one of the pictures?

[Bruce Pennington]

I don't see him on the RJT list, do you have a reference that lists him?