JAPANESE SWORD IDENTIFICATION ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

[us82bravo]

I am requesting any assistance you are willing to provide in determining what information is shown on the handle of this bring back sword.  There is no back story to its bring back.

I've used Richard Stein's  "THE JAPANESE SWORD GUIDE" as a research reference but the nuiances of the Japanese characters escape me.  Any assistance is very much appreciated.

A fellow local collector told the the story of the sword is "under the handle", so I've attached photos of those markings.

 

 

 

The overall length of the sword is approximately 36 1/4 inches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you!!

 

Larry

[Mr. Bushido]

Hello.

 

I was able to decipher some of the characters, so I will tell you.

However, this character is old and unique to swords, so there may be misreadings.

 

① 「吉次」"Yoshitsugu"
"This is the name of the creator." Unfortunately, I'm not an appraiser, so I don't know the details.

 

② 「昭和十九年」"Showa 19 Nen"
It is a unique Japanese era name and is synonymous with 1944 AD.

 

I hope these information will help you.

[SARGE]

Mr. Bushido,

 

Welcome to the forum and thank you for your translation help with this us82bravo sword.  

 

His sword is a nice complete example of a late war Army Officer sword.  It has Army style fittings and a sword tassel that should have blue or red color interiors on the strap.  Late swords such as this may also have tassel straps without any rank color.  His sword has a leather cover to preserve the scabbard finish.  As you point out the sword was made by a maker named Yoshitsugu in 1944.

 

A nice example of a rather common Army Officer sword.

 

 

[Mr. Bushido]

Thank you.

 

The information you describe is very useful even for an inexperienced Japanese collector like me.

 

For months I have been browsing this forum and am amazed at the wealth of information.

 

I would appreciate it if you could help me as long as I can.

[us82bravo]

Mr. Bushido, SARGE:

 

Thank you for the information about this sword.  

 

Your assistance is appreciated.

 

Larry