Morinobu Katana—Oshigata used in Slough's Book of Showa Smiths

Signature:  Minamoto Morinobu Saku Kore with Kao.
Year Made:  Showa 17th year, tenth moon, lucky day (October, 1942)
Forging Pattern: Tight itame. 
Tempering Pattern: Katochi gunome.
Dimensions:  Blade Length:  25 inchesNakago: 8 inches 8 mm thick and 33.3 mm wide at Hamachi
Mountings:  Newer looking shirasaya with horn fittings at the openings, and a "rain" pattern habaki, .
Overall Condition:  Very good. Well preserved polish with only a few scratches and minor pitting. This same sword was used for an oshigata on page 116 in Slough's An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868-1945. The smith is rated at 1 million yen and is listed as making medium to high grade gendaito. It has a star stamp on the nakago. A very graceful gendaito made by a well respected and well published (he is listed in the Toko Taikan and Nihonto Meikan as well as Slough) Showa era smith. A great collectors item and a very nice sword.