Tsuka Mei?

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

Had a closer look at one of my shin gunto the other day. On the tsuka, as well as the assembly numbers there are additional kanji, which I assume must belong to either the tsuka maker or perhaps the workshop it was put together in. I know this has been discussed somewhere before, but can't find the thread.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Bryce,

 

I can't help with the probable name, but the rest are assembly numbers O 4 8 2.

 

[Bryce]

Thanks Bruce,

Ray singer posted a photo of one of his shin gunto tsukas in the "Show Us Your High Class Gunto" thread, with the same kanji.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[Ray Singer]

Hi Bryce, as Bruce said above these are assembly numbers. All pieces of a gunto koshirae would (if original and unmodified) show the same numbers throughout all components).

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Bruce Pennington]

I believe the kanji on the other side are assumed to be the name of the saya craftsman, but I don’t think anyone has ever proven that for sure.

[SteveM]

The left side (the side without the numbers) looks like something written in katakana - maybe the name of the craftsman, who knows. Looks vaguely like カケタ (Kaketa) or カケヌ (Kakenu). The first one is a plausible Japanese name. The second one, a not very plausible Japanese name.  

[Bryce]

Thanks Steve,

 

If that is the craftsman's name, I wonder what the other set of kanji refers to?

 

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[SteveM]

Its too obscured for me to read, but I wouldn't put too much effort into trying to get to the bottom of these markings. If its under some more numbers, I would guess those are some assembly instructions (for example. "part number 0482, upper left side"). Or "part #0482 bottom of tsuka", or some such. 

 

〇四八二柄下 or something like that. 

[Bryce]

Thanks mate.

[Bryce]

After noticing that Ray's habaki was also numbered, I had a look at mine and sure enough it is numbered as well. Interesting the mix of Japanese and decimal numerals.

 

Cheers,

Bryce

[george trotter]

I too have such a sword. Exactly the same.

Type 98, 8 seppa, cut-through tsuba, all metal parts stamped in Japanese (except for the 'O') 0314.

 

Large grain same on tsuka with silver mon. 

 

Done in ink on the fuchi area of the tsuka with some unreadable kanji also and the same katakana 'ka ? nu'. and the number again in Japanese 'O314,

 

Rear face of the habaki in tiny identical arabic numerals '0314', 

 

Blade is shin-shinto - early Meiji  1865-1895 copy of shortened Nanbokucho blade. This copy probably by Aizu Kanesada Gen 10 or Gen 11. Mumei.

 

These seem to be a high class mounting workshop. Little doubt these mountings were done by the same mounting company as these other swords...Wonder who - where?

 

Hope this helps.

 

edit to add, this habaki is copper with gilding. Saya is aluminium.

[Bruce Pennington]

George and Bryce's have the same signature (I assume it's a name):

[Bryce]

G'day George,

Thanks for posting that. Very similar indeed! Mine has a steel scabbard, only 6 seppa and a shinshinto Bizen blade. If we can get a positive id on the kanji we may be able to do some further research.

Cheers,

Bryce

[george trotter]

Hi Bruce/Bryce,

Interesting mountings/blades. Both our blades were mounted by the same artisan / shop. But about the writing - I really think Morita sensei needs to look at this. The red writing  (black on yours) seems to be part numbers / kanij/ katakana. The end writing on both seems to be katakana "ka ? nu" which are sounds. The 'ku' could also be read as kanji 'mata' (and, again, also).

Hope a few more turn up so we can get a better feel of it (as written they are a bit like trying to read a bank clerk's signature who signs 100 things a day).

Regards,

[SteveM]

Moriyama-san might also have an idea. 

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

 

I thought I would copy Ray's photos of his similar shin gunto koshirae from the other thread to this one to keep them together.

 

Cheers,

Bryce