Legacy Needs Help - Translation

[Sansei]

Hello,

 

Please help with translation on this katana. Thank you.

 

- RayM

 

[SteveM]

I believe it is as follows

 

源元興於東武芝金杉営精鍛焉

安政五戌午年二月日

 

Minamoto Motooki oite Tōbu shibakin sugi ei seitan en

Ansei go tsuchinoe-uma nen (1858) nigatsu-no-hi

 

太々土壇場　同年三月十三日於千住

山田吉和門人後藤利影試之

 

Taitai dotanba dōnen sangatsu jūsannichi oite Senjū

Yamada Kichiwa Monjin Gotō Toshikage tamesu kore

 

Made by Minamoto Motooki, in Tōbu (greater Tokyo area) at the forge in Shibakinsugi

Ansei 5 (1858) February

 

Tested in the same year, March 13th in Senjū by Yamada Kichiwa Monjin Toshikage

Shoulder-to-shoulder cut

[Stephen]

Was wondering if a cutting test was on there with all the dates...whats the odds of the 3rd one being great as well.

 

Great job Steven

[Guido]

山田吉和

Yamada Kichiwa

 

The last kanji is hard to read, but since there was no 山田吉和 Kichiwa, I think it's Yamada Yoshitoshi 山田吉利, who was the head opf the Yamada family at that time.  

[vajo]

Fantastic. Take a good care for the swords Ray.

[Brian]

Good sword that also needs careful preserving and research. Don't be tempted by pm offers...which I am sure you already have.
Take your time and learn more about all of your swords. Your dad had good taste.

[Sansei]

 

I believe it is as follows

 

源元興於東武芝金杉営精鍛焉

安政五戌午年二月日

 

Minamoto Motooki oite Tōbu shibakin sugi ei seitan en

Ansei go tsuchinoe-uma nen (1858) nigatsu-no-hi

 

太々土壇場　同年三月十三日於千住

山田吉和門人後藤利影試之

 

Taitai dotanba dōnen sangatsu jūsannichi oite Senjū

Yamada Kichiwa Monjin Gotō Toshikage tamesu kore

 

Made by Minamoto Motooki, in Tōbu (greater Tokyo area) at the forge in Shibakinsugi

Ansei 5 (1858) February

 

Tested in the same year, March 13th in Senjū by Yamada Kichiwa Monjin Toshikage

Shoulder-to-shoulder cut

 

 

 

StevenM,

 

Thanks. I will pass this information on to my mom.

 

RayM

[Bruce Pennington]

Was wondering if a cutting test was on there with all the dates...whats the odds of the 3rd one being great as well.

Great job Steven

Steven, for a non-nihonto guy, what are you asking about when you ask "whats the odds of the 3rd one being great as well."

Thanks!

[Stephen]

Did i read wrong i thought he had three swords to show...is it only two?

[Brian]

Yep...he did say there was the original one and 2 others.

[raaay]

Stephen

 

he is obviously saving the best one for the last show and tell

[BIG]

May be a Naotane...

 

Best

[Sansei]

All,

 

Sorry to disappoint  . The Third of Three was a trophy won by my dad at a kendo tournament in Hawaii (late nineteen thirties). Might be some sort of mass produced sword? Hamon looks to perfectly symmetric but my knowledge is limited as you know:

 

 

-RayM

[SteveM]

I think the writing is:

賞　本派本願寺武道聯盟第二四演武大会剣道個人優勝

 

Awarded  Individual Kendō Championship, 24th Martial Arts Tournament, Honpa Honganji Martial Arts Association

[vajo]

Ray i filtered in photoshop your pictures from the "mass produced sword". Hmm, i think it is worth to look deeper on it. Could you make some pictures of the Hamon and Hada in sunlight? I think it has an very cautious made polish.

[vajo]

The late '30 was not the time to make fast swords for the war. It could be non traditionel but i dont think it is a bad quality sword.

[Brian]

Certainly not junk, not with that nakago in shirasaya. May be an arsenal blade, cannot see....but it won't be junk.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Arsenal blades of this era usually had Bo-Hi.

[Sansei]

Ray i filtered in photoshop your pictures from the "mass produced sword". Hmm, i think it is worth to look deeper on it. Could you make some pictures of the Hamon and Hada in sunlight? I think it has an very cautious made polish.

 

 

Yes, will do. I think it's a well made sword...heavy...

[Sansei]

Ray i filtered in photoshop your pictures from the "mass produced sword". Hmm, i think it is worth to look deeper on it. Could you make some pictures of the Hamon and Hada in sunlight? I think it has an very cautious made polish.

 

 

Here are a few more closeups. Unfortunately we don't get a lot of sunny days here during this time of year:

 

 

-RayM

[Brian]

Real sword. Could go either way...fully traditionally made or oil quenched more mass produced. But if it is way pre war, can't see why it would not be the former.

[Sansei]

Real sword. Could go either way...fully traditionally made or oil quenched more mass produced. But if it is way pre war, can't see why it would not be the former.

 

Brian,

 

This would be an example of a fake sword, I take it? Saw it on Ebay for $25,000. Hamon is etched it appears...

 

RayM

 

[SteveM]

That looks like a fantastic sword.

[Stephen]

real sword

[Bencld]

That blade above is one of the China listings. They all seem to have the same hamin.

[Bencld]

Here is one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Tamahagane-Wakou-forging-Steel-Blade-Clay-Tempered-Samurai-Sword-498/273626698504?hash=item3fb56c1308:g:YVUAAOSwk4Rb-mvN

[SteveM]

Higo Kanetsugu-made Ichimonji utsushi