k morita

Thanks guys! Christian, I don't know which generation Munekazu . See [index of Japanese Swordsmiths] by Markus Sesko.

Hi, The original inscription: 文久癸亥侍吾君衛紫闕御賜及臣等以 其金充鋼炭資命宗一錬成此剣蓋永佩 大恩也 岡村任道謹誌 + kao. ---------------------------- English translation of the inscription: In 1863 (The 3rd year of Bunkyu period). (I) valet a lord and guard a castle. Received money from a lord.(like a special bonus?) I appropriated the money to steel(Tamahagane steel) and charcoal and made Munekazu make this sword. I'm going to thank(to the lord ) and wear this sword ever. Wrote by Okamura(family name) Tadamichi or Takamichi(reading?) + kao. ---------------------------- Sorry for my unskillful English translation. The original inscription on the tang is intellectual sentence.

Hi, 小林伊勢守国輝　(Kobayashi Ise-no-kami Kuniteru).

Hi, Tang inscription isn't cut test. Sword smith is Munekazu (宗一). Please wait for translation a moment.

Hi, I have never seen/heard Tanto or Wakizashi made by Mantetsu. If it exist, it's a great discovery.

Hi, Link is the sword making factory in Dalian. http://ohmura-study.net/223.html

Thank you Brian. Hi, Ura-side inscription says "Made from Shisō-tetsu" (以志相鐡作之). Shisō-tetsu(穴栗鐡 / 志相鐡) was a name of high-quality iron sand produced from Tajima/Harima province. Shisō-tetsu also called "Chigusa-tetsu"(千種鐡).

Yes, 1940. Imai Sadashige(今井貞重) in Saijo(Saijo town) ,Iyo province(now Ehime prefecture).

Hi, Dr.Honda Kotaro -----a professor of TOHOKU UNIVERSITY. and his student(sword smith) Aoyama Masahide(青山正秀). They made "Kinken To" a little number. They?

Hi, If you looking for Japanese version. [Zusetsu Token Meibutsu Cho] by Tadao Tsujimoto. Pub.1970, is the best book.　 Grey's site http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b703-zusetsu-token-meibutsu-cho-tsujimoto-tadao

Hi, I think, the author probably lived at the far place from the maneuvering ground. Maybe a civilian.(?) I changed the translation in the second line.(see attached pic.)

Hi, The signature is difficult to read, me too. If the signature is two letters, not three letters.　I'm not sure,the signature says 眞龍 (Shinryu). Maybe art name(GO). An attached pic was deleted by k-morita.

Hi, Congratulations, You got a manuscript of " Meibutsu-chō"(also The Kyōhō Meibutsuchō ) . Your the Meibutsu-chō was written in 1914. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/3810-meibutsu-cho-the-most-famous-swords-list/?hl=meibutsucho&do=findComment&comment=33230

Hi, 光甫添状附 = (Honami)Kōho's soejo-paper attached.

Hi, Enomoto Takeaki on Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enomoto_Takeaki

Hi, This replica Hotarumaru is planning to be exhibited from August 7 to September 22 at "Higo-no-satoyama Gallery"(肥後の里山ギャラリー) in Kumamoto city. http://www.mizutomidori.jp/gallery/index.html Keiji san, Thank you very much for sharing of the pic　of original Hotarumaru. This picture is a postcard of Hotarumaru around the most late years(around 1910') in Meiji period. Aso-shrine issued it in the late year in Meiji Period. A very rare pic of　orijinal Hotarumaru.

Hi, A replica of Hotarumaru(Tachi sword) was dedicated to the Aso shrine yesterday(6/17 , 2017). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOVMUDd-fcA

Hi,

Hi, The first pic says "#9" The second pic says "Saotome Iesada" 早乙女家貞 Did this Tag attach to a Tsuba or a helmet?

Hi. Mei says: Nanban-tetsu, Echizen no Kuni Shimosaka Tsuguyoshi = 南蛮鐡 越前国下坂継吉

Hi, Sashu ju (佐州住), Sashu means Sado island. Toshi XXX (利　XXX).

Hi, Nice find. The signature says 堀川治右衛門國威 (Horikawa Jiuemon Kunitake) . Date is Feb., 1943. He was a good smith and RJT smith in Akita prefecture.

Hi Tanto 54, Yes, the Sosho says "osoraku".　

A theme of the Kozuka is "Fujimi-Saigyo"(Priest Saigyo seeing Mt. Fuji). The waka poem is Priest Saigyo's poem. I can read the Waka poem of the Kozuka,but English translation is difficult to me. いつとなき、思ひは富士の、烟にて、おきふす床や、うき島が原。

Thanks Steve, 御様(otameshi) means Cutting test.