Mike Noel

Gents Dore and Reese an auction house in the uk has an auction of swords and fittings on the 15th of November there are over 100 pieces for sale. Even if you are not in the market to buy anything you could do worse than spend a pleasant hour looking at the items for sale. This link will take you to the auction the swords and fittings start at lot 701 https://auctions.doreandrees.com/catalogue/81A7582615F99A2E3774098876CAACFC/AD74375B82A358E6EEF0CE537DEF266D/fine-Japanese-art-including-the-eva-aubrey-sweet-collect/ Regards Mike

Thanks guys I managed to get 3 of the 5 correct but better than when I started Mike

Hi Guys Could anybody give me a translation of this Mei Thanks in advance Mike

Thank you guys I am improving at reading Mei but nowhere near to your standard Kindest regards Mike

Hi Guys Could somebody help with a translation of the mei on this sword please Regards Mike

Thanks for the information it is a big help I was reading Taka as two separate characters. I saw the Ta / Da character as being written twice with one being bigger than the other. Every day is a school day for me with these characters. Thanks again Mike

Hi Guys Could somebody translate the attached signature for me I am particularly stumped on the second and third characters Any and all help much appreciated Regards Mike

Thanks Ray that is the closest I have come to getting one right it gives me hope

Hi Guys Could somebody help with translating the attached I think after much head scratching and page turning that it says Bi Zen Kami Suke Kuni. But it may say made in Taiwan could somebody please help Regards Mike

Thanks for that

Hi Guys Could somebody check my homework please. Does this mei read Suke Sada Regards Mike

Hi Conway I will not be bidding for the sword I wondered if the smith was highly regarded or if a sprat had been set to catch a mackerel The Kabuto gane has a mon attached, 2 mekugi ana in the nakago which might lead you to believe that there may be an ancestral blade in the scabbard and worth a punt I have attached a photo of the Kabuto gane

Thank you I shall do a little digging

Gents I am curious about the quality of this smiths work. The sword is for sale at auction the handle comes off but the blade is stuck in the scabbard the koshirae is military and quite corroded with some pieces missing. There is a good chance the blade once removed from the scabbard will be beyond repair.despite having 2 mekugi ana the mei seems to be what I have seen described on this website as Chippy and indicative of the blade being oil quenched so maybe a WW11 smith. So far the bidding is up to about 400GBP and looks like it will go higher before the sword is sold. Unless it is a particularly good smith I wonder if this is a ruse to lure in the unwary having been buying swords at auction for some time now I am definitely cynical Would somebody be so kind as to translate the Mei and any thoughts on the above would be greatly received Regards to you all Mike

Thanks for that, annoyingly I cannot see how you read the Mei that way but happily bow to your knowledge. It is early days for me trying to read kanji I will add the translation to my growing list of references to help in the future. Thanks again Regards Mike