Alden83

Jean, Thank you very much, I have taken your advice and posted in the translation page. Kind regards Joe

Hi, I have posted in a different group trying to find out more information regarding a Katana that I have been handed down to me from my Grandfather. You can see the message boards here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&mid=4136 I have been advised to take some better pictures and put them onto this message board to hopefully find out a little more about the sword. So far I have been informed that the maker was Masamitsu and it was possibly made in Asahi? I was hoping that someone may be able to help translate this for certain as a few have said that they think it is a strange Mei. I would also love to try and find out when the blade was crafted as I find it extremely interesting. The Mekugi-Ana appears to have been drilled however on closer inspection there is a depression on one side around the hole. Is there a possibility of it once being punched but later drilled? I have tried to capture images of this on my original post yet find it difficult to capture. I hope that someone will be able to advise me Kind regards Joe

Hi Jean, Unfortunately no date on the other side. As to the polish, the man that I took it to firstly recommended a traditional polish however on closer inspection he then changed his mind. This was due to the swords tip having been damaged at some point in its life. It was because of this that he didn't recommend the full traditional polish but have a polish that won't damage the blade but will make it look significantly better. Which it has. Would you know the best way that I could get the sword dated? Kind regards Joe

Steve, Thank you very much for the reply, I wasn't sure in the last post whether Asahi was correct or not and felt that the 都 hadn't been translated. Please forgive my ignorance, it can be quite hard to work out whats right and whats not. I would love to find out as much as I can about the sword as find it fascinating and a thing of real beauty. Would you know of the best way that I could get a rough date of when the sword was made? The renovator that I took it to thought it was 15 century but I would love to have a second opinion. He felt that the shape of the blade is what indicates that sort of age. Thank you again for the response, I know practically nothing about all of this but quite an eager student. Joe

Hi, Hopefully these are better, I don't know why the others are not working Kind regards Joe

Hi, Back in 2017 I posted a topic regarding my old grandfathers sword that has been passed down to me. After having it refurbished I wanted to try and find out more information about it so thought this was the best place to try at first. Unfortunately I was unable to get any more info and have tried to find out through a couple of other places but no one seems to be able to help. The man that refurbished the sword for me worked out the name of the sword smith as Masa Mitsu but he was not able to translate the other part of the Mei. I thought I would try putting it back on here to see if anyone else may be able to help. Kind regards Joe

Thanks Greg, I'm really pleased with how its come up as it was in a pretty bad condition. Thanks for the message, Joe

The restorer also said that the mei was strange and that he hadn't come across it before. Im not sure why he now thinks it is from Bizen. Ive taken a few more photos to see if its any clearer.

Unfortunately my Grandfather passed away before he could provide my dad or myself any information as to how he came about the sword. His wife did mention that she thought he had it presented to him as he was an officer on a ship, however he did also work in the ships stores so he may just have been able to grab it as a souvenir. Unfortunately we'll never know. The new handle really does look amazing on it, especially when compared to what was on the sword before. I think my grandfather may have had a handle made previously by an amateur enthusiast as it was a complete mess made out of mahogany and a shoe lace. When i took it in for the restoration the guy had a bit of a chuckle about it.

Hi, i have recently been given my Grandfathers old Katana that he was given during the second world war. I have had the sword refurbished as it was in a pretty bad state and had a new handle made as the one that was on it was not original and wrapped in a shoelace. The guy that i had it refurbished by and who made the handle, thinks that the sword was made by a Masu Mitsu but he was uncertain of where it was made or a possible date. After a little time he did end up thinking that it was made in Bisen and maybe as far back as 14/15 century. He thought the slimmer blade was more reminiscent of that time period, but he did say he would have expected the hole to be punched instead of drilled. On closer inspection he did say there is a possibility of the hole being re-drilled at a later date as part of the hole does seem to be pushed out. Ive tried to take pictures of this. I hope someone maybe able to provide me with more detail as i would love to know some of the history of the sword.