Bugyotsuji

Bottom kanji is Kigensetsu 紀元節 https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=kigensetsu&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-jp&client=safari

Yes, I could agree with that, Matt.

My smartPhone seems unable to open the link.

Thanks Ted. Perhaps it would be safer for all of us to stick with Sanchomo for the time being. Mountain bird down/fluff.

Interestingly, the history of this sword is described on the linked page in the post above, including the latest efforts and devolopments in Joetsu City to raise the necessary funds to buy it back there.

"San Cho Mo" is going on display again at the Prefectural Museum from tomorrow until 21 May. http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kyoiku/kenhaku/nowExhibitions.htm Our sword society has booked a hands-on Kantei/kansho Kai in early summer with many of the museum's Kokuho and other good swords, but sadly this one being privately owned will therefore not be available for handling. PS Unable to go back and change the title to this thread, I should mention that Yamatorige should more properly be, as others have pointed out above, Yamadorige, t changing to d according to the rules of grammar. Some sword dictionaries however, say -tori, not -dori: http://meitou.info/index.php/%E5%B1%B1%E9%B3%A5%E6%AF%9B

OK, no-one is biting at this, so I will get some egg smeared on my own face then. The phrase originally indicates in a time of impending danger a shallow way of dealing with it. The image is of a blacksmith taking an inferior blade and adding tamagahane to it, an added hardened edge upon an essentially weak blade. Looks great at first glance. In the present case it was used in close to its original meaning. The J government's response to the NK crisis was 'tsuke-yakiba-teki' superficial, ie no substance, no backbone to it. It can also be used adjectivally as in "tsukeyakiba-teki na gakumon" or a veneer of education, a little knowledge being flashed around proudly. Not that any of us would ever actually use this Japanese expression in conversation!

Yes, as you say there are plenty of sword origin and gun origin expressions. I have lists somewhere. Please feel free to add as you come across them. When I see an opening I occasionally slip one in to test the reaction of the person with whom I am chatting. Last week I actually used your 'seppa tsumatteiru'. This 'tsuke-yakiba' was a new one for me though.

I guess we need to know how the expression was formed, and some examples of how it has come to be used.

付け焼刃 'Tsukeyakiba' was in the title of a news article this morning on Japanese Yahoo. (*The article referred to the government's lame response to the possibility of incoming ICBMs from North Korea. Every man/woman/child for him/herself is the essence of the policy. Find a building or an underground shelter, and stay away from windows.) Literally 'added yakiba', I checked with my J wife who understood the meaning of the phrase immediately. It originates from the language of swordsmiths... Just to say I had fun looking this up! Can't find a Spoiler button, so take it away!

Skipping the first three characters for a moment, does that end in 越前作之 or 越前 for example 信定 I wonder? You are suggesting Yoshihisa Oite Echizen Saku Kore?

Having just read this thread may I say firstly how informative it has been, and secondly how it has triggered extraneous thoughts in this old brain. I have often found, when out drinking for example, how some Japanese men can be fascinated with possibilities, savouring the 'what if?' aspect with wry amusement. An object like an open shellfish can stimulate lascivious images. This can give more enjoyment than the actual act, which could be messy or even dangerous. A devil carrying a pretty woman is a kind of question to the beholder. How pure are your own motives? Would you help a young lady in distress? Would you be tempted to break your vows and take advantage? Would the proximity of her body or body parts arouse wicked thoughts within yourself? Light and dark, innocence and evil, in temporary balance? What WILL happen next?

Well, not wanting to spoil the pleasure of the hunt, I offered Step One. Step Two. Peter, it cannot be 'translated', but it can be approximately read in Roman letters, ie Izumi-Ju Minamoto Kanefusa, (plus a Kao at the end). Run a search for smiths named (Minamoto) Kanefusa living/working in Izumi, and see what fits! Good luck.

Why is the Mei on the blade? Step One: Not good at this Showa-type writing, but it looks like: 和泉住源包房, plus 花押

John, Kyukyo-Do in Kyoto. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyukyodo

The only other clue was an inkblock marked 鳩居堂制. Could it be the first two characters, ie 鳩居?

Thanks for looking, John, and for the commiseration!

Not sure where else to try. Not Nihonto related. Found on a Negoro suzuri-bako inkstone set. Thanks in advance for any help!

Morita San rocks!

Hi Chris, for further comparison, here is the link. Found at last. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14310-bakumatsu-kaei-ginnan-po-yari-osafune-sukesada/?hl=%2Byari+%2Bginnan

The elderly cat is not his. It wanders over from a nearby house each morning, waits by the glass door, and spends the day in his workshop. Maybe the food is better, or it was not a cat in a past lifetime.

Nice example on the left Ron. As mentioned in my post above, a gingko nut shape is a "Gin-nan-po/bo". ('Gin-nan' is closer to the Japanese than Knutsen's 'ginan'.) 'Icho' is as you say simply another form ('Icho-no-ki' is a gingko tree). Somewhere around here I ran a thread on three of my examples.

If you can get a true side shot, it would make it easier. If the blade is straight, then a Suyari. If it is slightly waisted with a slightly bulbous rounded tip, it could be a ginnan-yari. (Gingko nut)

Kurt, I was not too sure after reading and re-reading what you wrote, so I thought it better to ask! If you do fly to Japan, you may find a good, old sword for possibly less than a newly-made blade. The marketplace does not encourage young and up-coming smiths. Hoping you find something nice!

Converting gold assets to silver? Were you looking to make an investment in a sword?