Toryu2020

asking for a friend - The inscription starts with three small kanji - 併而祈 below that, four large kanji - 武運長久 Bu-un Cho-kyu - Which as I understand it is a common four character "idiom" from the war years "Continued Luck in War" - the question is the three small kanji at the top - how is it read in Japanese? Shikamo Hei (wo) Inoru? or some such and what would be the best English translation for these three? Any help appreciated, -tch

one more

some more

Some more examples - my phone seems to do better than my brand new scanner...

Nicely - thank you!

David - Don't be a tease, can you share any photos or an "Oshy" of the signature? -t

I tell ya Piers - I don't think they were all that common though I have seen others from the group. There is enough metal in this one for two swords! -t PS If you got a copy of any oshigata from your meeting I should love to see them...

A gimei

Some Oshigata

Have had this tsuba for a while happened upon some oshigata of the Nidai Sukekane - I am leaning toward this being the Shodai - please enjoy any comments welcome... -t

PS prior to the Edo period there was less restriction but also probably less accumulation a good family would have a court sword and swords for battle but not so many I am thinking as in peaceful Edo times... -t

Absolutely - There were restrictions on the length of sword and the look of it's koshirae when on official duty - thus we have many swords with black scabbards and Goto-esque fittings. But off-duty you could wear pretty much what you wanted according to your taste and your pocketbook. If you were rich enough you change your sword according to the time of year, event or location or you could have one favorite sword and a dozen koshirae to choose from. There was nothing that said you had to wear a specific sword (only koshirae) for a specific occasion... -t

Here is an image of the annual sword gifting ceremony at the Shoguns' palace - all persons would have been hatamoto rank or higher... -t

Very common - a well-to-do household would have had a stockpile of swords for various occasions and for gift-giving. Certain ranks were expected to give swords of a set value at annual ceremonies for the Shogun and others. This is why there are many gimei to well known smiths there was demand for swords signed by such and that was one way to meet that demand... -t

If in the right hand, wouldn't the ha (cutting edge) be down and not up? -t

I'm not sure it was Ford who suggested finger bones. I guess my question would be - in your drawing which hand is holding the sword and which fingers are we seeing? -t

"Omi Sandai mago"

There is one in Iyo; Mishina Omi sandbi mago Minamoto Hisamichi saku Yoshu Yoshida Mishina Minamoto Hisamichi saku Mishina Minamoto Hisamichi Keio - ordinary workmanship from the Toko Zenshu 1988

Pass

TNM coasters

Knick knack box

Serving tray

ha-yori = towards the ha (cutting edge) Masa kakari = masa(me) is applied/seen utsuri ari = there is utsuri

Ooh didn't see that - I think it reads "Itame, ha yori masa kakari utsuri ari" Itame hada, towards the cutting edge masame is applied there is utsuri... I think, -t

Shinogi-zukuri IORI-mune sugu(ha) CHO hakikake Iori = peaked roof Cho = pattern or feeling... -t