DTM72

1000 thank you's!

So does this look correct?

板 itame

目 hada

刃 ha

寄りhaving a tendency towards; being close to

柾 masame

掛かりconnection; linking

映りUtsuri

有りexisting

I see those now. @Toryu2020

Ideas on the Jigane section?

So far I have 板目刃 ?り 柾 ? 映り有り

18 hours ago, SteveM said:

Also, I have strong doubts about the "ta". It looks nothing like the calligraphic version of ta (田), so I'll stick to my guns and say I still think its　原 (hara - and when combined with Fuji it becomes Fujiwara). The calligraphic version of hara is also a bit different from the one on this sword, but it is less of a departure than 田 I think. And I'm open to the possibility that its something completely different, but both Fujita and Fujiwara fit within the context of this swordsmith.

 

 

 

Question for @Nobody Moriyama-san: is there a preference for "kogane" over "ōgon" in old scripts? 

 

So would the entire line translate to Fujiwara added gold (to this) sword?

13 hours ago, Nobody said:

I am not 100% sure but my readings are as follows;

 

王子 – Oji (place name)

三狐 – sanko

 

黄金 - kogane

Domo Arigato Moriyama san!

Representatives from SOFE Design Auctions were wandering around buying items for their upcoming auctions. I personally sold three swords, 2 wakizashi and 1 nice katana to them. He would buy a handful, go back to his tables in the back, then come back and buy more from another dealer or individual. 

I had a great time exhibiting/selling at the show. Hanging out with Mark Jones, Grey Doffin, Matt Jarrell, Eric Molinier, and Udo (not sure of last name) after the show closed on Friday and drinking wine and chatting about nihonto, good deals, bad deals, etc. was one of the highlights of the trip. I look forward to hanging out with these guys again in Louisville, Kentucky at the Show of Shows, then again at the Chicago show. Information on these two shows can be found below. The Chicago show promises to be a good one with a shinsa team in attendance.

Feb 23-26, 2023 http://www.sosovms.com/Show_of_Shows/

April 28-30, 2023 http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/

On 1/23/2023 at 2:59 PM, John C said:

Thank you all. Based on what I am seeing here, I think probably celluloid samegawa. Would make sense as it is a late war (1944) model.

Regards,

John C.

John, the celluloid versions have a very plastic feel to them when you sctrach them with your fingernail. Real rayskin, unless polished, should have a more rough and almost sandpaper feel to it.

After much help from the NMB a Facebook group and some of my own searching on Kanji translation programs, I think I have this figured out. Please feel free to suggest corrections. This is a lot more than the usual Province, title, and name with date on the opposite side.

I took the picture and placed the kanji next to it, with the Japanese pronunciation in capitol letters, then the English meaning in small letters. Of course the dimensions on the right don't need to be translated, that is just my information for the sword. She will be going to shinsa in Chicago in April so I am excited to see her get official papers.

Thanks in advance to all!

Dan

I have an Iron Mountain Armory and I am completly happy with it. I have displayed it, packed it away, and transported it to a show, set it up, taken it down...multiple times. I have worn it about 4-5 times with no issues. I'm not sure you would want to do everything I have done to a suit coved by Urushi. Additionally, the urushi process is very time consuming and materials are expensive, then making the final product more expensive.

I think it all comes down to what you want to do with the suit. Display only, display and wear, wear while training?

Wishing you the best of luck.

Looking for a gunto fuchi (ok to good condition) with NO push button release hole.

Please let me know if you have an extra laying around. I'm located in the US.

Dan

Judging by the patina on the nakago and the 2 mekugi-ana, I would say it pre-dates WWII and is traditionally made.

吉 = yoshi

次 = tsugu

https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/list?id_op=%3D&id=&name_op=starts&name=yoshitsugu&kanji_op=%3D&kanji=&province=All&start_era=All&school_nid=All

^^^ alot of Yoshitsugu to pick from ^^^^ Not sure which yours could be.

Chris,

Maybe you and some of the other members could have an impromptu meeting at the Show of Shows in Louisville, KY on Feb 23 - 25. Would enjoy meeting you and the others.  Many from the Las Vegas show will be at this show as well. Would enjoy networking all of us together.

http://www.sosovms.com/Show_of_Shows/

Dan

Do you have an idea why there would be three names?

18 hours ago, DTM72 said:

And I completely forgot about these four. A place in Tokyo?

 

東都 = Toh = Eastern

都 = to = Capitol

? = ?

? = ?

 

越中 Etchu ?

 

東 = Toh = Eastern

都 = to = Capitol

継 = Tsugu

平 = Hira

Correct?

16 minutes ago, Ljoconnor said:

Yes sir. He is a great guy!

I was his table mate. I was very lucky to have shared a table with him.

49 minutes ago, SteveM said:

No idea.

Etchū would be an unlikely thing to write after Tōto, and it feels slightly off.

I agree. Etchu has nothing to do with Toto. It was the only thing that looked somewhat the same.

And I completely forgot about these four. A place in Tokyo?

東都 = Toh = Eastern

都 = to = Capitol

? = ?

? = ?

越中 Etchu ?

So Masatsugu and Munetsugu with the two different ways of writing tsugu? @SteveM

One last piece to this puzzle. The kanji that looks like MICHI 道 but is different. The parts on the left look the same but the parts on the inside are different. To me Michi looks like a person pushing a pallet jack with a stack of pallets and a see-saw on top. The character that is giving me trouble is the person pushing the pallet jack, but has a stick figure wearing a dress. Like Mori 林 is two sticks wearing dresses, but I only need one wearing a dress, riding on the pallet jack. 

正 = Masa        宗 = Mune

?                       次 = Tsugu

You guys are 110% awesome! Got home last night just before midnight. Unpacked all 4 matchlocks, all the swords and inspected my new katana closely. I knew it was long, but actually put a measure to it. 29.250" (74.3 cm) She's a healthy girl.

11 hours ago, Ljoconnor said:

Got home late last night and slowly resting up. Mark put on a great show. Things of all price ranges and mostly high quality things. Well worth the trip. Met a really great man and his wife. Interesting guy and knowledgeable. Roger is a really good guy. Thanks again Mark for talking me in to going. Lots of great items. Bought a few odds and ends. Larry 

Are you referring to Roger Robertshaw the Hizento author?

She’s going to shinsa in Chicago so hopefully I’ll get some help, and papers, at that shinsa.

Will take some good pics in the next couple days. On plane now and won’t arrive home til late tonight.

28”+ katana with masame hada that almost become ayasugi in spots and LOTS of sunagashi, tobayaki, inazuma, kinsuji, etc.

Quick tease pic from hotel last night added below.

Gotta go now, plane is on the taxi way to the runway.

Dan