Cuirassier

Hello I am stuck with this date translation on a shin-gunto I bought; the mei itself I had no great problem with. 1) I am stuck with the last two characters. The first of these two I think is "ni" (2) but that does not appear to make sense. The last character is beyond me. 2) Also, I am trying to work out what "ko-ki" actually means. Is it a province reference? If anyone can help; I so far have Ko-ki ni-sen roku-hyaku, which I think is right. Can someone please help? Cheers Mark

Stamp = "That one" Mei = Inanami

Hi again Chris, and thank you again, and Wow again Yes, I think you have it i just did a quick search and found an exact fit for kaneharu http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/O105736_S7580_PUP_E.htm. I clearly need to find out your optician Mark

Hi All I "promised" I would be back, sorry I have been trying to translate a mei on a Satsuma sword blade. I know these swords are meant to be not so good, but I quite liked this one (small waki); it has Chinese coins for menuki and leather bindings. The blade is clearly old, not least from the old style and worn state of the mei. I simply can not read it , if anyone can help me? I have taken three photos in order to get as best a shot as possible of the whole thing and each character. Truly, I do not post all my meis here. Many I do manage to read with the help of certain reference books. Thanks in anticipation Mark

Excellent, thank you very much Chris

Thanks Guys I will no doubt be back Cheers mark

Hi Everyone I have a new "toy" in WW2 shin gunto mounts (it is nice, I have a red and brown tassle / sword knot with it, so a senior field officer's former glory). I think / believe the mei reads Shimosa Daijo Fujiwara Kanemasa, but I can not work out what is said on the other side. If anyone could a) confirm the maker's name, b) tell me if it looks kosher or gimei, and c) tell me what the other side says I might very well get excited :lol: Mark

Thank you (I think). Okayama? Is that the smith or the town he was in? The saku character, is that a "made buy" or part of his name? Also, the region is Bizen? So what are the last two characters / kanji please? Kunimune? Is that his name? Was it made by Kunimune in Okayama (province of Bizen)? Regards Mark

I am sure the icons say it all about my attempt at translation Is the smith "Arishi"? Can anyone help / substantively ridicule me?

Thanks guys; appreciated

Good Day No disrespect to KMart intended. Background Story first (zzzzzzz) I bought a number of Japanese items at auction the other day. They were going for so little I just decided they had something about them and for virtual peanuts, I didn't really care. What actually tempted me was that there were 4 items from the same seller (I was told a deceased estate but then that is what they always say), and one of the 4 was a waki with an interesting hamon visible and good rayskin; some nice big "blobules" (sorry, do not know art name for them). Plus another was a nice Japanese page turner. Anyway, two of the lots were unusual to me; One is a ken tanto; I was and am sure a tourist piece (but maybe I am wrong) with several figures carved into the blade (blade looks decidedly stainless steel). The second is a waki with the standard bound grip but in a bone saya; Now I have seen all bone wakis before, but never this. Anyway, both the ken tanto and the bone saya'd waki have the same mon (I think it is a mon) on them. I have some mon references pages, but could not find it amongst the list I have. Could this be anything? Or is it the common sign for tourist purchases in the 1950's? (Hence my title quip about KMart) Ps The tang of the bone saya'd waki is well and truly jammed into the grip

Thanks guys. I agree with Grey, the mei is very sloppy; forgive the technical term. I just do not see a lot of pride in the signature. And thanks again, to Mark too.

Dear All I am spoiling for a humiliation. I have tried to translate a mei and come up with Sato o Tetsu for the blade maker's name. I know I am wrong. Would appreciate being humiliated gently; maybe I at least got one character correct? Regards Mark

Hi Guys Sure, no problem; am not the best photographer but hopefully these are OK. Regards Mark

Thanks guys, especially to you Jean. This does not appear to be the signature of the early Masahiros right? The last kanji for "Hiro" is a different version and the tang is not right for that period. Still, it cost me 200 British pounds, so I am not complaining :-) Cheers Mark

Hi All I really thought I would get this one but haven't, and the annoying thing it is the simplest character I just can not work out. OK, I have 3 images for anyone who can help. 1) Full mei 2) Last 3 kanji 3) Tang I reckon it is Saga shu Tomo ( ) Hiro Can you help? Cheers Mark

Hi Guys Thank for that; sorry for the late reply; I am sure I replied with thanks before byt maybe my mind is as good as my kanji reading. Hi George I was thinking of buying this item but decided not to; was pretty sure the mei was not genuine / authentic, so passed; so I can not post any photos sorry. Again thanks and sorry for the late "thank you". Mark

Hello All I am really struggling with this mei. OK, I reckon (but I am sure I am wrong) MuraFuji YoMotoYa (saku) So, please, what does it say? Mark

Thanks ever so much. The blade I presumed was / is machine made. But the signature is much finer (less made out of nicks, more like a flowing signature). Is there any significance to this and the use of "Sako" or was this rather just the whim of a young or even pretentious blade maker do you think? Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays Mark

Hi All I think I am getting better Now to be shot down. I think this is Yoshiyuki; Kiyofune Kane Yoshiyuki saku How am I doing? Thanks in anticipation Mark

Hi John Thank you doubly for that. It actually is a wakizashi I bought very cheaply from an auction house in need of some TLC. The blade is not bad at all. And checking my Robinson book, it does have a feint but obvious sugu-midare ha. Mark

Hi Guys Thanks for your help in the past. I am getting better, I think. OK, I think this is Oniye Yoshikuni; I am sure it is Oni(something) Yoshikuni Am I right? Is it Oniye Yoshikuni? Regards / RSVP Mark

Hi Pete Thanks, I found his mei (and it matches) here: http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/yoshnao.jpg The tang has a pre-1942 "Sho" stamp to it. I decided I did not want it in my main collection (sending these away for refurbishment and polishing is just too long a process for a ww2 blade IMHO) so have put it up on an auction site (not eBay - grrrrr - say no more). I have some more katanas coming in (not many - I actually concentrate on Napoleonic swords when I can, plus I like navy swords), so I did not think it warrant keeping this one. Cheers Mark

PS I did actually at first think the second (after Seki) character was Fuji but went off the idea; I must listen to my initial gut reaction more I guess.

Oh wow, thank you very much . I am truly glad I asked as I thought this was a nothing sword (yes, I know it still is to you guys) but Fujiwara Yoshinao was quite a sword maker for the war period. So thank you; maybe I will think about having this item refurbished, even polished.