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Showing results for tags 'translation'.
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Hello! I have been gifted a few signed Japanese swords that seem to be quite old. The swords were all found coated in thick dark wax in a basement that had not been touched for 80 years. I believe the blades were brought back from the battlefield in WWII, as some seem to have been used in live combat. I wiped them down with mineral oil and clean cotton rags (no abrasives/chemicals were used) and the wax came right off, most of them are in wonderful shape. (I hope this was not a bad thing to do, if it was, please let me know) I brought them to the only local nihonto specialist and his reaction was to want to buy them, but he would not give me any information on them. Fishy. A second inquiry online turned out much the same, so I would think they may be of substantial quality and possibly value. As I don't have the money to send them out, I am looking for any help I can get in translating what is written so I can continue to research them. I have grouped the photos so there are two shots of each signature, from different angles, with three photos of the last sword. I know the last sword is Showa but it has one of the most beautiful structures and hamons I have ever seen, so info on this as well would be greatly appreciated. I am happy to post photos of the blades if it would help. Thank you for your expertise. Nicholas
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Good morning all, Would someone kindly be able to read the mei? I've lightened the second photo if that helps. I can't seem to get the orientation correct... fingers crossed. Thank you.
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Hi All, I'm new to the forum. I have a sword in my possession which I was considering to buy but need more info on it to determine if I'm paying a fair price (Asking price is ZAR 30,000 or US$2000) (Don't think this is worth close to that). Any help would be appreciated. I don't have much info other than the images I took yesterday on inspection. I can see the tip is damaged. My intention with this purchase is to buy something worth investing in as art / an heirloom to pass on to my son one day. (I doubt that this piece meets those standards but would like confirmations from someone knowledgeable in this field) Thanks in advance for feedback and apologies if this is posted in the incorrect area. The Saya is Dark blue lacquered but very badly scratched.
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Hi, I'm very new to this hobby and have the option to purchase on this item. Could someone please shed some light on the text on this Tsuka? Any assistance will be much appreciated .
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Hello. I picked up a sword which I will be selling that has about 45 kanji on the nakago. I could use some help translating. Thank you in advance! —Matt Brice 715-557-1688
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Hello collectors. I have a great handmade gendaito sword for sale. The nakago literally says it was made with tamahagane--which makes it pretty cool. In this case, you don't have to guess traditionally made or not? 'Made with Tamahagane'--uh, let me guess. I am double-checking my translation of the mei. I get 'Noshu ju Seki Sato Sukemitsu Nobumitsu Tamahagane kore tsukuru'. But I would like to make sure I have it EXACTLY right. Can you guys help me out with an exact translation? Thank you. --Matt Brice 715-557-16888
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My father recently bought this sword thinking it was a gunto but its vastly different from our other swords. Would like to know anything we can about it i can provide more pictures if needed but due to poor storage its fairly hard to get pictures with detail. Thank you Doug K
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Dear NMB Members: I recently purchased a Mitsuaki kozuka from a collector who acquired it in the late 70's or early 80s from Blaine Navroth. These green papers came with it. I wonder if these were the papers issued in the 80s by the NBTHK teams that came to the U.S., or whether they appear to be papers issued by the NBTHK in Japan. I recall that the papers issued by the "traveling" NBTHK group were later discredited and not honored. This piece has really great workmanship, and is the same demon pictured on a tsuba by Mitsuaki in the Boston Museum collection of Japanese Swords and Fittings book. This piece is signed on the reverse. Any input or translation of these papers is appreciated. I purchased the piece for the piece itself, not the papers. I have added a few photos of the kozuka. Regards, Bill E. Sheehan (Yoshimichi)
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I'm looking for help in translating the signature on an interesting matchlock I will have up for sale soon. The signature is a little hard to make out as you will see, but I did take photos from different angles and with different lighting to try to get a translator enough to see. By the way, this matchlock carbine has a feature I find intriguing. The barrel features a fluer-de-lis. The French sent 15 military advisors to Japan to teach the Satsuma samurai Western methods of warfare. Any help in translating the maker's signature would be appreciated. Thank you. --Matthew Brice
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Good morning, Could you please help translating the following signature from a tsuba I just received ? This is my first try at deciphering a signature and I'm not sure where to lookup the kanjis or what the methodology is, so if a member could kindly provide some pointers, that would be much appreciated ! Thank you very much in advance Edit: Identified BUSHU (武州) JU (住) MASA (正) YOSHI (義) (KAO ?) by using http://www.jssus.org/nkp/kanji_for_tosogumei.html. Is this correct ?!?
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My late grandfather left behind this rusty sword that no one in the family knew about. He lived in Georgia (the U.S. state, not the country). We're not sure where he may have acquired the sword, or how long he may have had it. Any help is greatly appreciated! Imgur gallery: https://imgur.com/a/ld06tqD -
Some members were already very helpful in the topic http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22511-just-acquired/?do=findComment&comment=295722 Any other suggestions for this mei? Thanks!
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I believe in the last picture to be an arsenal assembly number 898 and the third photo is a Seki stamp. I have contacted a couple Sword collectors and sellers and they can not tell me who the signature is. I have looked for days and am at a total loss. Can anyone help ?
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Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Brandon
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Hey guys, Got another blade here. I think this one is mid-1800's but I am unsure. I'd love a translation of the smith and what I believe to be the date? The nakago is really slender compared to the guntos I have, so I think this one is earlier. It appears to be o-suriage as it has an area that clearly was where the habaki was lower. It has three mekugi-ana though, which are all clustered rather closely together. The current habaki has been somewhat butchered sadly and is missing the 'flanges' that flank either side of the blade. Sadly, much of the geometry is eroded but there is definitely enough meat there to have it polished and brought back... if it's worthy of that luxury. If you want pictures of the rest of the blade, feel free to ask! It does have a shirasaya so there's no worry for that. The blade-edge measures approx. 25 1/2 inches. P.S. I apologize for my still-amateur photography skills.
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This is a blade I haven't shown before, its also my first proper gunto/katana. I've had it sitting a while in a glass case with some other important blades of mine and I only get them out to inspect/change their oils. (Much like a garaged classic car) I do not know who signed it or from what arsenal its from. It does have a hamon, though its difficult to see. Geometry is intact, but it has several nail catchers along the length of the blade. Nothing that wouldn't come out with a fresh polish and thankfully there are not any hagire that I can detect. The tsukamaki is definitely silk and it has rather nice quality ray underneath. There is a number inside the tsuka (2 for those that care to know) and there is what appears to be an '8' stamped on the obverse side of the nakago. On the mei side, there is also what appears to be a tiny plus ( + ) at the very end of the nakago. I have been unable to find any other numbers/markings on the blade or parts. It does have the remnants of a leather washer of some kind. I am unsure if the saya is original though it definitely has consistent age with the rest of it. The portopee is definitely not original, its just one I found to display with it. The meguki is not original either, but a nice piece of dark wood that fits nicely (could be horn?) One last quirk to note is that I am unable to remove the habaki, it seems firmly stuck on and I'd rather not risk damage just to remove it. Anyways, I just wanted to show this one. I started my collection of katana with it and its my second nihonto (my first is a scraggly wak that is likely beyond saving). I'd love to know who made it and from where it originates, and if it belongs to a possible school/manufactory. *Bonus picture of my blades in the fancy wall-case I have included. Pardon my mess with the stuff in the bottom!
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Hello, newbie here. I just took ownership of a papered Wakizashi. I have no previous experience with NBTHK papers, but from what I can read, I think I can read "Ninteisho" and "Item, Wakizashi, Hiromitsu" I can make very little sense of anything else, dates, rank, additional information, etc. I know where to look on the paper to find this information, I just can't read it. I believe the envelope is dated 2012 (other side from pic). I can upload better quality pics or scans, but I have attached what I have from the photos I took immediately after unboxing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,
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Hey guys, I want your maximum scrutiny on this blade here. It is alleged Kyu Gunto, but the length of the blade and the apparent looseness of the nakago in the grip throw me off. It is firmly of wakizashi length at a mere 21.5 inches for the nagasa and with a sori of .25 inches. It is signed "Nobuyoshi" but that is the word of the seller. I believe the grip and blade itself are Japanese but with its slight looseness (which may be due to a poorly sized mekugi), there might be a possibility its a put together. It does have both rear and forward seppa. The scabbard does fit it well, but it is about four inches longer than the blade itself (though internally, it appears to fit tightly). I suppose I am asking a few things: Were Kyu Gunto of non-katana sizes (even at 21.5 inches)? Do you think this is a put together? What is the smith's name? Whats the possible age range for this blade? Thanks gents! ~Chris
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Hello all, I'd like to learn more about a tsuba that has been in my family for years, well before WW2. The text is hard to read much less photograph, but I've done my best. Does anyone recognize it? I'm most interested in how old it is and who made it. Thanks in advance for any info you can supply!
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Hey all! I have a very lovely wakizashi here that is supposedly signed by 'Taira Shigeyuki,' I'd like to hear any specificities on it that you guys might know, especially age/era. I'd love opinions on it and perhaps a general sense of rarity/value here. I do not plan to sell it, but seeing as its so very nice looking, I was considering doing more than just having a shirasaya made for it. Some information on this blade: Nagasa: 53.4cm Sori: 1.5cm It also has a very lovely (what appears to be) Shakudo-plated habaki with a chrysanthemum or sunburst motif to it. Looking forward to your guys' opinions!
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Hello all, I recently came into possession of a possibly genuine WW2 Japanese sword. It has some identifying characters on the tang that I have not been able to match with anything I’ve found online, so I created this account in hopes that someone more knowledgeable can help me pin down some info on what I have. Thanks in advance and let me know if more pictures are necessary.
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Hello everyone, i have a few quick questions, first off how old is this sword? second off what is the type of wrapping is the handle and third, is this a samurai sword or for military use. also the price is $700 is this a good price for this sword. I am not sure on the value nor the age on this or the translation. any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.
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Hey all! I picked up this number with another katana about a week ago. After looking at ohmura (http://ohmura-study.net/212.html), I believe this to be "anti-rust gunto," the kind made with chromium alloyed steel during the wartime. I think this one is signed Takeyasu. Some measurements: Nagasa: 64.5 cm. Sori: 1.7 cm. Moto-haba: 3.3 cm. Saki-haba: 2.5 cm. Moto-gasane: 0.8 cm. Saki-gasane: 0.6 cm. Please let me know if my assumptions are correct and what the probable age is. I know he lived well after the war ended, but I don't know if he was still creating after the war. I'd love to hear anything you guys may know or can glean from the pictures! I think its a fairly gorgeous blade, despite not being made entirely traditionally! ~Chris P.S. As for the pictures, I did not take them. The seller did! There are small scratches here and there, but thankfully nothing that detracts from it seriously.
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so i find thi one on sale i dont believe that its forgen ouside of Chine like the salesman say... but something else caught my attentio, a seem to be squared tuska?
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Translation Help With Grass Writing Mei Please
matthewbrice posted a topic in Translation Assistance
Hello. I could use help with this mei that is written in grass writing. Grass writing is difficult (or impossible) for most of us--including me! Can someone help? Thank you for your help in advance. --Matthew Brice www.StCroixBlades.com
