CurtisR Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 Greetings all, I received this sword, in gunto mounts, as a gift. On closer examination, it appears to be mor than the "average bear"...can anyone ples assist with the writings on both omote and ura sides of the nagako? Nice, active hamon and in pretty decent polish as well. More pics available but am trying to figure out the "who/when" first Many thanks! Curtis Quote
CurtisR Posted October 24, 2012 Author Report Posted October 24, 2012 PS on photo # 3, please forgive my not rotating it. Will upon request. C. Quote
cabowen Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 This blade is by Tsutsui Kiyokane. He was a good smith. How about the ura and some pictures of the blade? Mikawa no Kuni Okasaki ju Quote
Nobody Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 Yes, one of Rikugun Jumei Tosho. 三河國岡崎住龍城子清兼作 - Mikawa no kuni Okazaki ju Ryujoshi Kiyokane saku Quote
k morita Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 Hi, Kiyokane was WW2 period(RJT smith) and postwar period sword smith,real name is Tsutsui(family name) Seiichi. Ryujoshi is his "Go". Good sword smith. Quote
cabowen Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 Whoops, forgot to finish up the mei before I hit submit...Looks like Moriyama san and Morita san took care of you.... I have seen several of his war era blades and a few post war as well. I know a few craftsman in the Aichi/Western Shizuoka area who knew him and had very nice things to say about his work. I remember seeing a hocho Masamune copy that was wonderful.... Quote
cisco-san Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 Any pics form the blade available? Thanks Klaus Quote
Markus Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 The entry from my Swordsmith Index: Kiyokane (清兼), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Aichi – „Mikawa no Kuni Okazaki-jū Tachibana Kiyokane“ (三河国岡崎住橘清兼), „Suirosai Tachibana Kiyokane“ (椎魯斎橘清兼), „Ryūjōshi Kiyokane“ (龍城子清兼), civilian name „Tsutsui Seiichi“ (筒井清一), gō „Suirosai“ (椎魯斎) and „Ryūjōshi“ (龍城子), born March 25th 1907, his family was since the 1st gen. Tsutsui Ichirōbei Kiyokane (筒井市郎兵衛清兼) successively working for the Okazaki fief (岡崎藩) of Mikawa proince, he studied under Kurihawa Akihide (栗原昭秀) and worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, he lived in Aichi´s Nagakute (長久手) Quote
CurtisR Posted October 24, 2012 Author Report Posted October 24, 2012 MANY thanks to you all for your translation of the smith and other information on him. I was very happy and "thought" the forging and shape looked very nice for a gunto-mounted sword. Seems like my friend gave a very good gift, and is my first as my first Nihonto (or would the proper term be "gendaito"?) no less ! I took more photos in overall, of Ura side of the nagako (also signed), Mune, and tried to get decent photos of the hamon activity and mountings. I don't have a macro lens for hada photos unfortunately ---- did them w/ my Nikon so have to re-size them but will post them this evening for sure. On the kissaki, there are very slight 'dings' as well which I tried to photo....none more than 1mm in depth and probably more like 1/2 mm. I'm guessing it would be best to leave it in it's original mountings vs. have koshirae made down the line? Again, thank you all and will be interested in the follow-up for the ura inscription as well as any other opinions :D . Best Regards, Curtis R. Quote
CurtisR Posted October 24, 2012 Author Report Posted October 24, 2012 I have taken better ones but here is a quick teaser. Any thoughts on translation would be much appreciated. Curtis R. Quote
Jean Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 Curtis, It is an easy one and after 236 posts you should be able to translate it by now!!! It is the date. Go to the Kanji pages and if you don't succeed in translating it in 5 minutes ... Edit to add: I have just done it in 5 seconds Quote
cabowen Posted October 24, 2012 Report Posted October 24, 2012 I don't know about koshirae but at least a nice shirasaya would be appropriate.... Quote
CurtisR Posted October 24, 2012 Author Report Posted October 24, 2012 Hai!, Jean san - I shall do that. Sorry...trying to learn SMR and study swords and major transitions at work. As my old platoon Sgt. used to say...."If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin!" :D . I suspect Ill learn more via your method and hey don't worry - I drove my MJER and Aikido instructors nuts as well with my languange IN-abilities...I'm fightin' it though... Many thanks and will post new pics regardless tonight. I truly do appreciate the mei translation also - I suspect I'd have spent weeks on that one. Sincere Regards, Curtis R. Quote
Jean Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Chris, It is very easy, starting from the top, at 95%, it is always the nengo (which era? Oan, Eisho, Showa, Heisei?) then a number (corresponding to the number of years) then the word "year", then a new number (corresponding to the month) then the word "month" and the word "day" or a "lucky day". Go to the kanji pages or to Dr Stein's webpage and I bet you'll do it in a blink Quote
CurtisR Posted October 25, 2012 Author Report Posted October 25, 2012 Heading to the kanji page now Jean - thanks! The order makes sense and will help me when I see it again! I'll let you know how it goes. And Mr. Bowen, I believe you may be right....going to look into shirasaya (but probably not a polish @ $100/inch). Best Regards, Curtis R. Quote
CurtisR Posted October 25, 2012 Author Report Posted October 25, 2012 Jean, Here's what I came up with..."1954 , 10th month , 2nd day" .... Curtis Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Come on man, think about it! It is a WWII sword! How could it have been made in 1954??? Try again..... Quote
CurtisR Posted October 25, 2012 Author Report Posted October 25, 2012 Doh! "Nineteen FOURTY two" - yep the " + " would be a 4. How did I do on the rest? (you guys are brutal ---- I love it!! ) And believe me, I also know all of you wouldn't spend the time with me unless you saw a true interest so thank you all, doubly! I'm transitioning from an office back to a police car, so must print a reference of Kanji pages while I can get away with it . Curtis Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 How did I do on the rest? Fail....Try again: 昭和十八年二月日 Quote
Brian Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Remember to use the bottom of this page: http://www.jssus.org/nkp/common_kanji.html First part is usually obvious from this page: http://www.jssus.org/nkp/shinto_to_modern_nengo.html Also...althogh not 100%....many dates are in the format XX year, XX month, a day in (or a lucky day...) Brian Quote
CurtisR Posted October 25, 2012 Author Report Posted October 25, 2012 Ok - trying again..... Sword was made before WWII in the Showa era. (80th year of the Show period perhaps?). Translated as: 昭和 Showa(era) 十八 80 年 Nen (year) 二 (ni 2nd) 月 Gatsu (month) (perhaps also meaning second Month?) 日 Hi (day --- lucky day?) Is this a bit better?? I hope?? Curtis Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Add 80 to the year showa started and get back to us.... Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Showa started at the end of 1925. 1925+80 = 2005. Showa didn't last 80 years and the sword was made during the war... You need to do more reading Curtis. Once you see how simple this is you will kick yourself.... Quote
CurtisR Posted October 25, 2012 Author Report Posted October 25, 2012 Ok - agreed....more reading! In hopes of kicking myself soon. I bow to your patience (and it's still a nice blade!) Curtis Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Yes, it is a nice sword.... This should clarify things a bit: http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index. ... Year_dates Quote
Jacques Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Hi, Showa started at the end of 1925. Showa era started at december 25 1926 Quote
Jean Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Curtis, You are suffering from severe dislexy: you must read Japanese number the same way you read occidental numbers, so: 十八 = ??? Very different from 十 x 八 = 80 Quote
cabowen Posted October 25, 2012 Report Posted October 25, 2012 Showa era started at december 25 1926 Of course Jacques is correct.... Quote
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