Helping a friend.. How did i do

[obiwanknabbe]

This is the Nagako of a very old looking wakizashi a friend of mine has. I have had a heck of a time trying to translate it but i think I finally got it.

 

Does this read "ujinobu gammaku" 氏信岩捲 UJI104? The 3rd kanji looks a little off to be but this is the closest I could find.

 

Any help from you folks would be greatly appreciated.

 

Related, his blade seems to be in horrific, but moderately recent polish (perhaps early 1900's). Is there a reason that the geometry would be so bad on a Japanese polish. its wavy and the blade's thickness tapers drastically about half way up the blade.? Perhaps it was rushed into service, or something like that? It has a very nice copper tsuba that was clearly not made for the blade and the tsuka looks like it was off a small tachi but it has a hole for a sarute at the base.

 

Thanks again for all you do

 

Kurt.k

[k morita]

Yes, you are right.

The mei is "Ujinobu Ganmaku" . 氏信岩捲

[obiwanknabbe]

Thanks for the confirmation Moritia-san.

 

This one took me a while to figure out. Just thought i would add, the indentation on the handle appears to be an old bullet strike. Its concave on both sides and actually a little sharp. It also shows groves that would correspond to the path and energy of a projectile.

 

Thanks again!

 

Kurt.k