Two Newly Sourced Gunto - Nagamitsu?

[dnmmilo]

G'day Guys, I've just got my hands on two new Gunto. I'll post them one at a time. The first is I think a Nagamitsu from the comparison I can make with the signature Mei on Richard Stein's site although I cannot read the the signature on the other side of the Nakago. I've attached pictures of that sword first and would be hugely grateful if you could confirm my interpretation of the signature and help me with the inscription on the other side. I'll get some pictures of the the second sword now. Cheers David

[John A Stuart]

Nagamitsu, Showa juhachi nen. 1943. John

[george trotter]

Yes the mei is Nagamitsu. Look him up on the Jinsoo Kim's Seki Kaji list in the link above and you might like to look through "Arsenal Stamps" in the Military Sword link below for the meaning of the small stamp above the mei.

Regards,

[runagmc]

Small "Na" stamp for a sword from Nagoya arsenal...

[dnmmilo]

Thanks Guys, I really appreciate that. The inscription on the second sword is difficult. I have used the Kanji Pages and I think it says Yoshichika. It also has a stamp which is called a Sho stamp. Pictures attached.

[loiner1965]

That's a seki not a Showa stamp

[dnmmilo]

Thanks Mate, Was my translation of the inscription correct?

[John A Stuart]

Try 義光 Yoshimitsu. John

[Stephen]

Not your stanard Nagamitsu mei

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/naga.htm

[dnmmilo]

Cheers John,

 

At least I got the first part right which is progress at least. Can you tell me what it says after Yoshimitsu?

[John A Stuart]

作 saku. The first two kanji are 薮下 Yabushita since his name was Yabushita Fujio. John

[dnmmilo]

Thanks again John, I'm sorry if I sound a bit dense but if the first two kanji are 薮下 Yabushita (who is known as Yoshimitsu, real name Yabushita Fujio) and the last kanji is 作 saku which means made, I believe, can you tell me what the 3rd and 4th Kanji are?

[John A Stuart]

You have the total of it. Yabushita Yoshimitsu saku. Swordsmiths will sometimes place part of their civilian name along with their art name to differentiate between smiths using the same art name. Very common with WW II era smiths. John

[Stephen]

I fixed the link for Nagamitsu it must not have copied and i did not check, once more...im very sorry that must have looked very crass...the point i was making i dont think its The Nagamitsu.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/naga.htm

[cabowen]

not ichihara nagamitsu....

[zentsuji2]

Is this endo nagamitsu,it is not like my nagamitsu, and would be rare if dated,unless I am mistaken.

Regards ian bellis