Tsunagi-gaki help..?

[Barrie B]

Hi all,

 

I recently purchased a koshirae and the Tsunagi has some kanji written on it.

While I can guess that it says 'smith, date and length' on the tsunagi, I can't quite make out some of the hand written kanji.

 

What I have so far is:

Omote: ? ? Kuni ? ? (? ? katana Mei) A day in the 8th month of the 3rd year of ?? Genki? Can't make this last part of the date..

Ura: Katana length, 2 Sun, 2 Shaku, 3 bu kore (made) tenth day..??

 

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance..

Barrie.

[Guido]

What I read is

 

肥後國忠吉(重要刀剣)元和三年 [obscured, maybe 六月日???]

刃長二尺二寸三分之有

[Barrie B]

Guido,

Thank you..

So... Higo Kuni Tadayoshi (important sword) I am guessing this is the authors opinion and a date of A day in the 8th month of the 3rd year of Genna (a day in August 1617).

What puzzles me is the bit at the end of the length.. What does 之有 mean please..

Thank you..

Barrie.

[mywei]

Looks more like Hizen Tadayoshi. 元和三年八月日 imho

 

Pity you didn't get the blade as well Barrie!!

[Guido]

Guido,

Thank you..

So... Higo Kuni Tadayoshi (important sword) I am guessing this is the authors opinion and a date of A day in the 8th month of the 3rd year of Genna (a day in August 1617).

What puzzles me is the bit at the end of the length.. What does 之有 mean please..

Thank you..

Barrie.

Oops, typo, I meant to write 肥前 not 肥後.

重要刀剣 = jūyō tōken

"之有" means "this is" or "there is".

And after looking at it again, it's probably indeed 八 as Matt stated, and not an obscured 六.

[Barrie B]

Hi,

I don't see Hizen at all.. I can sort of see Hi, but not zen..? Its soo hard to read hand written kangi, so thank you to both of you for your assistance.

 

As for the blade, well, it was not offered to me and I could not afford it anyway..hahaaa…

 

Barrie.