Grey Doffin Posted July 13, 2015 Report Posted July 13, 2015 Hi guys, A katana, which will be for sale, just came in and I'm having trouble with the mei or cutting test or whatever it is. Written in 2 sections with a gap between, and the blade is suriage so I can't guarantee there wasn't more to read below at sometime. Greatly appreciative of any help you can provide. Thanks, Grey Quote
Shugyosha Posted July 13, 2015 Report Posted July 13, 2015 Hi Grey, I think it reads Futatsu do dotan iri: cut through two bodies into the earth mound (sorry I'm struggling to find the relevant kanji for this). A certain Mr Guido Schiller has a list of popular sword testers on the JSSUS website which lists a Murai Fujiemon 村井藤右衛門 (慶安 Keian). This might be your guy though the kanji in the mei get a bit unclear after the "Murai". Hope that helps, but usually someone comes along to correct my errors... Kind regards, John Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted July 13, 2015 Report Posted July 13, 2015 I've hit refresh a couple times on this in interest, as Grey doesn't get stumped often... Quote
Grey Doffin Posted July 13, 2015 Author Report Posted July 13, 2015 Thanks John. I was getting parts of that but not enough to be sure. Hope someone can fill in the blanks. And thanks for the compliment Joe, but I'm often stumped. Grey Quote
Peter Bleed Posted July 13, 2015 Report Posted July 13, 2015 Hey, stumped is fine, and in the real world "hipshots" are okay. A two body cut by a tester name Murai. People give me these all the time. Peter Quote
Jiro49 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Posted July 14, 2015 Murai saburozaemon is the test cutter i believe. 1 Quote
Bazza Posted July 14, 2015 Report Posted July 14, 2015 Grey and All, This is a kiriha katana, desu ne??? What is the other side, shinogi tsukuri or kata tsukuri?? And is there a mei there?? I recall reading that some samurai preferred kiriha blades because it was believed they cut better - or some such. What is the length?? Appears to be a VERY interesting blade. Bestests, BaZZa. Quote
Grey Doffin Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Posted July 14, 2015 The blade is shinogi zukuri, mumei, suriage or o-suriage (3 mekugi-ana), 26 3/4" nagasa. My best guess at the moment is Hizen-to. I'm unable to find anything about Murai Saburoemon. Do any of you have any information? Might this be an alternate name for someone in the Murai family of testers? Thanks, Grey Quote
Shugyosha Posted July 14, 2015 Report Posted July 14, 2015 Hi Grey, The only thing I can offer is a reference in Markus Sesko's book on Tameshigiri (pp. 278 and 296) to a Murai To'emon Nagaaki working in Keian (1658-1652). Best, John Quote
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