Vet Acquired Shin Shinto period blade

[Spencer Victory]

Hey Guys. Im new to this forum, and was told it was a great place for Japanese swords. Im a member of Germandaggers.com and have posted this sword there. I need help with a translation. I was able to get one side of the tang translated, but the other no one i know can translate. discreption below. Let me know if my research is wrong. thanks. This sword makes me want to get into Japanese swords.

 

Just indirectly picked up this beatiful Japanese sword. I have done some research, and wanted to see what you guys think. This is a Shin Shinto period sword. The Smith who made this sword belonged to the school of Yokoyama Skemitsu in the Bizen province, and worked in Mito, Hitachi province. Its a Yokoyama Bizen Blade. Dated 1865. The sword is about 28 inches long (massive). Its in Perfect condition, and is real stunning. My sister Boyfriend is a sword collector so he was a huge help in getting the info. The long writeing on the left side of the tang could not be translated. Mabye some one here could help. This sword was pulled of a dead Japanese officer. I never thought i would find something like this. Its an amazing looking sword.

[Aloof Pegasus]

Congratulations on yr coup. :D Can you please post more pix of the blade.

Philip

[Spencer Victory]

hamon

 

[Spencer Victory]

hamon 2

 

[Spencer Victory]

tang side i can't translate

[Spencer Victory]

up close

[Spencer Victory]

bottom

[Spencer Victory]

b p

 

[Spencer Victory]

cool fittings

[slavia631]

Wow! That is a beauty and a very lucky find! Congratulations.

 

andrew

[Nobody]

Hi Spencer,

 

See the thread below. We have already discussed the mei.

http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... t=sukeharu

[Spencer Victory]

Hey Nobody

 

Thank you very much for passing me that way. My sisters boyfriend knows the guy who he sent the photo to. I had know idea he posted it here. Veryintresting. IF by any chance i could have some help understanding what the tang means that would really help out. Thanks.

 

Spencer

[Nobody]

The mei reads as follows, though I cannot read the first kanji clearly.

 

(something)陽 水府ä½æ­¦å¼“喜代太郎ç¥æ˜¥ä½œä¹‹ (?yo Suifu ju Takyu Kiyotaro Sukeharu saku kore)

 

And the meanings are;

水府 (Suifu) = Mito (水戸) in Ibaraki-ken

ä½ (ju) = living

武弓 喜代太郎 (Takyu Kiyotaro) – maybe, the smith’s real name

ç¥æ˜¥ (Sukeharu) – smith’s name

作 = made

之 = this

[Spencer Victory]

Nobody

 

Thank you very much for your help. Im really getting exicted about Japanese swords more and more. What does the other side of the tang say. thanks for all your help.

 

Spencer victory

[Nobody]

As for the inscription on the other side;

I do not know if these kanji on the nakago make one word or only each concept is independently expressed by each kanji.

å› (kun) = lord

誠 (sei) = sincerity

é­‚ (kon) = spirit

義 (gi) = justice

å¿  (chu) = loyalty

 

元治二年二月日 (Genji ni nen ni gatsu hi) = the 2nd month of Genji (1865)

[Brian]

I rotated most of the pics to read the right way up. Nice looking sword!

 

Brian

[Marius]

Hi Spencer,

 

See the thread below. We have already discussed the mei.

http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... t=sukeharu

 

Koichi-san,

we have apparently discussed the SAME BLADE in the thread you have posted.

[Spencer Victory]

Hey Guys

 

Thanks you for all your help. Im very impressed with knowledge at this forum. Can any one tell by the Hamon how man times the blade was folded. thanks

 

Spencer Victory

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

As for the inscription on the other side;

I do not know if these kanji on the nakago make one word or only each concept is independently expressed by each kanji.

å› (kun) = lord

誠 (sei) = sincerity

é­‚ (kon) = spirit

義 (gi) = justice

å¿  (chu) = loyalty

 

元治二年二月日 (Genji ni nen ni gatsu hi) = the 2nd month of Genji (1865)

 

 

Hi Moriyama-San.

Can't they be read as the 5 virtues a soldier was supposed to have ( Courtesy Truthfulness

Courage Frugality Loyalty ) ?

[zuiho]

Hello,

I have been reading this thread with some interest as it reminds me of how I felt after acquiring a nice sword early on.

As to your question regarding the number of folds in your swords construction ;

This can only be discussed in a general way. The Hamon gives no clue as it is an effect caused by heating and quenching.

The number of folds is determined by an individual smith's technique. The hada in the shinogi-ji (the pattern of steel

between the temper line and ridge line ) can give a clue. An O-hada where lines of pattern are spaced far apart and are

quite obvious is the pattern that may use the least folds of the steel. In shinshinto times the smiths tended to work

the steel with more folds than in shinto or koto times. this resulted in a very tight pattern or even no discernible

pattern(muji-hada) . A good reference to learn more would be the book, The Craft of the Japanese Sword by Yoshihara

and Kapp.

 

William G.

[Nobody]

Hi Moriyama-San.

Can't they be read as the 5 virtues a soldier was supposed to have ( Courtesy Truthfulness

Courage Frugality Loyalty ) ?

Carlo,

The characters seem to expless 4 virtues by 誠, é­‚, 義, å¿  which are arranged around å› (lord). There may be more proper terms in English for each virtue.

[Spencer Victory]

Hey William

 

THanks for the advice. I will look into that book and see what info i can dig up. Also. Thanks for all the help on the Tang. It adds alot of flavor to this sword.