Inherited Sword Question

[Truc]

My father left me this sword he acquired during WWII and I would very much appreciate it if someone could tell me about it. 

[paulb]

It is a sword dating from WWII made by a very well known smith Nagamitsu. If you do  search here foir either Hagamitsu or Emura you will find a lot of information about him

[Brian]

Bizen Nagamitsu?

Odd. Doesn't conform to any of the regular mei for the famous WW2 guy.
http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/naga.htm

Wonder if it might be by someone else, or a student? He did have a sort of factory going, but haven't seen this mei on his swords before.

[paulb]

Hi Brian

I agree and I'm about 600 years out of my comfort zone, but the Nagamitsu characters look at least similar to the man himself. I would be interested in hearing from the Gendaito specialists

[Stephen]

I think its one of his from the cut of the mei, and what little can be seen of hamon.

[Truc]

Thanks for the quick replies. I checked out the link you posted Brian and I see the difference in the naga character from the picture. What do the other characters above mean? Also, would it help if I took a better picture of the blade to show the hamon?

[Stephen]

• N. Bizen (no) ju Ichiryushi Nagamitsu saku

just leave out the underlined 

 

Yes show more of the hamon please

Edited December 3, 2016 by Stephen

[Truc]

Thanks Stephen.

I hope these pictures help

[Truc]

I did a Google search for, "N. Bizen (no) ju Ichiryushi Nagamitsu saku"  and it took me to the website Brian posted a link to, http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/naga.htm.

I'm curious why I only see two characters on my sword that match the ones pictured in "N" and they're the lower two on the sword unless the second one down on both the sword and "N" are the same just made slightly different like the "naga" is?  Also, why are there eight characters in "N" and only four on the sword? 

[Stephen]

Why does the sun come up in the East?

[SwordGuyJoe]

It's ichihara nagamitsu. Mei is good and the work lines up. I've seen a couple of these "Bizen Nagamitsu" swords. While the oshigata on Dr. Stein's site are plentiful, it is not all every mei he ever used. Just the main ones.

[Truc]

Did I offend you Stephen? It wasn't my intention. I know nothing about the Japanese language or signatures. I really appreciate all the input I've received here.

[Stephen]

No Truc its just im a smart ass, old fart who most of the time  gives nubs a wide path. I thought you were given the answer but That funnyguyjoe made it less cryptic. Please forgive, back to bah humbug,  that time of year for me.

[Brian]

Bizen is the province. So in this one, he is saying the equivalent of "California, Smith"
On some swords, he (or his students) might have signed "John Smith of California"
Then on others, he signed "made by John Smith, California" and on others...even longer inscriptions. On yours, it is just signed minimally. Saku means "made (by)" which is present on some of them as the last character.
Studying the various signatures, it is just various long versions of how he signed. What will always be consistently there is "Nagamitsu"

[Truc]

Thanks for the explanations guys.

My father got this from a pile of weapons surrendered in a village in Northern Honshu. He was told it had belonged to a Warrant officer.

I'm guessing this is just a run of the mill sword. Any idea of it's worth?

[Brian]

Not run of the mill. It would be considered mid level..possibly/probably traditionally made, and worthy of preservation. Maybe around $1200 to $1600

[SteveM]

Hello Truc,

 

Compare your sword with this Nagamitsu here, in fine condition and in a fine state of polish, with non-military mounts, going for a bit over US$3000 here in Japan.

http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords3/KT327378.htm

[Stephen]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICHIHARA-NAGAMITSU-KATANA-IN-SHINGUNTO-KOSHIRAE/262746042457?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D38530%26meid%3D6a8a46beeb0e41d790079b53d3facdba%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D222332759393

[kissakai]

Hi

I have one of these for sale on this message board

If you have a look it will give you some more on this smith info and you can check the mei etc

If I remember correctly I have some how manage to 'mirror' the mei

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/20811-not-a-massive-sword-sale/

[Stephen]

Grev,,,,Nagamitsu?

[kissakai]

Oops

Must wait until I have my first coffee before I answer

Sorry for the misdirection

[Truc]

Many thanks guys!

I wish this forum was around when my dad was.