Help With Early 1883 Naval Dirk

[drb 1643]

Hi all, I picked this dirk up years ago and figured the great people of this forum might be able to help me. It has an unusual shaped blade and an upside down tang signature. I believe it translates Yahori. Has anyone else seen an upside down signature and if so what does this mean?

[Stephen]

have you noticed the same marks on tsuba?  i think assembly marks not a mei.

[ggil]

Wow thanks for sharing! Surely the old crow shape (sorry been away and terminology isn't coming to me) is very rare on a navy dirk blade. I happened to have an old imperial police blade with the same shape and I treasure it. Sorry I'm no help. Damn the koshirae is immaculate!

 

Edit: kogarasumaru is what the shape is called, in case anyone wanted to know????

[Stephen]

Agree its a nice one, if i was to own one this would be right up there, was hoping someone would come along and get a read if numbers or kanji. 

[drb 1643]

Stephen, thank you very much for your insight. Yes, it makes complete sense that it is assembly marks and not a mei.

Tom

[Geraint]

Hi Grant,

 

Not so much kogarasumaru more kanmuri otoshi I think.  Very pretty whatever you call it.

 

All the best.

[ggil]

Thanks Geraint! I agree, so sorry for the misinfo once again, everyone. To DRb 1643, the rules require people here to add their name (first and last initial, I think) so we can address each other civilly, thanks. There are people lurking here that will not only love to see such a fine example as yours, but are kanji experts and will know EXACTLY what the kanji mean. Patience will pay off here just keep bumping or send a pm to one of our Kanji experts.

 

All the best to you as well, Geraint. I've missed y'all good people as I've been away from NMB lately.