Translation Appreciated On Two Tanto

[Tom Darling]

Your valued translation, and opinions are forever appreciated.

[Jean]

The title being a bit crazy (tontos), I have corrected it

[ROKUJURO]

Jean,

please take also the wrong plural 's' away! Thank you!

[Ray Singer]

The first tanto is a Tanba (no) kami Terukado.

[Ray Singer]

The photos are very difficult for me to read on a mobile screen, but the second is a sayagaki from one of the Hon'ami dated Meiji 18.

[Tom Darling]

Ray,

 

Thank you again for your time.

 

Tom D.

[SteveM]

The other side of the tantō says: 

於関丸冶焉

Seki ni oite maruji? 

 

Forged in Seki.

 

The final kanji, 焉, seems to just indicate the end of a sentence, and is not voiced. 

I am not sure about the kanbun reading of 丸冶. If anybody knows, let me know. 

[John A Stuart]

焉 can be kore yes? 丸冶 Ganya whole smelt, meaning one solid steel, maru construction, maybe? John

[SteveM]

焉 > Yes, kore is a possible reading. Nice catch. 

https://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%84%89-447236

 

丸冶 I'm still trying to figure out. A logical guess would be something like John says. These two kanji also show up in other long mei from the same smith, but I can find no clues as to the precise meaning or intent. But yes, I too think it refers to the method of forging.  

 

http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2014/1410_1053syousai.htm

[Peter Bleed]

Could it be be as simple as that smith's name was MARUHARU?

P

[Bugyotsuji]

Further ideas for the pot. 

Maruji 丸治, (*There is a Maruji Hotel in Utsunomiya), plus 焉 Izuku can also mean Tokoro (place)　At Seki Maruji's place/forge?

https://furigana.info/w/%E7%84%89

https://furigana.info/r/%E3%81%84%E3%81%A5%E3%81%8F

 

*Maruji Hotel http://www.maruji.jp/

[John A Stuart]

My brain is aching! John

[Bugyotsuji]

My brain is aching! John

Makings of a good curry. Hope it keeps you warm up there...! 

[SteveM]

I'm sure its 冶 and not 治, and I'm sure it means forged, but I don't know how 丸 modifies the forging. (The Maruji Hotel in Utsunomiya is just a random near-miss). 

 

焉… I think John was right. We've already got a location pointer with 於, so we don't need another one. But...I really don't know. 

[Bugyotsuji]

To be compared with:  丹波守照門 於関以剛鉄粹丸治焉

 

(ended) at: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/v610192311

[SteveM]

You can't compare with ebay, you have to compare with the real deal. Check this out here (linking again). Complete with the NBTHK papers.

http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2014/1410_1053syousai.htm

The problem is esword doesn't provide a sufficient translation. Well, the real problem is that my knowledge isn't sufficient to figure this out. 

Anyway, I'm sure esword and the NBTHK are correct, and I'm sure ebay doesn't know what they are talking about. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, I saw that one and rejected it for the same reason!