Attempting to identify an old blade.

[Matt House]

So I'm hoping to get some help identifying/translating the markings on an old blade. It was a gift from an old friend, and I've just now gotten a fire under me to do something about it.

 

It's been pretty badly maimed, and I think it's a WWII 'bring back' that someone took an angle grinder to the edge of, blunting it.

 

More pictures available on request.

 

 

[Matt House]

Sigh, because of course it would come out sideways, even after several attempts to make it come out vertical. My apologies.

[Guido]

Hard to read, but could be Bishū Osafune Ietsugu 備州長船家次.

[Matt House]

Thank you, but I have no idea what that means. I'm about as ignorant on the topic of Japanese swords as one can be, and still know what one is. Could you enlighten me?

[Ray Singer]

Matt, if the signature is authentic this link will give you the likely working period when your sword would have been made (Muromachi period, perhaps Eisho circa 1504-1521). If you search online for Bizen Ietsugu you will find other helpful information.

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=46IYtI0nkiEC&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=Bizen+Ietsugu&source=bl&ots=BRGfXc_RRq&sig=ACfU3U1F5wYMZxW-itCqXrxhTXdw6D7cQg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiywMPUquvhAhWStlkKHRsWDcQQ6AEwC3oECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=Bizen%20Ietsugu&f=false

[Geraint]

Dear Matt.

 

Bishu is one way of writing Bizen which is the province, Oasfune is the town and Ietsugu is the smith.  Something like Texas, San Antonio,Matt.

 

Can we see pictures of the blade and mounts?

 

All the best.

[Matt House]

Sorry for the delay. Here are the pictures you asked for, feel free to ask  for more or different photos. Just tell me what you need.

 

 

 

[Matt House]

Uh.. Geraint? I sent those images you asked for.

[lambo35]

The pictures of the blade will not enlarge.  

 

Chuck

[Geraint]

Hi Matthew.

 

I'm afraid I can't open the blade images either, nice shot of the habaki though, (blade collar).  It's what is called a niju habaki or two piece, a classy option as the majority are single piece.

If you measure the blade from tip to the notch on the back edge where the habaki sits what length do you get?

 

Ray has pointed you in the right direction so your sword may well be from 1504 to 1521.  Fascinating or what?  If the bug has bitten and you want to go further with this then you need to get someone to see it in hand.  The best treatment will be a proper polish and a shirasaya, (plain wooden mounts).  This is not cheap but you will be restoring something of some history.  As the sword was a gift then it is probably worth it financially.

 

Please do ask here for recommendations for proper polishers, a lot of people think they can do it and ruin swords.  

 

If you can fix the pictures maybe we can see a bit more to help you.

 

All the best.

[Matt House]

thanks. I'll see if I can fix the images, I'm not sure why they don't work.