Need help with? Attribution?

[Jim Manley]

I've got an o-suriage blade signed "Higo no Kami Hata Mitsuyo" . There is part of a 3'rd hole at the end of the tang and a bit of the Yo character is missing. I'm guessing that the signature may have been added and the other side references the shortening of the blade?  Any help would be appreciated.

Jim M. 

[Toryu2020]

肥後守秦光代　以古鋼鉄作之　享保三年八月日　信高摩上之

Higo (no) kami Hata Mitsuyo    Ko-kotetsu (wo) motte saku kore   Kyoho san nen hachi gatsu hi   Nobutaka Suriage kore

The signature you got. The next bit I am just guessing at - "using old iron, made this" - I expect that better readers than me will correct this. The date records when the blade was cut up by Nobutaka. This is most likely Owari Nobutaka there are two candidates. If this is the shodai Mitsuyo it's pretty special - even if the nidai and the blade is in good shape it's something special. Now off to look for comparison signatures...

-t

 

[Shugyosha]

I think you have that right Thomas.

[Nobody]

A little correction.

 

以古銷鉄作之 - ko-shotetsu ( old melted iron ---> well forged steel?) wo motte kore wo tsukuru

享和二年八月日 - Kyowa 2 (1802) nen 8 gatsu hi

信高磨上之 - Nobutaka kore wo suriageru

 

 

 

[Jim Manley]

Thank you. I was / totally unfamiliar with those kanji and struggle with the routine. I was thinking it might have referenced the shortening of the blade. 

[Toryu2020]

Thank you Moriyama san - 

http://nihonto.us/HATA MITSUYO KATANA.htm

http://sanmei.com/contents/en-us/p2084_刀　銘　肥後守秦光代.html

This sword has been here before -

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/28200-interesting-nakago-on-mitsuyo-katana/

 

I see enough differences in the signature that I would look for a Nidai example to compare with...

-t

[Nobody]

5 hours ago, Toryu2020 said:

...................

This sword has been here before -

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/28200-interesting-nakago-on-mitsuyo-katana/

 

I see enough differences in the signature that I would look for a Nidai example to compare with...

-t

 

Thanks for the link.

After seeing the clear picture on the linked page,  I now think that "以古鍋鉄作之 - Made from old iron pot steel" is correct as SteveM said.

[Jim Manley]

Thank you so much. I wasn't aware that Ron had made a posting about this blade and whatever records I had about it were misplaced. I truely aprciate the responses and hope I can bring my knowledge up to the point where I can offer comments as authoritatively as this group. Some day....

jim