Presentation Dedication Sword?

[AndrewAZCK]

https://www.arizonacustomknives.com/recently-added/1017375/

 

My name is Andrew, I work for Arizona Custom Knives.

we have this sword, link above, that we don't know much about.

any help with the translation of this knife would be very much appreciated.

 

[AndrewAZCK]

https://www.arizonacustomknives.com/products/1017375/

this is the same sword, just with a different link, the above link may expire.

[Brian]

Welcome Andrew! I was the one who emailed suggesting getting translations here if needed. I'm a huge fan of the site, being a knife collector and part time dealer.
Guys, please assist AZCK as much as possible. They have the best selection of custom and collectible knives anywhere, and are my go-to for info and price assistance. I didn't want to get into a discussion about pricing...as I think your consignees sometimes have their own ideas. So let's stick to just the facts. Hoping my claims about excellent and fast info here don't make me look like a liar

[AndrewAZCK]

Thank you very much.

And if any of you ever have questions about custom knives (not swords, i am no expert on swords), I am happy to help.

my direct email address is Andrew@arizonacustomknives.com

[Jussi Ekholm]

Here is my guess, unfortunately there are still some blanks. I believe the smith is Masateru from Kai Province: https://www.nihontoclub.com/smiths/MAS973

 

Signature & date - 甲陽住真定□源正照鍜是 / 明治巳二年八月日

 

I am quite uncertain about this, this is rest of the signature on ura side as far as I got it - 鉄甲棒□□之 / 相陽住平井信宜□依造

 

Sorry I don't currently have time to give translation of it and as I did it fast there can be errors.

[AndrewAZCK]

Thank you for the info! i added it to the description of the item on our website.

any other insight is still really appreciated.

Thanks again Jussi Ekholm!

[Kiipu]

Jussi, could it possibly be August 1869, the year of the snake?

明治二年八月日 = A day in August 1869.

巳 = snake.

Sexagenary cycle

[SteveM]

The first side is the maker. The reverse side is a little bit about the sword, and a note saying that the sword was made at the request of a Mr. Nobuyoshi Hirai. It is written in kanbun style (classical Chinese style, but read as Japanese with Japanese syntax, thus always counter-intuitive and confusing)

 

1. 甲陽住真定剱源正照鍛是

2. 明治巳二年八月日鉄甲棒打銚之
3. 相陽住平井信宜好依造

 

1. Kōyō-jū Sanesada-no-tsurugi Minamoto Masateru Kitau kore

2. Meiji Mi-toshi ni nen, hachigatsu jitsu. Tekkō ?? suki de ??
3. Sōyō-jū Hirai Nobuyoshi no kōi de tsukutta

 

1. "Sanesada-no-tsurugi" made by Minamoto Masateru, of Kōyō province (modern day Nagano prefecture). My guess is that the sword was given a name (Sanesada-no-tsurugi, with other possible readings) at the request of the person who ordered the sword. 

 

2. Made on a day in August, 1869, using metal from iron plates and plows. This is the one part I am taking a bit of a leap of faith with, although it seems fairly straightforward. Hoping Moriyama san or Morita-san can correct or confirm. (Or Markus-san!)

 

3. Made at the request of Mr. Nobuyoshi Hirai (other possible readings) of Sōyō (modern day Kanagawa prefecture). 

 

edit: fixed Meiji 2 western date

[SteveM]

On the scabbard: the easy stuff

 

願主　平井信宜
Ganshū Hirai Nobuyoshi

Requested by Hirai Nobuyoshi

 

奉納居神神社御宝前大正七年九月吉日眞定剱正照作長貳尺四寸参分餘
Hōnō Igamijinja Gohōzen Taishō nana nen kugatsu kichijitsu Sanesada-no-tsurugi Masateru saku nagasa 2-shaku 4-sun 3-bu amari

 

Dedicated, before the gods, to Igami Shrine, this September day of 1918, "Sanesada-no-tsurugi" made by Masateru. Length 2-shaku, 4-sun, 3-bun 

 

Igami Shrine is a shrine in the small castle town of Odawara, in Kanagawa prefecture. 

https://igamijinja.com/アクセス/

[Bruce Pennington]

Photos added for posterity

[Brian]

Steve, I think you just earned a discount at AZCK!
I have panic attacks wondering what we would do without guys like yourself and some of the others that are so vital to our existence
Huge thanks.
Now..just for my own interest. What was the practice of donating swords to shrines all about? Could anyone do it, and was it a symbolic gift to bring good fortune on the person donating it?
Maybe we need a separate topic about this subject of shrine offerings and who/why it was done.

Andrew, shrine swords are not as unusual as a novice may think, and although the above sounds fancy, it doesn't add to the value as much as one may like. I didn't want to get into values too much, but your seller is being wildly optimistic possibly. But then again, with guys spending $2000+ on custom folders in that market, maybe a wealthy knife collector want's something out of the ordinary. Best of luck and let us know if you need help anytime.

[Jussi Ekholm]

Awesome translation again Steve