Sword translation

[Samurai_Kevin]

Hey guys! I don’t really know anything about Japanese swords but was referred here for help because I have a couple swords. Can anyone tell me anything about what I’ve got? Will post the next one soon 

[Bugyotsuji]

短刀　氏信岩捲 (TA-030111)｜刀・日本刀の販売なら日本刀専門店の【銀座 誠友堂】

 

－　氏信岩捲 Ujinobu Ganmaku　－　日本刀の通信販売　明倫産業株式会社

 

日本刀販売専門店銀座長州屋｜刀　銘　氏信岩捲(業物)｜刀剣の専門誌『銀座情報』の名刀

 

Check these out, Kevin. (There is a little information in English to get you started.)

[mecox]

Looks like Ganmaku, more from Sesko to check:

 

GANMAKU (岩捲), Eiroku (永禄, 1558-1570), Mino – “Ganmaku” (岩捲), “Nōshū Kiyomizu-jū Ganmaku” (濃州清水住岩捲), he was a late Jumyō smith (寿命) who lived Kiyomizu (清水) in the Ibi district (揖斐) of Mino province, the Ganmaku group included several smiths who all signed with this name, some sources consider the 1st gen. Ujisada as founder of the Ganmaku group, see also entry “UJISADA (氏貞), 1st gen., Daiei (大永, 1521-1528), Mino,” the more commonly accepted theory says that Ujinobu (氏信) was the founder of this group because the Ujinobu smiths often signed with the supplement Ganmaku, see also entry “UJINOBU (氏信), 1st gen., Daiei (大永, 1521-1528), Mino”
GANMAKU (岩捲), Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Mino – “Nōshū Shimizu-jū Ganmaku” (濃州清水住岩捲), some sources list him with the characters (岩騫) for “Ganmaku,” mokume, gunome-midare, chū-suguha, chūjō-saku

[Samurai_Kevin]

1500’s or 1600’s?! Wow!! That’s crazy! Is there any way to tell which “ganmaku” made this sword?? 
 

Also is this sword worth restoring? I’ve read that getting a sword restored is pretty expensive. What would it be worth if I got it restored? 

[mecox]

Kevin, more background (from the Sesko lists):

UJINOBU (氏信), 1st gen., Daiei (大永, 1521-1528), Mino – “Ujinobu Ganmaku” (氏信岩捲), “Nōshū Ganmaku Ujinobu” (濃州岩捲氏信), “Ganmaku” (岩捲), “Kiyomizu-jū Ujinobu” (清水住氏信), “Nōshū-jū Ganmaku” (濃州住岩捲), he lived in Mino´s Kiyomizu (清水), was a later smith of the Jumyō lineage (寿命), and the most representative smith of the Ganmaku group, somewhat standing-out itame mixed with masame, gunome-midare in ko-nie-deki with sunagashi, partially some dark areas appear in the ha, he was active until around Tenbun (天文, 1532-1555)
UJINOBU (氏信), 2nd gen., Genki (元亀, 1570-1573), Mino – “Nōshū Kiyomizu-jū Ganmaku Ujinobu” (濃州清水住岩捲氏信), “Ganmaku Ujinobu” (岩捲氏信), “Ujinobu” (氏信), gunome-midare in ko-nie-deki, some blades show horimono, wazamono, chū-saku
UJINOBU (氏信), 3rd gen., Keichō (慶長, 1596-1615), Mino – “Nōshū Kiyomizu-jū Ganmaku” (濃州清水住岩捲), “Kiyomizu-jū Ganmaku” (清水住岩捲), Ujinobu” (氏信), it is said that he bore the priest rank of a hokkyō (法橋), successive generations Ujinobu moved around Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673) and Tenna (天和, 1681-1684) to Owari province

[Brian]

Check out the FAQ above the forum, there are some good topics about polishing and should you have it done...etc etc.

[Bruce Pennington]

The fittings are type 98 Japanese Army officer sword fittings. It was a common practice to refit older family swords in World War II for the war.
 

[Tohagi]

... so many mekugi ana...

At least 3 of them seems perfectly legit considering the suriage and the gunto remounting.

 

There is a little fukure kizu in the hamon near the habaki. This is a concern for a togishi.

 

It's a nice sword from a middle/good class Smith with no major flaw.

A full polish will cost you around 2000USD, If you intend reseelling, it don't worth...

 

Best,

Eric