Mei on sword stick

[Lindus]

I have had this for some time and apart from the smiths name which I think is "Eishi Kanenaga", the second inscription which is possibly either " Mr W.C.Coutts or Coates" but in reality I am stumped........

 

The blade is 54cm,curvature7mm, Kissaki 2cm and the Hi21.5cm

 

It is one of a pair, the second owned by a friend, any help with confirming or denying the inscriptions would be most gratefully accepted.

 

Regards

Roy

[Nobody]

Frankly, it does not look a mei but only a doodle to my eyes.

The characters may be Kiku-ichi Kanenaga saku (菊一包永作). The inscription on the other side may be Mr. W. J (or Z?). Coutts/Coates/Cotes.

I suspect that they were not inscribed by native Japanese.

[Lindus]

Thank you for that.

I tried to photograph as is but had to chalk it in,this of course hides the chisel cuts. Although the detail is now lost in time the two sticks were alledged to have been presented two the man and wife when leaving either a Japanese university or teaching hospital in the Meiji period.

 

Your thoughts on the mei being cut by other than a Japanese , how likely as the blade although in only fair polish has what appears to be a choji/gunome hamon. some nie can be seen while the walking sticks are made with the European curled handle and covered in wood bark.

 

Thanks for the thoughts on the smith I will check him out.

 

Regards

Roy

[Lindus]

This is a reply from Sumie Kashima.

 

 

Dear Mr. Roy Lindus.

 

 

 

I am sorry for the delay of my answer.

 

I have leaved my computer for some days.

 

 

 

The inscription can read,

 

“Mr. Doubleu Zay Coats” (I don’t know exact spering.)

 

“made by Kikuichi Kanenaga”

 

The meaning is,

 

Kikuichi Kanenaga made the blade for Mr. D. Z. C.

 

 

 

But inscribing such thing in the blade is a little strange in Japanese tradition.

 

 

 

 

 

Sincerely yours.

 

Sumie Kashima, operator of Usagiya. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/

[Brian]

So basically exactly what our own Moriyama san said

"Doubleu Zay" is W.Z. and they are being diplomatic about the "inscribing such thing in the blade is a little strange in Japanese tradition." meaning someone not a native Japanese inscribed that.

Trust me...when it comes to translations, you are not likely to find a better source than this forum (that isn't a Shinsa maybe)

 

Brian

[Lindus]

So basically exactly what our own Moriyama san said

"Doubleu Zay" is W.Z. and they are being diplomatic about the "inscribing such thing in the blade is a little strange in Japanese tradition." meaning someone not a native Japanese inscribed that.

Trust me...when it comes to translations, you are not likely to find a better source than this forum (that isn't a Shinsa maybe)

 

Brian

 

Or perhaps it is unusual that the inscription is on the bladewhich of course it had to be as the nakago is sealed in. In your 96 archive, a tanto with a similar mei appears...........who knows, positive factor is that perhaps the owners of the blade was a Naval or Army Lt in Japan around 1920.

 

Thanks for putting me right

Roy

[cabowen]

I have seen several blades by this smith and they have all had rather awkwardly cut mei, sometimes, as in this example, on the blade proper. I believe this smith was a student of Minamoto Kanenori but other than that info is scarce....

[Lindus]

Thanks Gentlemen for your input it was a great help, having spent a nearly fruitless day searching the web I found three tanto with similar mei and one with a "Made for" to a native Japanese buyer or as a presentation, but no history other than it is possible that the family are now knife makers for the restraunt trade.

 

As to its history.

If COATS,possibly an American officer in Japan around 1920 {from a US newspaper article dated 1919}

COUTTS, The British bank, were in Japan around 1900 {History of Couts bank}

COTES, possible Dr W.C.Cotes,UK medic c1890/1910.

 

Whatever it is a nice curio and I think we have come to the end of this Thread

 

Many thanks to all

 

Regards

 

Roy

[Lindus]

I have had this for some time and apart from the smiths name which I think is "Eishi Kanenaga", the second inscription which is possibly either " Mr W.C.Coutts or Coates" but in reality I am stumped........

 

The blade is 54cm,curvature7mm, Kissaki 2cm and the Hi21.5cm

 

It is one of a pair, the second owned by a friend, any help with confirming or denying the inscriptions would be most gratefully accepted.

 

Regards

Roy

 

 

The second of the pair of sticks,thought to have been made for the wife of previous. It would be interesting if the mei other than Kanenaga could be translated,it would be most appreciated

 

Thanks

 

Roy

[Nobody]

I am only 70 % sure, but the inscription might be "Major E. F.".

It does not look like a writing by native Japanese either.

[Lindus]

Once again many thanks

 

Roy

[cabowen]

It is always helpful to at least post the images right side up to make it easier for those with an inclination to help to reply....

[Lindus]

Legs properly smacked....just took my mates emailed pic's without checking....

 

Roy

[Lindus]

Fianal to this is that for me it has been enjoyable and am now pretty much certain that this was inscribed for the following.

 

Thanks to all for your help

Roy

 

 

Major Edward Feetham COATES, M.P., J.P., D.L.

Tayles Hill, Ewell, Surrey, and Helperby Hall, York

 

 

 

Eldest son of the late James Coates, J.P., D.L., of Helperby Hall, Yorks, and Elizabeth, only daughter of William Sayer, Yarm, York; born at Clapham, February 28th, 1853; educated at Marlborough College. Alderman and Chairman, Surrey County Council; Member of Parliament for Lewisham since 1603; contested Elland Division, Yorks, 1900; Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey; Justice of the Peace for the North Riding of Yorkshire; one of his Majesty's Lieutenants for the city of London, 1900; on roll for High Sheriff, Surrey, 1906; late 3rd Batt. (Duke of Wellington's) West Riding Regiment; patron of the living of Burton Agnes, Yorkshire; was in Marlborough College Rifle Team at Wimbledon, second for Spencer Cup in 1868; a collector of old prints and pictures. Recreations: yachting, shooting, hunting and coaching; Rear-Commodore, Royal Southern Yacht Club; for five years drove the Hertford coach. "The Old Telegraph". Married, in 1878, Edith, eldest daughter of Captain Phillip Woolley, of Gravenhurst, Sussex, and has issue one son, Captain Edward Clive, 15th Hussars, A.D.C., to the Earl of Aberdeen, Viceroy of Ireland, married, 1906, Lady Celia Crewe-Milnes, second daughter of the Earl of Crewe, Lord President of the Council; and one daughter, Dorothy Anne. Clubs: Royal Yacht Squadron, Carlton, Junior United Service, Wellington, and Yorkshire.