Translation & kantei

[edOne]

Hello,

 

I have discovered in a friend house of my father a beautiful sword, he asked me to give him some informations but I am not a sword's specialist (I am a french specialist of tosogu and tsuba).

 

I have tried to translate the mei but I don't understand it.

 

So, I hope that you could help me

 

For information : this sword was offered to my friend family by a rich Japanese family (I do not have more informations), but the mon seems to be the goshichi no kiri > represented on the saya and the kodogu wich are very very good.

 

The sword is long (more than 60 cm, but I think it is a katana), some scratches but well preserved.

 

I thank you in advance for your help !

 

Luc

 

Images : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/221/img0186pi.jpg

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/198i.jpg

 

 

I am uploading all the pictures and I will give you a link.

[edOne]

You can download the pictures here : http://www.senseego.com/sword.zip

 

[takakage]

Hi,

 

Writen BIZEN NO JU NAGAYOSHI This blade looks like nanbokucho but in fact it is a shin shinto , may be as a gimei of the famous nagayoshi, the nakago rust is too red for an old blade and the mei don't match of course.

 

(the suguta, the hamon and nakago jiri looks like munetsugu or some munetsugu pupils.....)

[cabowen]

More commonly called Chogi....

[Toryu2020]

Luc -

Can you post the pictures to imageshack? some of us may have a problem with downloading unknown files from unknown sources, others may just have problems downloading files period.

 

looking forward to those photos...

-t

[b.hennick]

To echo Tom: I would never open a zip file from someone I do not know. Even with those I know if the file is not expected I check before opening.

[edOne]

Ok I will upload the pictures on imageshack (but the zip is ok only photos and I am on Mac).

@Takakage : thank you for your first comment. You confirm my impression : the sword is 19th and .. Bizen

[edOne]

You will find the pictures on Imageshack :

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/197ro.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/198pi.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/199kp.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/607/199kp.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/200ss.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/201hvf.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/203wr.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/202yu.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/205nzv.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/img0185l.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/img0186fw.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/img0207vj.jpg/

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/img0206qd.jpg/

[george trotter]

Hi Luc,

It is my feeling that the sword and fittings are Showa period. I have seen a number of similar modern swords/mountings with famous names from the past...some koto names, but most shinto names...eg Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke etc. I have no real proof of course but I think they were made as presents or presentation pieces...the Kunisuke was presented to the Town of Albany here in Western Australia. It is possible they are late Meiji or Taisho period, but from memory they had what appear to be showato blades (from memory). Just my experience here.

Regards,

[edOne]

The blade (even with some scratches) and the fittings are well preserved. My first impression was : 19th, but the work is really good (the carvings and the decoration of the saya are beautiful).

 

I thought that the "copies" made during the Showa period had a "too fresh" aspect with the carvings not so perfect.

[edOne]

I found this link on ncjsc about Nagayoshi http://www.ncjsc.org/article_chogi.htm

[edOne]

So, my friend said to me that the sword was offered to his family before 1920 (maybe 1900-1910), and he said to me that the source was probably the Imperial family... but it seems to be surprising because the work is 19th.

 

Do you know if some "ancient sword's copies" of the 19th could have a certain value ?

[Toryu2020]

Luc -

Don't get the wrong idea just because the signature is a clear gimei. Think of it more as an homage. Someone wanted to give the gift of a famous sword so they had one made. From what little we can see it looks like a well made sword. If it really is from the Koyama group it will certainly have value. Not to mention the koshirae which looks to be one of the better examples of these revivalist court tachi.

 

Your friend has a sword worth preserving, I would get more photos, especially close shots of the boshi, monouchi and nakago, with a little research you may be able to help him find out much more,

-t

[edOne]

Thank you Toryu for your answer. If I can do more pictures, I will upload it here

 

Regards,