Eziodjinn

cabowen, Veli, and IanB thank you for your help! IanB, the way you explained it makes much more sense than what my friend was trying to tell me. I will get my papers back out and give it another try when I get back home.

Hey my friend has this Katana he's thinking about selling but wants to know some more information before he lets it go. I tried to translate it, but what I get from the translation doesnt look like a name or anything familiar at all.. I try doing google searchs on my translations and nothing comes up at all so I know it's not correct. So I'm doing it wrong. Can anyone tell me how I could properly learn how to read tangs? Another friend I'm trying to learn from gave me a sheet with the characters on it, I can translate parts but never the whole thing and most of the time knowing nothing more than when I started is the result of hours of comparing the kanji. :| This one is signed on both sides.. I don't yet know how much my friend is going to ask, I know he didnt pay much for it. I'm thinking of buying it but the translation part is whats really bugging me. I'm trying to learn how to read the tangs.. I know thats not what it's all about, the beauty and quality of the blade should be seen first, and judged on that before the handle even comes off. But when the handle comes off I'm really lost. Even with sheets telling me what signature characters mean. :?

So I don't know if the signature is cut in half.. but there are characters left.. Can someone help? Bisyu Osafune ?

Alright I know this is a Nihonto forum, but I was wondering if you guys could help me with a translation. This is the first Samurai Bow I've found in my travels so far and I need a little help! The bow is in great condition overall, soon I'll post some pics of the bow over all. I couldnt do it tonight because of the bad lighting Any help would be appreciated!