Splidge

Hi Jacques I thought that’s what you meant but wasn’t sure, oh well back to the drawing board, I’m ok with an unknown smith, but gimei, it would seem rather a waste of time and energy to put a signature of someone never heard of on a sword. Many thanks for your input though. Regards Frank

Hi John Thanks for the clarification,

Hi So if I’m reading this right :? then it’s not Sakushu Kanesaki dated 1596 as in Grey’s index?, so is this an unlisted smith? or one that is just being elusive? regards Frank

Thanks for the info John, I also see no reason for this to be gimei, :D but unfortnately I'm not the expert regards Frank

Thanks to every one who's replied so far, John was it abit out of the ordinary for the same smith to use different mei on swords? or did this then depend on where he lived at the time as to how he signed each blade? Any way thanks for your answer, regards Frank

Thanks peter, I was going to say I looked at the kanji for mitsu on the kanji pages but it shows this 光 Mitsu, looks different? regards Frank

Hi all, I would appreciate some help with this mei, as far as I can make out the interpretation is as follows “SAKUSHU TSUYAMA KANESAKI”? I have tried my humble library and surfed the internet but cannot find any “KANESAKI” signing in this fashion. I should mention that I have only recently bought this wakizashi and through my search on the internet I have found that the previous owner tried for similar info on another web site. Is the translation correct? If so does anyone have an idea from which period it is from. Any and all help is as always much appreciated. Frank.

Brian This sword is set up with other Japanese swords, this led me to believe it is Japanese in origin; the cabinet was in a large stately home here in the UK. I have attached another shot to show it in its full context. Sorry for the reflection in the glass, it spoils the the shot regards Frank

Brian, thanks very much for you clarification, it just goes to show I have a bit more reading to do at least I now understand what ko and Ô- mean, thanks again for taking the time to explain. Best regards Frank ps any idea what type of sword is in the photo?

Brian not sure if this is the correct place to post please feel free to move if not. Hello all. Just a query to something I have been pondering! If the list below is generally acknowledged as the basic style or type of what is termed “Samurai Sword “ • Nodachi, ÅŒdachi, Jin tachi: 90cm and over. • Tachi: 80 to 90 cm • Katana: 71 to 76 cm • Chisakatana: 60 to 66 cm • Wakizashi: 55 to 58 cm • TantÅ, Aikuchi: 28 to 41 cm • Yoroi toshi: 23 to 30 cm • Kwaiken 8 to 15 cm Then how many variations of Samurai Sword are there? Would for example would a “Ken†be classed as a Samurai Sword†Although I understand that Naginata and Yari, due to the methods by which they are forged, are still considered part of the Nihonto family. Is there a definitive list of all types? The reason really for the question is I have seen a Japanese Sword “photo attached†and I wondered what type it was, as there was no description to it or any of the others that were in the display. Please accept my apologies for the photo it was very late and of course behind glass and taken on my mobile phone! Many thanks in advance. Frank

Hi Jacques, Thanks very much for your help. Regards Frank

Hi all I have been through my books and tried some of the kanji links but to no avail any help with the translation would be most appricated. Many thanks in advance Regards Frank

Hi Paul Here is the link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=012 regards Frank

Yes Stephen it would be interesting to unravel that story, and thanks for the link Best regards Frank

Thank you Piers and Sencho, for your patience and clarification. I did try Richard Steins site but unfortunately he has run out of band width again. Best regards Frank

Thanks Piers Just to clarify "Ju, Ku, and Hi/Jitsu" are the one's that I could'nt get. The star by itself means Showa? or is it the combination of "star, Ju, Ku? that would be read as Showa? regards Frank

Thanks Stephen theres no pulling the wool over your eyes but in my defense every so often I just look at what is there and have a go at translating it, it is one way to learn. As for the first two kanji I could not find any thing close to Sho-Wa not written that way? What about the last one though regards Frank

Hi all Having a practice and have come up with the following. ? ? Showa 19 = 1944 Nen = year San + Gatsu = March ? Unfortunately I can’t make head nor tales of the 1st, 2nd, or 8th kanji. Any help or a prod in the right direction would be much appreciated Regards Frank

Hi all A couple questions, I have a “Masatsugu†Signed blade? Could some one clarify the Mei, as this not one of my strong points, if it is correct then which one could he be? Its Nagasa is 28cm its total length is 38.5cm, would you class this as a Tanto or a short Wakizashi? Your help would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance Frank

My 1st attempt on a date!!? (No giggling) Sho Wa 2 - = ( 20 ) 10 Nen = Year Shi……= 4th Gatsu…..= Month If so, then in 1944 Yoshifusa is one of the listed 209 smiths registered officially as sword smith in Seki. (See page 212 of Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths. From 1868 to the Present) Am I close?? best regards Frank

I have to wonder if in this new legislation there will be mention of other large curved swords, e.g.: used for arguments sake within a religion or would they not mention these in case they upset the minorities again? Would this also effect the people who perform national dances e.g.: the Scott’s, Turkish, etc. I have to ask then what about the large collections that are held and are in public view in castles, and museums from every nationality in the world, where these might be said to be cultural heritage, so then might be argued are the items held in private collections. As has already been said it is not the weapon that kills but the person behind it, and if some one is determined to commit a crime with what ever weapon they choose then no amount of law will stop that person from getting what they need and carrying out their intentions, don’t forget there is no such thing as “ total security†there is always away around it. This has already been proved by this government by allowing 11000 illegal immigrants into varying security jobs in this country. Just my thoughts.

Hi all just to further this query this is what the person that I bought it from wrote about it, any other thoughts or is it just possible? Regards Frank.

Brian Sorry never thought to put the size of it would help, the pictures make it look larger than it is, not sure what its made of probable brass? although it is very light and it is 1.7cm in circumference. The gentleman I bought this off gave a story about it but I'll wait untill there have been a few guesses as to what it is or nobody is able to say what they think it is before I quote his story. regards Frank

Hello all, any thoughts to what this might be, and what its use was ?

Having a look through e-bay as you do looking for the one that got away when I noticed this Mentioned in dispatches again, amazing what you can do with: cut,copy and paste. It's beyond a joke realy.Check this out, and scroll down a bit and tell me if you have seen this before. http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-NIHONTO-JAP ... dZViewItem regards Frank