mercierarmory

LOL that is strange. Autocorrect changed "hot" stamp to "cold" stamp.

I was recently asked by a fellow forum member to re-post some information about my Yoshitaka sword along with new photos and seeing it is one of my most prized pieces in my collection, I was happy to do so. It was thought that the old post became buried and this would be a fresh opportunity for those that missed it to see and for new members to see it as well. I purchased this in 2009 over the Internet from the son of the soldier who brought it home as a souvenir. The craziest thing is I didn't see it in person for almost six months because I was deployed to Iraq at the time. The original posts about the mei translation in the link below were made by me from Iraq actually. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/4772-extensive-tachi-mei-need-assistance/ Anyway, the blade was/is in good condition but the tsuka was shattered in shipping. There never was an tsuba (I would love to know what it looked like!) and the saya, which I still have, is in bad shape but is rather unique. In 2013 I got a shirasaya made for it and couldn't be more happy. Comparing the mei to other know Yoshitaka pieces, it appears to have been completed by a different hand. Sometimes I could understand if they were completed perhaps years apart from each other but the one Sanmei has was completed the same year. 1870. Thanks to the translation assistance, this is what was posted: [Omote] 以誠義報皇國 – With faith and loyalty, serve the Empire. 明治三年二月日 (Meiji 3 nen 2 gatsu hi) - Feb. 1870 備州之産岡嵜吉吾道美仍好鍛之 – This was well forged by 岡嵜吉吾道美 (Okazaki Kichigo Michiyoshi?; I am unsure about this part) from Bishu. [ura] 備州岡山住逸見竹貫齋藤原義隆 (Bishu Okayama ju Itsumi Chikukansai Fujjiwara Yoshitaka) There was question about Fujiwara used with Yoshitaka when he used Minamoto but seeing I am not, in the least bit, familiar with Japanese swords like some of the members here I still have questions. First, if it is signed Yoshitaka, why is it "well forged by" Michiyoshi? Does anyone have a revised idea of the mei on the ura? Second, what was the reasoning behind the cold stamp? I haven't seen a lot of swords with this and curious why one piece would have one over another. Overall it's a beautiful sword that I would love to know what it looked like when new and the reason it was made. The blade is in good condition and could really use a polish but for something this long, it would break the bank and my wife would disown me. Thanks for reading. Mike

This kozuka was part of a tanto I received in the mail today but I am starting to think it was pieced together. Anyway, the kozuka appears to have more age to it but only six of the eight kanji can be seen. The other two are obscured by corrosion. I was curious if anyone can figure out what it says and the possible age? Thanks! Mike

Maybe something like the "origin is it is made of strong brass from Western Europe" (namban). Not sure how the last kanji would fit in.

Got the last kanji but it doesn't make much sense to me. 南蛮剛鍮制戒衣薬元理

It was requested that I post some more pictures so here they are. The menuki were a little loose and easily removable. Even it looks like they were glued on, there appears to have been an old rotting wood core underneath them, I'm not sure what to make of it. As you can see in the attached photos, that core is still firmly attached to the tsuka. Another thing that has not been mentioned yet is the beautiful embroidered bag that came with it. Maybe 1/4 of the embroidery is coming loose, but the areas that are still tight are very nice. Finally I added a photo of the handle of the kogatana. The menuki on it is a dragon with his head turned back and gold inlay eyes. Mike

So far, all I can figure out with the kogatana is the first two kanji 南蛮 naban. Mike

A better shot taken today.

Its not the greatest picture but I wanted to get one taken before I head out the door for work. Mike

Another view of the kogatana signature

I picked up the tanto yesterday. There are some really nice things on it, and some not as impressive. The blade is interesting. It is tanto in length, but the kasane and mihaba is smaller that I would have expected and with the length it is proportional to a miniturized wakazashi. That is just my observation. There is a straight hamon and in although unsigned, there is a faint symbol or something on it. If you look in the center of the picture posted it looks like a star pattern with dots or something. I am not sure of this. I have other photos I will post a little later. Still any thoughts at all on the signature on the kogatana? I am really curious about that. Mike

The owner and I have come to an agreement and I will have it in hand next weekend. Mike

I suppose it is a scratch or scuff after all. He said: This stands out on pictures,but in real time looking at this line it is very superficial or surface level only so to speak. It is not a hairline crack or flaw.

I was wondering the same thing. I have an email out to the owner asking, but I don't have an answer yet.

Here are a couple views of the blade. Seeing that I don't have it in hand and have never handled it in person (I'm still on the fence about buying it) asking him to take more pictures minus habaki but be hard. He is not terribly tech savvy and the pictures I have already have been tough to get. Mike