Ray Singer

A friend posted in the WTB section, but hoping to give his search a bit more visibility here. If anyone happens to have an extra assortment of kai-gunto fittings, John is looking for a corresponding seppa. He can also be reached at https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/profile/6262-jrbjag/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/54269-locating-spare-koshirae-pieces-seppa/

Perhaps the individual handling osuriage was considering more of an ubu, Kaga-style of nakago-jiri at one point?

John is a friend and I have a few photos of his sword in hand. It is a kai-gunto (I am mentioning this, as there are shin-gunto parts shown in the Ohmura diagram above). John is looking for a matching seppa for the other side (between tsuba and tsuka). I'm attaching photos here to show what John has and what he is missing. Appreciate if anyone can assist. Best regards, Ray

I believe this can be read Gotō Shunjō. 後藤春乗 https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-030423.htm

Taira Nagayuki

In some cases, swordsmiths changed their mei over time (using one artname and then transitioning to one or more others during their careers). In this case, a smith may be primarily known by one name but actually used others as well. For example, the gendai smith Yoshihara Kuniie was well known under that name but he also signed Akihiro and Nobutake early on his his career. Also, many smiths were simply undocumented. Especially in Seki, it was an active site of arsenal production and I have seen other cases where a Seki-made showato was by a smith who simply does not appear to be listed.

Definitely 則次 (Noritsugu), as we discussed previously. Best regards, Ray

For anyone who was considering the Nihonto kanji flashcards, I just received another shipment from print. Please see below for a link to purchase and information on the cards. https://swordsofjapan.com/product/nihonto-knowledge-cards/ - Mei (names) - the more commonly seen kanji used in swordsmith's mei, including examples of mei containing that the featured kanji - 152 cards - $25 + shipping - Kuni (provinces) - the reading of the Japanese province names, with information about the provinces and some reference information on related schools and representative smiths - 90 cards - $25 + shipping - Nengo (time periods) - the kanji for time periods from the late Heian period to the present, with reference information on each time period - 144 cards - $25 + shipping Anyone interested or if you have any questions, please reach out by email at theswordsofjapan@gmail.com or message me here.

You can review a really extensive discussion on Shintogo at the link below with many reference examples to compare with. o

The date is : Eiroku hachi nen ju gatsu kichi jitsu A lucky day the 10th month of 1567 The mei is correctly translated as Mihara Masamori saku. I think it is a safe guess that this is an authentic, late Muromachi Kai Mihara blade and not gimei.

I have two websites.

Sky, all of the swords on my website are (or were) for sale including the tokuju Masamune. In the case of the Rai Kunimitsu, it is no longer available and I have removed the link, however I have worked with the Bensons in the past (to explain the replicated content). If there is a specific question on the swords I have posted on my website, please let me know. Best regards, Ray

That is at least who it's purporting to be.

Tsuda Omi (no) kami (the remainder was likely Sukenao).

https://www.google.com/search?q="備州長船長義"&client=ms-android-google&sca_esv=99ba87713a6b4ed1&sxsrf=AE3TifOTHx5mm-VkiUVxN7FX3BgZ3mBPhg%3A1764288735386&ei=3-goafKoF9O3wt0P2pi4WQ&oq="備州長船長義"&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhQi5YKZ5bee6ZW36Ii56ZW3576pIjIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FSPZ5UP0tWPJ5cAB4AJABAZgBqwGgAaAFqgEDMS40uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIEoAKaBMICCBAAGLADGO8FwgIEECMYJ5gDAIgGAZAGBZIHAzEuM6AHkRGyBwMxLjO4B5oEwgcFMi0yLjLIByM&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#ip=1

No, I believe it is 應安 (Ōan). Unfortunately, this is very likely to be gimei.

Signed: Bizen no kuni Osafune ju Chogi (Nagayoshi) Dated: Oan roku nen hachi gatsu hi

This type of mei only refers to the swordsmith and where he worked (not a documentation of the provenance and indicate past ownership). Unless you have a surrender tag attached, it is unlikely that you would be able to trace back.

The inscription is Hizen (no) kuni Tadayoshi. You can research at the website below. Hizento.com Irrespective of the inscription, it is an authentic antique Japanese sword

Noshu Seki ju niju sandai Kanefusa saku kore This was the 23rd generation of Mino Kanefusa. You'll find other examples of his work by searching the discussion board here.

As mentioned in your other post, the sword appears to be late Muromachi period

Please see below for Ogawa Kanekuni. https://www.google.com/search?q="ogawa+kanekuni"+site%3Amilitaria.co.za&sca_esv=18637f1ce6371d1f&rlz=1C1YTUH_enUS1164US1164&sxsrf=AE3TifOV34tbjjQ9yRuvGop5ne4Ec7zGcg%3A1763671772968&ei=3H4faergOsybwbkPwdKH2A4&ved=0ahUKEwjqvpyszYGRAxXMTTABHUHpAesQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq="ogawa+kanekuni"+site%3Amilitaria.co.za&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiJSJvZ2F3YSBrYW5la3VuaSIgc2l0ZTptaWxpdGFyaWEuY28uemFI1BFQ1QFYkA9wAXgAkAEAmAGMAaABuQWqAQMzLjS4AQPIAQD4AQH4AQKYAgegApYFwgIHEAAYsAMYHsICCxAAGIAEGLADGKIEwgIIEAAYsAMY7wXCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABiABBiiBMICBRAAGO8FwgIFECEYoAHCAgUQIRirApgDAIgGAZAGBZIHAzIuNaAH2A6yBwMxLjW4B5EFwgcFMy4yLjLIBw8&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Noshu Seki ju Kanekami saku. I would look into the late Muromachi Sue-Seki group. Best regards, Ray

I believe it is Yasushige, a lucky day in July 1940. https://www.google.com/search?q=Yasushige+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&oq=Yasushige+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAjIHCAMQIRiPAtIBCDY1NjRqMGo0qAIOsAIB8QW-XY9Q0JG6bQ&client=ms-android-google&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Generally, yes. 1864-1865 is a representative time period and does not reflect the smith's entire career (he worked more than two years).