ChuckJ

Thank you!

Piers, Grev, Geriant thank you for helping me! I appreciate your time to take a look at the papers. Geriant, thanks for the link to yakiba, I found it very informative. Grev, here is a recent picture of the tsuba, I thought you may like to see it.

Hello Everyone! First off, I wish you and your families are well during these times. I have a Tsuba I bought some time ago and would like to have the papers translated. I forgot the Mei and other information on the papers, re-discovered the tsuba and papers as I was digging through things (due to boredom) because of my ripe "young" age. If, anyone should have the time could you please translate the paper and from whom it was issued. I thank you all very much, Chuck

Hi Ken, I do realize those things which are done by you guys! It was a general Thank's to all that go out of their way to help!! Chuck

Hello Everyone, I just wanted to give a shout out to all the great people on this forum that help others. I know I've been helped with Mei translations from individuals which give their knowledge and time with nothing asked in return. Day after day I read this section and see both new members and old asking for help with translation and it is freely given by some very knowledgeable people. I want to give you all a big THANK YOU for taking your personal time to help others, you don't find that very often. Best wishes, Chuck

Thanks Barry, I've pulled my books and magnifying glass out to ID what the blade is showing... I love the details and drilling down with the books and internet to have a deeper understanding of what is going on with the katana, it's my detective side coming out (gathering info from many sources ) . The people here are so forthcoming and kind with their time to help with information to share, I can not describe my appreciation. I hope, the pictures of this blade make the members here crack a smile and forget a bit of the stress that's going on in the world. Chuck P.S. Barry, I truly hope you and you're family are well!

Hello Everyone, I posted earlier in the translation help section about my newly acquired Masayasu katana and several members wanted to see pictures of the bare blade. I received it today and did my best with my iPhone 10 (manipulating the hidden camera settings) to take the best pics I could. I really hope you enjoy the pictures but of course they do not come close to showing the brilliance of this blade. It is in gunto mounts as it went into service, the tsuka ito is nice and it has a full same wrap. I hope you like the pictures and see the "fireworks". Like the dummy I am, I didn't wipe the oil from the blade before taking the pics So, some of the bright clusters near the mune are dust and not imperfections. Okay, I had a"Duh" moment before taking the pics... : ) The best to you all, Chuck

The blade is currently in transit expected to arrive Tuesday. I will take full pictures and post Wednesday or Thursday, I can post some of the blade, it's in broken up shots. It is a very nice active hamon. It is NTHK-NPO papered with a lot of additional documentation from several known sources. I got lucky with this one, inspected it in person and couldn't get it out of my mind it haunted me for over a month, could not get away from it so I pulled the trigger yesterday. I could not be happier and thinking about it is going to get worse as I wait for it to get here (I know none of you have felt this way about a sword). Hope you enjoy what pics I have. Bazza, not quite sure the overall length including the nakago but the nagasa is a bit over 69cm. Thank you all as always! Chuck

Hello Gents, Can you help me with this Mei and if there is a reference to the smith in the book's. Thank you, Chuck

Hello Gents, First off I hope everyone and their families are doing well during this particular time. I have a question regarding the Toko Taiken rating a swordsmith at 2,500,000 man Yen. What does that figure mean and where does it rank as far as the biggest amount of Yen awarded (if there is such a thing). My research did not show much other than the bigger the number the more prestigious a smith was valued. As always thank you, Chuck

Pics for you Ken

Posted for you!

Hello Gents, Here are the best pictures I can take of this blade at the moment due to it's length. Remember, I have moved the steel tape to the 1" mark as zero at the tip of the kissaki, I'm reading overall length as 39 1/4th inches or so. Very hard to take the pics standing on a ladder over my pool table, please forgive!

Hello, Thank you for the response! I know the originals for most or all sword documentation are kept in Japan. It was just a nice find as it was with the blade and I was curious as to what it was. Should you be interested I can photo the blade and Mei just for you to see and evaluate. It's a robust blade with many nice features. Best wishes, Chuck

Hello Gents, What I can tell you about the paper is it is old, as the paper it's printed on is soiled with age and it's a texture that I've not felt before. A type of rice paper maybe (I don't know but it's coarse grain, more sturdy than copy paper). There is no color to the stamps and does appear to be a copy but not by a modern type process we have today. Anyway, it's the actual blades Mei on the document which I found to be interesting and had no idea what it could be. On a side note it appears the original was dated 05/18/1948. Again, I thank you all for the kind help and I plan to search the history behind the term "torokusho" which Mr. Singer kindly provided. Best wishes to all, Chuck

Thank you Mr. Singer! I have no idea what it is and I appreciate your time to look at it. Best wishes for you and your family, Chuck

I tried using my Google Translate App but it translated several of the characters as "Thing". LOL Any help would be appreciated, this paper was inside the sword bag and I had to shake out as I felt it still inside after removing the blade. It's a O-Katana I believe because the nagasa is 31" (78.74cm) I received it today from a very kind man I met at the Atlanta sword show ( I should have bought it after looking a it 7 different times). However, what is this paper which was at the bottom of the sword bag. As always I thank you all for help, Chuck

Hello Gentleman, I am posting this for a bit of help for some pictures of pages from the following books concerning a particular sword smith: Gashū-jū Fujiwara Nagatsugu 賀州住藤原長次 He, is referenced in the following books a friend of mine located (not able to get a picture of the pages from him). If anyone could PM me the pictures of these pages I would be most grateful. I have looked into buying the books but they are a bit pricey and scarce. Toko Taikan page 458 Shinshinto Taikan page 586 As always, I appreciate any help the generous members here can provide! Thank you, Chuck

Thank you for the response, I appreciate your help! Chuck

Thank you, Stephen.

Hello Guys, I would like to know more about this Wakizashi which I recently acquired from a most reputable and kind gentleman. I am not able to take decent pictures of the blade as it's polish very fine. However, I am collecting as much information as I can to document the blade from any source. Please, take a look and I thank you for your time. And, of course I have included the type of pics Ken asks for! Thank you all very much for your help, Chuck P.S. The spots on the blade are dust that fell on it because it's pollen season here in GA : (

Hi Ken, I had to gently cut the cheap chinese brass $5.00 habaki off the blade (which was hammered on for a fit) using a hobby hack saw and dremel tool, It was nerve racking to say the least. The blade/nakago was already injured by someone hammering on the habaki and $15 Chinese tsuka (makes me sick) the mekugi was a broken off chopstick. I am fully aware of a new habaki with the Shirasaya, it's going to Randy Black to put back right. Some, may think I'm stupid for saving the blade by having a habaki and shirasaya made but I have respect for the blade. It saddens me as to what some others have done do it, but now it can be respected and studied. Best wishes to all, Chuck

I appreciate your information greatly! I thought it was very large to be a Tanto, but I took the information I was given and came here for help. Chuck

Gentlemen, Thank you, So very much by helping me to learn! I have three more books coming which I can learn from as it is an adventure! I appreciate you all, Chuck

Hello Gents, I rescued a Tanto, which was in terrible mounts ( cheap chinese tsuka) which previous owners did very bad things to the blade. Anyway, it's at a new home where it will be respected and I will send it to have a Shirasaya made. I appreciate your help and the friendships I have made here! I have no information about this blade including the Mei or possible Jidai, I'm hoping you can help me with this Tanto. Thank you, Chuck P.S. I took pictures of the blade from BOTH sides for Hawaii Ken! : )