Sword and maker help

[Andrew k]

I posted this a few other places and was told to post it here.

 

I purchased this sword (blade only) at a public auction a few years ago. The entire piece is about 25 1/8 inches long. The blade itself is 20 1/4 inches long and the width measures from about 1 1/8 inches at the widest to about 7/8 inches. There is writing on both sides of the tang. Unfortunately, on one side the writing is applied in a red material which has become faded and illegible near the bottom. I'm told that the maker is Fujiwara Nagayuki and the sword is somehow associated with the Tanzan Jinja. Any information regarding this maker or the sword would be greatly appreciated, especially regarding the age, style, use, and how it is associated with the shrine. Also, I'm not looking to sell it but just out of curiosity what is a blade like this worth? Thank you for your help.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stephen]

i looked up are in bungo...im sure nobody will help with the red lacqure mei.

[Mark]

I have seen that type of red painted inscription before. the first kanji are numbers. I think it is an "inventory number" used at an arsenal or castle to keep track of weapons

[Brian]

im sure nobody will help with the red lacqure mei.

 

:lol:

Just to clarify for the newcommers...Nobody is the username of our excellent and very helpful resident translator Koichi Moriyama.

Just in case anyone read that wrong :D

 

Brian

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

The red lacquer mei seem to read as follows;

 

一五四 (ichi go shi = 1 5 4)

I do not understand the meaning of these numbers.

 

談山神社 x x (Tanzan Jinja x x = Tanzan shrine +something)

The first kanji looks a little strange, but it seems to be a variation of 談.

FYI: http://www.tanzan.or.jp/ENG.htm

 

 

IMHO, the red lacquer mei was added later as a notation, when an owner had the sword purified at the shrine.

[Andrew k]

Thank you for the information regarding the translation. Is there a chance of putting a date and area as to when and where this smith was active and what this sword may have been made for?

[Mark Green]

Andrew,

Takata Nagayuki,

Bungo province, yeh! I like Bungo

Looks shinto to me. Looks like the Nakago has been shortened a bit as well.

The Takata Nagayuki worked in Bungo from late 1400's till about 1700. They worked in many styles. The early 1600's guy made swords for close to 50 years.

I like it. Mark G

[Rich T]

2 smiths so far that just signed Fujiwara Nagayuki

 

藤原長行

 

Both Bungo smiths ( Bungo is the province) one worked in the Tenbun era (1532 - 1554) and the other in the Tensho era (1573 = 1591). Unless there is a clear example of this guys work and mei in one of the Bungo books ( Milt :-) ) then it would probably be impossible to tell exactly who made it and when. The shape does tend one to lean towards the later smith.

 

Cheers

 

Richard

[Andrew k]

So was the Takata Nagayuki a group of swordsmiths which Fujiwara Nagayuki belonged to sometime in the 16th century?

[Mark Green]

Yes Andrew that is right.

The larger group is the Takata smiths. This is a very big group of swordsmiths. Very active through the years of civil war, and beyond.

They copied everyone's style. But the swords were well liked by Samurai, as they held up in combat.

I have a few Bungo swords, and I must say that they feel very powerful in your hand. More so than any other swords I have.

I like the Bungo Tomoyuki group, they worked about the same time as your guys did.

Rich is right, that the late 1500's guy signed his mei just as your sword is signed. Could be him. I will look in my books as soon as I get back home.

The sword looks very healthy from what I can see in your pics. Should be very nice in polish. Mark G

[Mark Green]

Andrew,

I couldn't find any oshigata of your guy. Maybe Milt can help. He has all the good Bungo books.

I suppose it could be as old as mid 1500's bit looks newer to me. It may just have been well kept in the Shrine. If that is some kind of log # from the shrine.

I'll keep looking. Looks like a nice sword though.

Mark G

[Andrew k]

Thanks again for the reply. The belief over at SFI is that it is the earlier smith because he was known to sign with the shorter Mei "Fujiwara Nagayuki" like this one. I really don't know much about Japanese swords (though I could go on and on about Japanese medals ), so I really couldn't say. I talked to someone else who also thought the sword may have been in the collection of the shrine.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Andrew, on SFI I've clearly stated that this is not implying the

other one isn't right and that was just what my poor sources quoted.

It's not so simple, really...

I lack oshigata to compare with, as said on SFI, so your best chances are

to find here someone with one of those very good enormous books full of Bungo Oshigata ...

[Andrew k]

Thanks for clearing that up. Sorry about the misunderstanding. I'm just trying to keep the opinions from each forum in the open at each to increase the info and try to create an equal amount of knowledge where all voices are heard. I just felt I should point out the shortener mei theory to keep it as a possibility here, though perhaps I was giving it too much credit based on the lack of good sources. Sorry again about the misunderstanding and I look forward to more ideas.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Just don't say here that you've paid 35.00 U$ for this blade... :lol: