Info On A Edo Era Nihonto Book...

[Chango]

My budget for swords is pretty sparse at the moment but my interest isn't so I'm always keeping an eye out for affordable ways to play.  I happened across this old woodblock print book and ended up talking it home for cheap...

 

 

 

 

 

I can see being able to read Kanji would go a long way towards increasing one's enjoyment of nihonto ....Obviously it's a swordsmith's reference guide (or part of one, anyway, I suspect it's only part of a series)... but which one and of what vintage? Does anyone out there know any more?

 

[seattle1]

Hello:

It looks similar to but different from Shinto Bengi Oshigata which was published running 163 pp by Willis Hawley in partially translated form in 1975. Before photography and the ability to publish actual books of oshigata, such references were vital. I believe they were renderings of mei rather than actual rubbings. Collectors in 1975 tended to put them down because of their artistic license, but in their time they must have been very useful and still give a quick check of the representative mei of various smiths.

Arnold F.

[Jussi Ekholm]

The title looks to me as 新刃銘盡 = Arami Mei Tsukushi. It's a sword book that was written in 1721, and I believe it has 6 parts. Your part seems to be 5th as it has kanji 五. You can find bit info on the book here:http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~tonsan07/book14.html

 

Here is a full set of 6 books for auction: http://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/e147005550/

 

I think it's a great find as I like sword books.

[Chango]

Thank you so much for the info! I look forward to the day when you can point your smartphone at stuff like this and have it immediately translated for you... I really wish I could read it!