Help Please; I'm In Over My Head

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

A katana, which will be for sale, just came in and I'm having trouble with the mei or cutting test or whatever it is.  Written in 2 sections with a gap between, and the blade is suriage so I can't guarantee there wasn't more to read below at sometime.

Greatly appreciative of any help you can provide.  Thanks,  Grey

[Shugyosha]

Hi Grey,

 

I think it reads Futatsu do dotan iri: cut through two bodies into the earth mound (sorry I'm struggling to find the relevant kanji for this). 

 

A certain Mr Guido Schiller has a list of popular sword testers on the JSSUS website which lists a Murai Fujiemon 村井藤右衛門 (慶安 Keian). This might be your guy though the kanji in the mei get a bit unclear after the "Murai". 

 

Hope that helps, but usually someone comes along to correct my errors...

 

Kind regards,

John

[SwordGuyJoe]

I've hit refresh a couple times on this in interest, as Grey doesn't get stumped often...

[Grey Doffin]

Thanks John.  I was getting parts of that but not enough to be sure.  Hope someone can fill in the blanks.  And thanks for the compliment Joe, but I'm often stumped.

Grey

[Peter Bleed]

Hey, stumped is fine, and in the real world "hipshots" are okay.

A two body cut by a tester name Murai. People give me these all the time.

Peter

[Jiro49]

Murai saburozaemon is the test cutter i believe.

[k morita]

Hi,

[Grey Doffin]

Thank you everyone.

Grey

[Bazza]

Grey and All,

 

This is a kiriha katana, desu ne???  What is the other side, shinogi tsukuri or kata tsukuri??  And is there a mei there??  I recall reading that some samurai preferred kiriha blades because it was believed they cut better - or some such.  What is the length??  Appears to be a VERY interesting blade.

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[Grey Doffin]

The blade is shinogi zukuri, mumei, suriage or o-suriage (3 mekugi-ana), 26 3/4" nagasa.  My best guess at the moment is Hizen-to.

I'm unable to find anything about Murai Saburoemon.  Do any of you have any information?  Might this be an alternate name for someone in the Murai family of testers?

Thanks,  Grey

[Shugyosha]

Hi Grey,

 

The only thing I can offer is a reference in Markus Sesko's book on Tameshigiri (pp. 278 and 296) to a Murai To'emon Nagaaki working in Keian (1658-1652).

 

Best,

John