Inside Of Saya Translation Help Please.

[AikiScott1]

Hi, I am trying to find some help with the translation for the inside of this saya. I received the sword and saya in rather rough shape, and when I opened up the saya halves, I found this. The bottom symbol looks like a kao of some kind? Thank you so much for any help.

 

--Scott M.

[Baka Gaijin]

Just a wild guesstimate of the first few Kanji

 

宝

暦

十

?

?

?

?

二

月

吉

日

 

Is it Hōreki Ju  ?  ?  ?  ? Ni Gatsu Kichi Nichi.............

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[SteveM]

宝暦十二癸未歳二月吉日大小？仕之小川偉臓？（花押）

 

This is what I can come up with. The zodiac year (癸未) corresponds with Hōreki 13. Perhaps that extra stroke has been worn away - I don't think it would be a typo. I don't have much confidence in the rest of the kanji after 吉日. The 仕之 are fairly clear, however these by themselves don't tell me much. The last kanji above the kao are certainly part of a name. I'm taking a bit of a flying guess with 小川偉臓 (Ogawa Izō). I don't think 臓 would be used in a name, but I throw it out here as maybe it will inspire a better answer.  

 

Very interesting, by the way. I've never seen writing inside of a saya before. 

[John A Stuart]

Yes, but, good bowels are important. Haaaa!!! 偉臓

[AikiScott1]

Wow thank you so much for all of the help! You guys are great. Why would this be inside of a scabbard? Thanks.

 

---Scott M.