Tanto Translation And Horimono Help Please

[hockeydad]

I picked this tanto up locally the other day and was looking for info on the horimono and translation on the tang. I know the pictures aren't the best and there is no real visible hamon.

[Shugyosha]

The mei is Echizen Kami Naomasa.

 

It's dated but I can't make out the nengo era.

 

The trident- like horimino is a vajra - a lightening bolt wielded by the god Indra. I've not seen the wave shape added on before.

 

I've no idea if the mei is good - sorry.

 

Best,

John

[Stephen]

NAOMASA (直正), Genji (元治, 1864-1865), Ōshū – “Echizen no Kami Naomasa kore o tsukuru” (越前守 直正造之), “Miysazaki Echizen no Kami Naomasa kore o saku” (宮崎越前守直正作之), “Keishinsai Naomasa kore o tsukuru” (慶心斎直正作之), he was a student of Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤) and worked for the Sōma-Nakamura fief (相馬中村藩), gō Keishinsai (慶心斎), he died on the 24th day of the eleventh month Meiji twelve (明治, 1879), we know date signatures from the seventh year of Kaei (嘉永, 1854) to the sixth year of Meiji (1873), his katana have a wide mihaba and a thick kasane, the hamon is a chōji or suguha in nioi-deki

[Grey Doffin]

Oshigata below are from Nihonto Zuikan.  I'm surprised how poorly the horimono is cut; maybe it is ato-bori (dome later by somebody other than the smith).  Not what I'd expect from a titled smith (if the mei is legit).

Grey

[k morita]

Hi,

Nice find Grey.

Mei looks good to me.
Date of the Tanto reads 明治三年八月　"Meiji san-nen hachigatsu"(The 8th month of 1870 )

[BIG]

Hi Josh, good find. It is said that Naomasa committed suicide, did not stand the swordsmith pain ...

 

Best Regards