What do I have here?

[rk6000]

I recently purchased this Samuari Sword at a local estate auction. Is this the real deal? Any help on translation or history would be more than "Greatly Appreciated"

 

I have found similar swords on the internet but nothing exactaly the same as mine (see photos)....

 

Thanks,

Rob

 

(Edited by Admin - individual kanji shots deleted in favor of overall shot below)

[Stephen]

one full shot from top to bottom will get faster response, all the head leaning gets PPL neck ache's, from the second to last id say yoshihisa? a seki smith.

[rk6000]

Here you go!

 

Thank you.

[rk6000]

Here are photos of the sword.

[Rich S]

I think the full translation reads:

 

Seki ju Kotani Yoshihisa

 

As mentioned a smith from Seki. Any arsenal stamps?

 

Rich S

[Bugyotsuji]

I've got the beginnings of it, but someone will fill the rest in shortly, I should imagine.

 

What I can see is Seki-Ju, Nani(?)kawa Mura, Yoshihisa

 

I.E. a smith called Yoshihisa who lived/worked in Seki. Can't read the name of the local village, though.

 

PS Oops, Rich got there first! (So did Stephen...)

[Nobody]

Maybe;

 

Seki ju-nin Kawamura Yoshihisa

[Bugyotsuji]

Asakawa??? (Just guessing now)

 

Just seen Moriyama san's suggestion for Nin, and I like it!!!

 

So, not to get too confused, the final consensus is:

 

"Kawamura Yoshihisa, a person of Seki" (Kawamura being his name and not the village, right?)

[Nobody]

His name appears in the list below. His real name seems to be Kawamura Hisayoshi (å·æ‘ä¹…å‰).

http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/seki.htm

[rk6000]

Attached is a photo of the arsenal stamp (I think).

 

The swords that I have found similar to mine has a blade lock. Mine dose not? Why?

 

Thanks again,

 

Rob

[Brian]

Rob,

 

No, that is a painted military marking, found on many WW2 swords and of no real significance. An arsenal stamp will be small and stamped above the signature near the top. Not always there either.

There is no set pattern for WW2 furniture. Can have a lock or not, variations in tsuba and all the other parts. Lots of different variations, but still standard WW2 Shin-Gunto.

I expect your will be more mass produced and oil quenched.

 

Regards,

Brian

[rk6000]

Any idea on current value of this sword? and / or the best place to buy/sell?

 

I am really looking for a fine quality highly collectable piece.

 

Thanks,

Rob

[Brian]

Rob,

We haven't seen any overall pics of the sword yet, maybe with handle on and off, and showing the blade condition and any visible hamon. Helps to give an idea of value. Keep the pics 100dpi or less, and 800 pix wide or less (around 150k per pic) and we will be able to tell more.

I expect if a standard WW2 Shin Gunto in fair condition..around $600-800 with a lot of depending factors.

eBay..or an ad in the for-sale section here maybe? Or sell on consignment through one of the dealers in the links page, such as http://www.japanesesword.com/ or others.

 

Brian