Nanbantetsu Kitae;

[Henry Stewart]

I have aquired a Wakizashi with this legend engraved in kanji on the nakago.

Can anyone please help with who or what is Nanbantetsu. I cannot find him in Hawleys?

Date around 1600 to 1700.

 

Henry

[Nobody]

The following thread may help.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3269&p=24102&hilit=yasutsugu#p24102

[Martin]

Can anyone please help with who or what is Nanbantetsu.

 

Henry,

"Namban tetsu" literally means "forein steel". It is sometimes mentioned on the Nakago of swords made of foreign iron, that was brought to Japan from abroad.

 

Best,

[Henry Stewart]

Gentlemen

Thank you Moriyama san and Martin H.

If I can illucidate; I bought this blade from Tokyo engraved "Sa Motte Nanbantetsu No.

The dealer said this signature is not reliable and the blade looks like Mutsu Kami Kaneyasu;

are you saying the first signature is a description and not a signature at all?

kind regards

 

Henry

[Henry Stewart]

sorry in the "signature" it reads Sa Motte Nanbantetsu Kitae No.'

I forgot the KITAE

 

Henry

[Martin]

Hi Henry,

 

I can just make a guess with my most limited (iow non existent :D ) knowledge of the Japanese language.

My guess would be "Sa forged this with Namban Tetsu".

 

Cheers,

[Henry Stewart]

Thanks Martin

 

The only mystery left is who or what is "Sa" in this context;

 

Henry

[DirkO]

Sa school was active in Chikuzen province (more info here : http://www.nihonto.com/abtartchikuzensa.html) whereas Mutsu no Kami Kaneyasu worked in the Tegai tradition (Yamato). That should get you started on your quest for more info There's no fun in it if it's all handed to you on a silver platter :lol:

[Jean]

There's no fun in it if it's all handed to you on a silver platter

 

Hi Dirk

 

See my last post about "Translation of Tsuba mei"

[Henry Stewart]

Thank you Dirk;