Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Report Posted July 14, 2022 Recently picked up this battle used sword . The blade is made by Yushu Hojo Ju Hiromasa Saku. The blade is in very good condition … the only problem being is it still as the remnants of the thick arsenal grease on it . when removing the Habaki on both sides of the blade are markings ? The Tsuka shows evidence of a removal of a Mon. The Saya again shows evidence of combat use which looks like bullet damage to the edge of the saya . Regarding the grease does anyone know how to remove it , Any help would be greatly appreciated . Many thanks Gareth Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted July 14, 2022 Report Posted July 14, 2022 Nice gunto, Gareth! It appears from your photos that the oil is cosmoline. G.I.s coated swords (and I think other weapons) with it when returning home. It can be safely removed and many discussions have taken place about how to do that. You can search 'remove cosmoline' and get 32 pages. Here's one where Zook describes his favorite method: Cosmoline for Showato Blade The writing is in the location where polisher stripes are normally seen. Hopefully someone will translate for you soon! Very curious, indeed. Quote
Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Posted July 14, 2022 Thanks Bruce is the smith a well known one ? As the blade is really well forged .. Thanks Gareth Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted July 14, 2022 Report Posted July 14, 2022 Slough translates his mei as "Yoshu Hojo ju Hiromasa saku" and says he was from Ehime prefecture, made "Medium to High-Grade Gendaito". I don't know how collectors regard him. I don't follow the smiths. Quote
Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Posted July 14, 2022 Yet again thanks Bruce … So the marks are from the polisher is this a often occurrence ? Gareth Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted July 14, 2022 Report Posted July 14, 2022 He is quite well regarded and from an excellent group of smiths. 1 1 Quote
Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Posted July 14, 2022 Thanks John the blade is well forged and other than a few bits of arsenal grease is in great condition and polish …a great untouched example . Hope someone can help me with the polishers marks ? Gareth Quote
Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Posted July 14, 2022 Have found out some more on the smith rated as Kihin -No-Retsu (made precious works )in one book. He won 1st Seat (National Swordsmith) Judgement at the 1941 sword making Exhibition . Gareth Quote
SteveM Posted July 14, 2022 Report Posted July 14, 2022 Looks like 御研 ＝ sword polishing. Not sure of the pronunciation. "miken" I think. 耕觀 ＝ probably the name of the polisher. Again, unsure of the pronunciation. "Kōkan" maybe. Nothing comes up in a search for that name. 1 1 Quote
Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Posted July 14, 2022 Thank you Steve for your help … A friend also contacted me to say the kanji looks like “Honourable Prefix Polisher Ko Kan “ Gareth Quote
Butch Posted July 14, 2022 Author Report Posted July 14, 2022 Having looked on the net I did find a sword polisher Ko-Kan Nagayama ? Thanks Gareth Quote
Kiipu Posted July 14, 2022 Report Posted July 14, 2022 (edited) On 7/14/2022 at 9:54 PM, Butch said: Having looked on the net I did find a sword polisher Ko-Kan Nagayama? Expand Here are the characters for Nagayama Kōkan 永山･光幹 courtesy of the NDL. Unlikely this inscription is referring to him. Edited July 14, 2022 by Kiipu Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted July 15, 2022 Report Posted July 15, 2022 On 7/14/2022 at 9:31 PM, SteveM said: Looks like 御研 ＝ sword polishing. Not sure of the pronunciation. "miken" I think. 耕觀 ＝ probably the name of the polisher. Again, unsure of the pronunciation. "Kōkan" maybe. Nothing comes up in a search for that name. Expand Found 觀耕台(farming observe platform） https://www.meet99.com/jingdian-xiannongtan-36495.html 1 Quote
Butch Posted July 15, 2022 Author Report Posted July 15, 2022 Don’t want to be ignorant but what does the above posting mean ? Many thanks Gareth Quote
Kiipu Posted July 15, 2022 Report Posted July 15, 2022 On 7/15/2022 at 1:08 AM, BANGBANGSAN said: Found 觀耕台 (farming observe platform） Expand The wrong order of characters my friend. In this case, 觀耕台 means "viewing platform" while I think the characters would more likely be in the order of 耕觀? Me thinks Trystan has been imbibing on 烧酒 shāojiǔ! 1 Quote
BANGBANGSAN Posted July 15, 2022 Report Posted July 15, 2022 On 7/15/2022 at 3:59 PM, Kiipu said: The wrong order of characters my friend. In this case, 觀耕台 means "viewing platform" while I think the characters would more likely be in the order of 耕觀. Me thinks Trystan has been imbibing on 烧酒/燒酒 ! Expand I was trying to search 耕觀 first, but nothing came up, so I decided to try the reverse and see what it would be.かんぱい！ 1 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted July 15, 2022 Report Posted July 15, 2022 Quote Nick Komiya 2022-07-15 12:12 PM 耕觀 御研 Koukan Otogi (polished by Koukan) is the sensible way to read it. 耕 means to till the soil and 觀 means to observe. Not very common kanjis in Japan, so polisher may have been Chinese. Expand I asked Nick Komiya over at WRF to take a look at this and above is his reply. 2 Quote
Butch Posted July 15, 2022 Author Report Posted July 15, 2022 Having spoken to an elderly friend of mine he reads it as “Honourable polisher” and the name of polisher “Ko-Kan” Many thanks Gareth 1 Quote
Butch Posted July 16, 2022 Author Report Posted July 16, 2022 Here is a image of Yushu Hojo Ju Hiromasa Saku The sword-smith who forged this blade … 2 Quote
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