Mei Translation Help Please

[johnnym]

Hello Everyone!

 

This a a great forum and I finally joined to become a little more educated and involved.

 

As it happens I have my first question regarding a translation that I am some dificulty with. I have been able to decipher the following characters:

 

1-7 numbered from tip of blade to bottom:

 

1-?

 

2-?

 

3-?

 

4- ju

 

5- chu

 

6- katsu?

 

7- kore

 

8- saku?

 

 

Any help on the translation and on the smith would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

John

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi John,the last 5 characters read as follows:

ju Tadakatsu kore kitau

The last 2 characters "he who has made this".

Tadakatsu was a Showa swordsmith from Seki/Gifu,who worked for the army during the war.Hawley gave him the TAD 64.He is not mentioned in Slough's Oshigata Book.

[johnnym]

Ludolf,

 

Thank you very much for such a quick reply. One of the things I must do is get the Hawley book.

 

"Hawley gave him the TAD 64" Since I do not have the book available can you tell me if this would be a mediocre rating for a smith?

 

Thank you!!!!

 

John

[Grey Doffin]

TAD 64 is an index # in Hawley's, meaning he is the 64th smith listed who signed with the 1st character "Tada". Hawley lists him at 8 points, which is at the low end for that book. The point ranking numbers in Hawley's are often meaningless. Don't worry about the points; study the blade.

Grey