signature on sword tang

[Bob Emery]

I have a Katana sword with the signature [One Heart]  only

does this have any special meaning?

Thank You

[Ray Singer]

一心 - Ishin is a name used in various ways, and this is also part of the inscription seen in mantetsu-to. Please show a photo.

[John C]

Bob:

Does the nakago (tang) look like the one pictured? If so, can you post pictures of the tang and a picture of the edge of the tang. There should be some marks there.

Thank you,

John C.

[Bob Emery]

I will post pictures this evening. the blade is 21.5 inches long or a Wakizashi  [my mistake].

The only engraving on the Nakago is one heart in what appears to be  gold wash.

 

[Bob Emery]

we tried to send pictures but had problems. will try later

[Ray Singer]

4 hours ago, Bob Emery said:

I will post pictures this evening. the blade is 21.5 inches long or a Wakizashi  [my mistake].

The only engraving on the Nakago is one heart in what appears to be  gold wash.

 

 

It is a gold heart shaped carving, or the kanji for One (一) Heart (心)? If the nagasa is 21.5", it is unlikely to be a mantetsu-to. As mentioned, that inscription is seen as a part of other mei. Alternately, perhaps a name. Is it kinpunmei/kinzoganmei?

 

https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=一心

 

 

 

[Bob Emery]

[Bob Emery]

here are the pictures of the sword and the script.

[John C]

Bob:

I am very much a novice at this, however I have some observations that are just food for thought. The kanji is put in a place that is somewhat unusual (centered rather than katana mei or tachi mei). Also, the way it was cut seems unsure and unsteady, as if maybe the swordsmith himself didn't put it there. In addition, from the pics anyway, the rust inside the kanji looks "newer" and is not the same color as the surrounding rust.

I am not sure if any of that means anything. It could have been put there by the actual sword owner. Just some things to look at.

 

John C.

[Bob Emery]

I am the novice of novice. I bought it some time back and

was always suspicious of it that said do you think the blade is spurious

also?  I think the rest of the sword is o.k. blade etc. but if not a hard 

lesson learned.

Bob

[John C]

Sorry but you will need one of the experts on NMB to help you with that. What I can say is they will need some close up pics of the blade hamon, kissaki, and any marks or stamps you can find.

John C.