Tang signature(s) translation request

[RFM]

Hi all! I am new to this website. I recently purchased an old World War II Japanese sword. I would greatly appreciate any assistance in translating the signatures on both sides. Thank you so much!

[RFM]

[John C]

I'll let the translators give you the smith name, however to get you started:

1. The writing on the left side of the first picture is the date - Showa 18 (1943)

2. the stamp in the second picture is the small Seki stamp.

 

John C.

[SteveM]

Swordsmith is 良重 (Yoshishige)

 

Inscribed with

西澤一  守刀　　(to) NISHIZAWA Hajime,  protective sword

 

or "guardian sword" or  "defensive sword" etc...

 

Other readings are also possible for the given name. In other words, the given name could possibly be Hitoshi or Kazu, etc... Impossible to know without asking this person or his family. Kind of a unique inscription to find on a WW2 sword. 

[Mikaveli]

守刀 is also written as 守り刀

Meaning "sword for self defence" or "protective sword".

 

For example: https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/49131/

[Mikaveli]

I also found a Markus Sesko article about a Gassan Sadakatsu smith who made 守刀 as gifts/in celebration of notable events.

 

So I'm wondering if this was also commissioned as a presentation gift etc?

[Bugyotsuji]

My understandng is that 守り刀 is a short (tanto) blade to be placed on the chest of the (newly) deceased to protect them from evil influences.

 

A 守刀 on the other hand is any (short or long) blade always carried by a person for personal protection.

[Mikaveli]

5 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

My understandng is that 守り刀 is a short (tanto) blade to be placed on the chest of the (newly) deceased to protect them from evil influences.

 

A 守刀 on the other hand is any (short or long) blade always carried by a person for personal protection.

 

Possibly, but from the material I've seen, the two seem to be used interchangeably, with 守り刀 just being the more recent spelling. If you look up the reading of 守刀, you'll find "mamorigatana" for both. Happy to be proved wrong, but this fit with my expectations, as many inscriptions and mei don't use Hiragana.

 

守刀 were also at least "wedding swords" too at one point, and the funeral usage / talisman for the deceased is just one of the last remaining traditions.

 

From what I understand, the short length now common (15cm or less) is too avoid their "sword" definition (avoiding the ban/ bureaucracy)?

 

This article https://markussesko....ound-ohara-sanemori/ mentions a 守刀 as a gift to a new emperor.

[Ron M]

This would fit nicely with my military swords collection 😉

[RFM]

I greatly appreciate everyone's comments and expertise!  Some other facts about my sword:  1) it's in poor shape; 2) the blade length is 26 inches; 3) it is NOT very sharp; it has a nice hamon.

I understand it's not uncommon for WW2 blades to be a bit duller (is that true?).

 

Thanks again to all!  Merry Christmas!

[John C]

4 hours ago, RFM said:

I understand it's not uncommon for WW2 blades to be a bit duller (is that true?)

Roger:

I don't think that is generally true. The issue is how the Japanese sword is sharpened. It achieves its edge from the polishing of the two sides and not from sharpening the cutting edge itself (as in Western style). So being out of polish along with going in and out of a scabbard for 80 years is probably what makes them dull. That said, some parade swords and others were issued without an edge. In addition, swords issued early on came with sharpening stones, which ended up tearing the edges so were not used for long. This is my understanding, however others may argue differently.

 

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

Roger,

Could you show a photo of the Seki stamp in a broader view?  The enlarge close-up makes it look like a large stamp.  There were both large and small Seki stamps found in 1943, so I'd love to get a wider shot to see which one it is.

[RFM]

Hi Bruce,

the stamp is very small, about 1/4 inch square.  I’ll send a better pic later this morning.  Thanks!

Roger

[RFM]

3 hours ago, RFM said:

Hi Bruce,

the stamp is very small, about 1/4 inch square.  I’ll send a better pic later this morning.  Thanks!

Roger

Bruce,

Here's the photo + some others.  Thanks much!

Roger

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Roger!  Surprisingly, that is actually the larger of the two sizes.  The small Seki is even smaller than that!

 

It is my opinion that these larger Seki are found on nicer quality showato.  I like the hamon on yours!  We're fairly certain the stamp was the approval mark of the Seki Cutlery Manufacturers Association.  We have documented proof they began their quality inspections using the Showa stamp.  But for some reason, not known, they seem to have transitioned to the large Seki stamp.  They stopped using it when the Nagoya Army Arsenal inspector for the Seki area started using a smaller version of their stamp in 1943, so there was some overlap.  In '44 we see the Gifu in Sakura stamp pop up, which I believe was the Seki Cutlery Assoc coming up with another unique stamp for themselves after losing control of the Seki image.

[RFM]

Thank you Bruce!  This is most helpful!